Fishy business in Athens

The biggest bass in Texas come from the small city of Athens, Texas. Located 70 miles southeast of Dallas, Athens is home to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC.) The Center includes indoor and outdoor aquariums, exhibits, fishing ponds, and an expansive fish hatchery. TFFC hired Jackson & Ryan Architects for a major renovation and campus improvements. PRISM worked with the firm to produce renderings necessary for the capital campaign. AFH Design is the exhibit designer.

Fundraising continues toward the $4 million goal, and construction is anticipated to begin this summer. TFFC is the first major public/private partnership between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. TFFC plays a critical role in both educating the public about Texas’ diverse inland waterways and ensuring the livelihood of the popular sportfish – the mighty bass. TFFC houses the Toyota ShareLunker breeding program. Anglers can donate bass weighing at least eight pounds (nicknamed lunkers) that are then bred at TFFC; the Center produces 3-4 million “Lone Star” largemouth bass every year for stocking lakes across Texas.