Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir, located just north of Abilene, is one of the Texas government pools that has produced largemouth bass of the Legacy Class ShareLunker variety. As Fort Phantom Hill became the 77th people waterbody to do so, Eric Lewis of Haskell reeled in the 13.33-pound ShareLunker 660 on Sunday.
In the 2024 Toyota ShareLunker set time, Lewis ‘ Legacy Class largemouth bass placed 10th nevertheless, adding one more waterbody to the list of entries. With two brand-new lake stepping into the light for the first time, six distinct reservoirs have created a Legacy fish. J. With its first always Legacy Class ShareLunker, B. Thomas kicked off the collection year on January 17th.
Fort Phantom Hill was placed on the Legacy Class ShareLunker image thanks to Lewis ‘ ShareLunker 660 find, which also established a new river record for largemouth bass. With a 12.90 ounce bass that he landed on July 19, 2022, Scotty McCorkle held the previous record. An 11.15-pound Elite Class capture by George Trosper on March 21, 2019 was the largest fish submitted to the year-round ShareLunker system.
Natalie Goldstrohm, program planner for Toyota ShareLunker,” I started my career at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ( TPWD), where I worked as a control researcher in the Abilene office.” It’s interesting for that pond to create the first ever Legacy Class ShareLunker and set a new waterbody record collection because I’ve personally witnessed how good the bass fishing at Fort Phantom Hill is.
Lewis and his wife were attempting to fish at the Hill Country Region event of the Couples Association of Sport Tournaments ( CAST ). By 6:45 a.m., they were on the ocean, and they immediately began fishing near some port.
” I was just basically pitching and flipping like everyone knows how to would,” Lewis said. I flipped up under a wharf about 7:30 a.m. and observed my column jump as the bait sank. I set the hook, which was a great fish right away, but it was difficult to tell how large it was when the water was murky. The fish swung around one of the port messages to the left. She came around and went to the post on the other side, and I thought,” Oh no,” so I pulled against her. We managed to ultimately get her won and in the boat with some work. I had never seen a fish that great before, but I was aware that she was at least 10 pounds heavier.
Lewis placed the fish on a level in his boat, but due to the rough waters and excitement shaking, the scale dropped from 12 and three-quarters to over 13 pounds. They continued to fish and added an additional seven-plus kilo to the bag, but they ended up being the only two they caught during the game. He became aware that the standard weigh-in was a Legacy Lunker, a brand-new river record, and that ShareLunker 660 would help them achieve a third-place finish in the tournament.
” I’ve known about the ShareLunker programme and watched it really come into its own with O. H. Ivie over the last few times,” said Lewis. I’m aware that TPWD does a great job in the fisheries, but I did n’t realize how organized, quick, thorough, and professional the ShareLunker program was once it became available. The attention given to the fish and the attention to detail regarding its state and health were astonishing. When we dialed Natalie, we received a prompt response, and TPWD immediately began the process.
Lewis made the case that there might be a Legacy Class ShareLunker at rivers across the position.
Every cove has the potential to produce one of these fish, Lewis said,” I hope this get proves to everyone who is chasing the hottest lakes around the state of Texas.” You just need to keep the line damp and stop worrying about rumor-chasing. Anyone who has fished O. H. Ivie over the past couple of years knows that it’s always a promise. Being in the right place at the right occasion and therefore getting it in the boat are up to God. It still takes a lot of luck.
When Lewis called on Sunday, the ShareLunker vehicle was waiting for the Bassmaster Elite collection event in Lake Fork. Each of the top ten anglers in the event recorded a 100 plus kilogram bag for the first time in Bassmaster history during a four-day event. Lewis ‘ ShareLunker capture capitulated the day and highlighted the superb fish that can be found from one region of Texas to the next.
Anglers who reel in a 13-plus-pound bass can loan it to TPWD for the ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program during the first three months of the season ( Jan. 1 through March 31 ). Through March 31, these fish can report their catch to the ShareLunker hotline at (903 ) 681-0550.
Anglers are required to use a licensed scale to measure potential Legacy Class bass. On the ShareLunker Official Weigh and Holding Stations site, you can find a list of official weigh facilities.
Anglers who catch and borrowing one of these 13-plus-pound lunkers will get a get system with merchandise, a 13-lb+ Legacy decal for their boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event, a high-quality replica mount of their fish from Lake Fork Taxidermy, and a swag pack and monthly subscription from Bass University. These fish will also be entered into the year-end Grand Prize Drawing and the Legacy Class Drawing, two distinct designs. The winner will receive a$ 5, 000 shopping spree from Bass Pro Shops through both drawings.
In Texas, the year-round Toyota ShareLunker software offers four levels of involvement for bass catch rates greater than eight pounds or 24 inches.
Anglers who enter information for any lunker they catch in excess of eight pounds or 24 inches during the 2024 calendar year also receive a catch kit, a decal for their boat, a one-month Bass University subscription, and entry into the grand prize drawing for the grand prize drawing to win a$ 5, 000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree. The Bass Pro Shops Lunker School ( 8 lb. ) is included in ShareLunker’s access classes. + ), Strike King Elite Class ( 10 lbs. ). + ), and 13 lb. of Lew’s Legend Class. + ).
Anglers must enter the get information on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile game, which is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play, or on the Texas ShareLunker.com online game.
Anglers have the option of sending a DNA size sample from their lunker guitar to TPWD experts for genomic analysis in addition to providing basic get information. While supplies last, anglers who submit a sample to the program in 2024 will receive a Lew’s baitcast reel valued at up to$ 200, with a maximum of one reel per angler. A three-month license to Bass University will also be provided to fishermen who send in a biological sample. The Toyota ShareLunker webpage has instructions for submitting DNA tests.
Toyota’s good sponsorship makes the Toyota ShareLunker Program possible. Toyota has long supported the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and TPWD, providing significant revenue for a range of fish, state parks, and biodiversity projects.
Legend school type reward partner Lew’s, Elite school prize sponsor Strike King, Lunker class prize sponsor Bass Pro Shops, American Fishing Tackle Co., Bass Forecast, Bass University, Lake Fork Taxidermy, and 6th Sense Fishing all provide more important program support. Visit facebook .com/sharelunkerprogram/, Instagram.com/TexasShareLunker/, or Texas Sharelunker.com for updates on the Toyota ShareLunker Program.
