Inks Lake and O. H. Ivie registered Legacy Class ShareLunkers on back-to-back time to begin the second week of March. With its first Legacy Class largemouth bass, Inks Lake in Central Texas became a household name on the Toyota ShareLunker history books, while O. H. Ivie delivered its fifth Legacy Lunker this year.
Darrly Hanson II of Round Rock reeled in 13.40- pound ShareLunker 662 Sunday, ( March 10 ) and with his capture, Inks Lake became the 78th public water body to produce a Legacy Lunker. Larry Walker of Irving landed 13.83- ounce ShareLunker 663 Monday night ( March 11 ) at O. H. Ivie— the 13th access general of the 2024 Toyota ShareLunker series season.
” In the Lone Star State, there are numerous water systems capable of reaching an impressive 13 pounds or heavier”, said Natalie Goldstrohm, Toyota ShareLunker plan representative. ” There are pools that have previously produced bigger guitar, like Lake Fork and O. H. Ivie, and those that are less well-known have amazing trophy bass fish,” he said. What lies ahead for the rest of the year is something we’re hoping to see.
Hanson’s ShareLunker 662 was the fourth from a fresh water system this year, with Inks Lake joining J. Fort Phantom and B. Thomas present its initial bass of the Legacy Class. This series period, entries have been made from seven different reservoirs. Because it is the new history for largemouth bass in Inks Lake, Hanson’s ShareLunker 662 from Inks Lake was a huge find in more ways than one.
Only nine total fish were accepted into the ShareLunker program before Sunday ( March 11 ). A Killeen-based Carsen Clark Strike King Elite Class passage that weighed 11.35 weight on March 15, 2023, was the group’s largest. The past Inks Lake largemouth bass report weighed 12.50 pounds and was set on Feb. 18, 2017, by Christopher Snyder.
On Sunday night, Hanson traveled to Inks Lake to engage in the Tonkawa Bassmasters Club competition. He had hardly fished Inks Lake in a while, but he had a plan for where to fish based on previous outings there.
” I’ve had good luck at Inks Lake in the past, and the river has some excellent construction”, said Hanson. ” I decided to target seafood it because there is a special area that has all kinds of docks and cement dock structures all around, which provides excellent cover. I use an A-rig first thing in the morning to set a couple of seafood in the live well to try to capitalize on bites. Therefore, off to the left, I could see a section of a building that had a composition. She slammed it after I ran an A-rig perpendicular to it.
The challenge for ShareLunker 662 ensued.
” I set the hook, and she pulled up and ran out to open waters”, added Hanson. She jumped out of the ocean, and I was aware that this was a large fish. She ran five or six times, with two of them falling beneath the ship. She reaches the point where I had drag her into the internet and bring her closer to the boat. When I leaped her into the boat, I said,” That must be double-digit.”
Hanson weighed the carp on the tournament level, and it checked in at 13.40 weight. He eventually caught more fish, totaling a 39-pound case, in order to win the championship title. ShareLunker 662 was even a personal best, eclipsing his previous best of 11.4 weight at Choke Canyon. Hannahson contacted TPWD to set up the Toyota ShareLunker software.
According to Hanson,” I actually weighed her there for the Angler Recognition Program” at the Inks Lake State Park company. ” Natalie walked me through the process, the state park staff was pretty good, and all in all, the ShareLunker system is excellent one,” said Natalie.
At O. H. Ivie, Walker was fishing with his guide and excellent friend Kyle Hall on Monday. He has fished the river for many years, and Monday’s goal was to get a ShareLunker.
” We started out early in the morning, caught a few small fish, saw some great people and then suddenly saw a great big one on the nest”, said Walker. ” I got wonderful, and it bit. It came out of the ocean, and it looked like Moby Dick. When I got it in the vessel, it weighed 13.83 weight. I’ve been doing this for a long time, but it was so interesting. I’ve been so blessed in my life fish, and this makes 185 fish over 10 pounds that I’ve caught. This guitar is the second-largest guitar I’ve actually caught.
Walker has fished all over the world, and in 1977 he caught the largest dark bass in Honduras, but his favourite state of Texas is where he fishes.
” I’m so blessed to get to fish some of the best places in the world, but you ca n’t beat Texas”, added Walker. ” I’ve been in the fish industry my entire life. Grand Prairie and Garland, as well as a marina on Lake Joe Pool, were where we had a sporting goods business. The ShareLunker system has always been backed by us. Texas is a truly great status, and this is like a great program. The ShareLunker program has helped us have the best bass fish in the United States and possibly the earth.
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 ). These fish you call the ShareLunker helpline at (903 ) 681- 0550 to record their catch 24/7 through March 31.
Anglers may use a licensed scale to weigh possible Legacy Class fish. The ShareLunker Official Weigh and Holding Stations site contains a list of official weigh channels. Walker weighed his get using the certified range at Elm Creek Marina.
Anglers who catch and loan one of these 13-plus-pound Lunkers earn Legacy Group position, are given a capture equipment stocked with items, a car or boat with a 13-pound + Legacy emblem, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event, a high-quality replica mount of their fish from Lake Fork Taxidermy, and Bass University will provide a swag pack and annual subscription. These anglers will also be entered into the year-end Grand Prize Drawing and the Legacy Class Drawing, two separate drawings. The winner will receive a$ 5, 000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree in the middle of the drawing.
In Texas, there are four levels of participation in the year-round Toyota ShareLunker program for bass catchers over 8 pounds or 24 inches.
Anglers who enter information for any Lunker they catch in excess of 8 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 a chance to win a$ 5, 000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree. ShareLunker entry classes include the Bass Pro Shops Lunker Class ( 8 pounds or more ), Strike King Elite Class ( 10 pounds or more ), and Lew’s Legend Class ( 13 pounds or more ).
Anglers must enter the catch information on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app, which is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play, or on the Texas ShareLunker.com website.
Anglers have the option of sending a DNA scale sample from their lunker bass to TPWD researchers for genetic analysis in addition to providing basic catch 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 subscription to Bass University will also be provided to anglers who send in a genetic sample. The Toyota ShareLunker website has instructions for submitting DNA samples.
The generous sponsorship of Toyota makes the Toyota ShareLunker Program possible in part. Toyota has long supported the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and TPWD, providing significant funding for a range of fisheries, state parks, and wildlife projects.
Lew’s, Strike King, American Fishing Tackle Co., Bass Forecast, Bass University, Lake Fork Taxidermy, and 6th Sense Fishing all provide additional vital program support. For updates on the Toyota ShareLunker Program, visit facebook .com/sharelunkerprogram/, https ://www.instagram.com/TexasShareLunker/ or Texas Sharelunker.com.
