Check out this 14.36 pound lunker, caught by Blake Cockrell at Lake Alan Henry this past weekend. This is the first Legacy Class ShareLunker of 2020.
If you catch a 13+ pound bass and loan it to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) during the spawning period (January-March), you will be supporting the fishery department's selective breeding program and will be recognized as a member of the Lunker Legacy Class. In 2019, anglers caught five Legacy Class bass over 13 pounds and loaned them to TPWD for the selective breeding and stocking program.
The year round ShareLunker program offers four levels of participation for bass over eight pounds caught in Texas. There were four Legend Class bass, fish over 13 pounds that were caught outside the spawning window, or were not loaned for spawning. In the Elite Class, 76 bass weighing 10 to 12.99 pounds were entered and in the Lunker Class 242 bass weighing between eight and 9.99 pounds or at least 24 inches were entered.
The top five ShareLunker producing lakes in 2019 included Lake Fork with 112 entries, Lake Conroe with 69 entries, Lake Athens with 48 entries, Sam Rayburn Reservoir with 32 entries, and O.H. Ivie Lak with 21 entries.
Lakes producing 13 pound or larger Legacy Class bass entries in 2019 included Lake Leon with 13.00 pound caught March 29; Lake Conroe with 13.36 pound caught March 9; Lake Fork with 13.73 pound caught March 8; a private research lake with 13.79 pound caught Feb. 8; and Marine Creek Lake with 14.57 pound caught Jan. 26.
All anglers who enter their big bass catches in the program receive special recognition and prizes, including an entry into a year-end drawing to win a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and an annual fishing license. Legacy class fish anglers receive a catch kit, a 13lb+ Legacy decal, VIP access to awards programming at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest and a replica of their fish.
Ryan Waguespack of McQueeney was randomly selected from the 2019 entries to win the coveted year-end $5,000 shopping spree to Bass Pro Shops.
Anglers can enter their big bass catches in all categories on the Toyota ShareLunker app – available for free download from the Apple App store and Google Play – or on the website for the program, texassharelunker.com. The mobile app and website entry forms also include simple instructions for anglers who would like to provide a sample of fish scales from their lunker bass to TPWD researchers for genetic analysis.
Anglers who catch a 13 pound or larger “Legacy Class” bass through March 31 can enter by calling the program directly – any time of day – at (903) 681-0550. For updates on the ShareLunker Program, see their website, or their Facebook page, ShareLunker Program.
Download the App
Download the free ShareLunker app to your phone before you head to the lake so you'll be ready to enter your lunker catch and stay up–to–date with the program. Available for iOS and Android devices.
Need help measuring the length and weight of your Lunker or help with holding it until TPWD staff arrive? Visit one of our weigh and holding stations closest to your location.
Be prepared to share your Lunker catch this year. If it's not in the Legacy class, fill out the required information and return it to the lake alive so it can grow up to be a Legacy.
Photo courtesy TPWD