Tx-1st sharelunker of the season reported

[Matt Fly]

Texas has a sharelunker program that runs from Oct-Apr.   Any 13 pound plus bass caught during those months that gets donated it to the hatchery receives a free replica of the fish for allowing the TP&W to spawn this fish.  They will send a tanker and biologists to pick your fish up from the lake.  You will be given the fish back to release it in the waters of your choice.   50,000 fry will go to the home lake of the fish where caught.   Plus the largest share lunker of the season receives a lifetime fishing license from the state of Tx.

1. Does any of your states get into dna studies on bass to make your home waters better.

2. Any similar programs going?

The first one caught this year came from Lake Lewisville, the same place KVD set the lake record on during the 2005 E-series.   The record has been broke 3 times since the June Tournament.    

The fourth time was Monday, the 28th of Nov, with a 13.63, It was caught at a marina fishing barge, a known crappie barge,  it was caught on a 3 1/4 Fin-s.

This lake was well known for the recreational boat traffic in the summer.  Most bass fishermen would travel to other lakes to avoid the pleasure craft.    But since the BASS Tourney was held here, the fishing pressure had increased.   It is truly amazing how one tournament can change a scene on a lake.

[roadwarrior]

Not in Tennessee. As a matter of fact, the official state fish is the smallmouth. I think Tennessee does a good job at regulating fishing in general and a couple of species in particular (sauger, crappie and white bass). However, since we have no chance whats-so-ever of growing a World Record largemouth, there is no special program that I am aware of. Unfortunately, all three species of bass (largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky) are counted in total for creel limits. I would like to see the limit on Kentucky bass increased, slot size implemented for largemouth and a policy of catch and release only for smallmouth.

Kudos to you Texans for recognizing the importance of the resource you have. Your Sharelunker Program is a model that every state should adopt. I think Florida should be congratulated for sharing the Florida strain with the rest of the country, but as Chris has noted, that was probably not such a good idea for the state of Florida.

And what about California? Those guys will probably be boasting the new World Record sometime shortly. They have already produced nine of the ten top fish ever documented. Has California contributed anything to bass fishing other than demonstrating that bass grow gigantic when fed farm raised trout? Maybe someday California will share some of their genetics with the rest of the country, or maybe they are already sharing. I hope so.

BTW, Go Longhorns! I'm not generally a fan but I'm a Big 12 fan, so this year I'm rooting for you. Colorado will be easy, good luck with USC.  

[KU_Bassmaster.]

What if was caught on live bait? .................... ;D  Just kidding, I saw that firestorm on TFF.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

or what if you were using a spinner and caught a bluegill and then a 15 lb hog swallows the whole rig and you net her before she can spit it, never sank a hook in her,...still count?

Matt- I think Texas is the pioneer in big bass management.  Up here we don't have a long enough feeding season to even come close to states closer to the equator.  That's your thing down there and you guys do it well.  

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I think that program is great, plus it gives you as an angler something to shoot for.

[Matt Fly]

What if was caught on live bait? .................... ;D Just kidding, I saw that firestorm on TFF.

 

Cameron on the TFF is the young guy who runs the bait shop at Lake Fork Marina.  I received a few IM's from others telling me ignore him.  I can't believe its Cameron from Fork.  That won't stop me from going to Mosiers to eat though.   Those sudies done revealed alot of info on mortality rates from Tourneys.  I will have to find that web and report on that.  It was found that 2wks after holding the Bassmaster event on Fork, with the slot waived for Tournaments, fish were dieing even after two weeks.  The 515 bridge to the left of Fork Marina is where they put in huge holding pens/nets from the bridge to hold and study the mortality rates of the dog days of summer.    Business owners want the slot removed for Tournaments.  That would bring the big trails in and the local trails would hold more tournaments on the lake with the slot removed for tournaments only.   The guides on the lake won't the restrictions.  Its a money issue for all involved.  Well, the slot is still in place.  You think I like to throw 8lbers back during a tournament, nope, but having the opportunity to catch a state record or double digit bass is worth the slot in the long run.

[FALCON]

WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THAT HERE IN MICHIGAN. IT WOULD BE NICE.

I CAN'T COMPLAIN THOUGH BECAUSE I LIVE ON LAKE ST. CLAIR, A WELL KNOWN SMALLMOUTH LAKE. IT WAS VOTED IN THE TOP TEN ON BASS CENTER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

IN THE LAST THREE YEARS I'VE CAUGHT OVER TWENTY THAT WERE SIX POUNDS PLUS.

[rocknfish9001]

Were those 6 pounders all smalliesout of lake st. clare? I live in MI and have only managed to catch 1 six pounder. Hooked one that looked like 7 or better though.

[Matt Fly]

Falcon, when I saw your user name, I was thinking Falcon Lake in Tx. When I was stationed in Great lakes, I became a good salmon fisherman. Didn't get to bass fish up north like I wanted to.

Since I don't fish for the smallies much, in Tx a 6lb is a trophy in my book.   What is considered a trophy small mouth in your neck of the woods.

Hookem and indeed you have been!!

[FALCON]

ROCKFISH, ALL WERE CAUGHT IN LAKE ST. CLAIR. TO BE MORE SPECIFIC THEY WERE CAUGHT IN ANCHOR BAY.

MATT, IN THIS AREA ANY SMALLIE OVER FOUR POUNDS IS WORTH BRAGGING ABOUT. MY BIGGEST IS 6-15 AND I WAS IN MY BUDDIES BOAT, USUALLY THAT ISN'T A PROBLEM BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A CAMERA OR A LIVEWELL. SO IT JUST BECAME A FISH STORY WITHOUT A PICTURE.

[Hawg_Hunter]

Hopefully LBH and I will be able to contribute to the program this year!!!!  ;D

HH

[Matt Fly]

A 13 lber is on my letter to Santa this year.

[Fisher of Men]

What if was caught on live bait? .................... ;D Just kidding, I saw that firestorm on TFF.

I don't know why I know this, but I think the state record bass in Texas was caught on a minnow. The man who caught it, Barry St. Clair, used to work at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. I used to take my students there for field trips. He was the emcee at the dive show and told his story of catching the record bass. Funny he never mentioned that he caught it on live bait. The story from a few years ago was that he caught it on a minnow while crappie fishing in 40+ ft. of water. He reeled the big bass to the surface too quick and it messed up the fish's air bladder. It is my understanding that the hatchery kept it for a few days and it died despite efforts to revive it. None-the-less, he seemed like a pretty nice guy. He was a farmer from Klondike (near where I grew up). I do have to admit, I would have expected someone to have beaten that record by now.

[Guest avid]

Without knowing all the details, on the face of it the texas program sounds great.  I don't know if you guys were kidding or not about giving an award for fish caught on live bait, but my immediate reaction is "so what"? For the purpose of genetics and breeding big bass it makes no difference how a fish was caught.  In terms of state records, I feel the same way.  So long as the angler caught the fish within all of the local regulations then the record clearly belongs to him.  If he was a little devious though he would say he caught it on some fancy lure.  Think of the possible endorsement $$.  It reminds me of Mike Iaconelli in his book.  He says that when a pro who wins a tournament is interviewed he pretty much tells the truth about the location, technique, cover etc.   But Mike Ike states emphatically that they will often lie about the lure.  They know where their bread is buttered and if lucky craft is paying the bills then by golly lucky craft lures are catchin the fish.  Or so it goes.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Yes the live bait thing was kidding around. When the forum was down Matt_Fly and a guy on another forum got into a heated debate about the topic. I'm with you. A 13 lbs. bass is a 13lbs. bass. If it's going to help the future of a lakes gene pool, who cares how it was caught.