Lake Fork Yields a 13.73 lbs. Bass




AUSTIN – Two largemouth bass over 13 pounds were caught by anglers in Texas over the weekend, bringing the total number of “Legacy Class” Toyota ShareLunker entries up to four for the selective breeding program’s 2019 donation season ending March 31. The fish were caught out of the top two ShareLunker producing lakes of 2018 – Lake Fork and Lake Conroe.

“It was a busy weekend for the Toyota ShareLunker program,” said Kyle Brookshear, Toyota ShareLunker Program Coordinator. “I’m not surprised that the top ShareLunker producing lakes of 2018 have also produced two of the three “Legacy Class” bass caught so far this year in Texas public waters. We are thankful to the anglers for loaning the fish to our selective breeding program so that we can continue producing bigger, better bass to stock in Texas lakes.”

Angler Barry Prince of Lindale caught 13.73 pound ShareLunker 579 from Lake Fork the evening of March 8 on a shallow diving crankbait in 4.5 feet of water. Prince said this is the first double digit bass he’s ever caught in more than 30 years of fishing.

“I’ve been chasing that fish for years,” Prince said. “Once I realized how big this fish was I looked at my partner and said ‘get the net, it’s a good one!’ It’s still such a surreal feeling, some people fish all their lives and never get to catch a double-digit bass before they die.”

Just two weeks before catching his ShareLunker, Prince said he had a conversation with a friend and local guide and discussed the once in a lifetime question “If you ever caught a 13 pound bass would you donate it to the ShareLunker program?”

“He said “absolutely so,” Prince said. “I’m a big believer in the ShareLunker program and I think it’s great for Texas and the fisheries all over the state.”

Angler Cole Turner of Houston caught ShareLunker 580 from Lake Conroe the next evening on March 9. Turner, who fishes at Lake Conroe at least two weekends a month, said he caught the 13.36 pound bass on a Texas-rigged beaver bait in 3 to 4 feet of water.

“About 30 minutes into our trip, my fishing partner and I realized we forgot the net, and I said ‘you know what that means, we are definitely going to need it,” Turner said.

Turner’s prediction turned out to be spot on. After an hour and a half of catching only a catfish and a white bass, he finally got the bite of the lifetime.

“My fishing partner Nathan Dimmitt thought it was a double digit bass when we first saw it break the water. I knew it was big – but I didn’t think it was that big – I was more focused on getting it into the boat since we didn’t have a net,” Turner said. “I would like to give special thanks to him for helping me grab the fish and pull it into the boat.”

“Catching a ShareLunker was a great feeling and a great accomplishment – that is what we all fish for,” Turner said. “I definitely am going to love getting a free replica of the fish but I’m also interested in knowing the history of the bass and giving it a chance to produce more offspring.”

In return for loaning their 13 pound or larger fish to the selective breeding program, Prince and Turner, along with any angler who loans a “Legacy Class” bass to the Toyota ShareLunker program during the spawning period Jan. 1 to March 31, will receive a Toyota ShareLunker Catch Kit containing branded merchandise and fishing tackle items, a 13lb+ Legacy decal, VIP access to awards programming at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, a replica of their fish, and an entry into the year-end ShareLunker Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 shopping spree and an annual fishing license. These anglers will also be entered into the Legacy Class Prize Drawing for a $5,000 shopping spree and an annual fishing license at the end of the spawning period March 31.

The other “Legacy Class” entry caught from public water in Texas during the 2019 donation season is ShareLunker 577, a 14.57 pound bass caught by angler Zach Sypert from Marine Creek Lake Jan. 27. ShareLunker 578, a 13.79 pound bass caught by pro angler Gary Klein from a private TPWD research lake Feb. 8, was accepted as a donation for the selective breeding program but is not eligible for any prizes because it is a private water entry.

 




Tell us what you think!

Lake Fork Vacation Rentals

Lake Fork Email Updates


 

Visit our Lake Fork Sponsors!

Lake Fork on Social Media

 
       

Lake Fork Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Fork Weather Forecast

Saturday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Saturday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 73

Sunday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Sunday Night

Chance Thunderstorms

Lo: 75

Monday

Chance Thunderstorms

Hi: 93

Monday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 75

Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 95

Tuesday Night

Mostly Clear

Lo: 75


Lake Fork Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 7/12: 403.23 (+0.23)



Lake Fork

Fishing Report from TPWD (Jul. 9)

GOOD. Water Stained; 82 degrees; 0.23 feet above pool. Fork : Top waters early around pond weed and grass with frogs and poppers still working . Mid morning chatter baits on the outside edge of grass in 3-5 ft is good as well as shaky heads . Best bite is Carolina rigs off shore on points , road beds and humps in 12-25 ft . Big worms and flukes are good . Deep Cranks are good over the same area when the fish are suspending 19-23 ft . Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Lily fields are filling in, hydrilla and milfoil are reaching for the surface. Fish this type of cover at mid day when bass are seeking cover. Frog patterns are working in the shallow vegetation early and late. Small fish patterns like a dock knocker are producing bass and crappie shallow near grass. Large bream have moved shallow, wooly buggers are producing good fish. Channel catfish are cruising 2-4 feet biting clousers. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Lake Fork crappie fishing has been super up and down this past week. The fish are stacked up on brush piles, lay downs, tire reefs and some trees. The bite is the tricky part. Some days the bite is good and the bigger fish show up. Some days the bite is just off and the short fish show up. Seems like the bite may be better on days we have a little breeze. If the winds are calm the bite is very slow. Minnows will get some bites but small 1/32nd ounce hand tied jigs with small bodies and tails are working well on fish that don’t want to bite. Best depths have been 18-13ft with most fish suspended on trees and loaded in the brush. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

More Fishing Reports