March 22, 2010
Athens, Texas — A snowy blast chilled Spring’s debut in North
Texas, but northeast Texas lakes were smokin’. Both Caddo Lake and Lake O’
the Pines produced new lake records.
Keith Burns of Jefferson caught Toyota ShareLunker 487 from Caddo Lake, a
16.17-pound brute that ranks 16 on the list of the 50 largest bass ever
caught in Texas. The previous record weighed 16.01. The fish bit a Senko
in five feet of water.
The fish also vaulted Burns into the lead for Angler of the Year honors.
The Texas resident who catches the biggest fish of the season receives a
lifetime fishing license from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation in
addition to other prizes awarded to all the anglers.
(continued below)
Keith Burns and his 16.17 Caddo Lake Largemouth Bass
James E. Hollis of Longview caught the new record for Lake O’ the
Pines-13.2 pounds-while fishing in a tournament. That fish was not only
the new lake record but also the first ShareLunker from the lake. The
former lake record was 12.74 pounds. Hollis caught the fish on a lizard in
five feet of water. "I’m not saying what color lizard," he said.
(continued below)
James Hollis and his 13.2 Largemouth Bass
The two-fish weekend coming in the midst of rain and snow driven by
fierce north winds increased the possibility the current season will see
the 500th fish entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program. The angler who
catches that fish will receive $500 per pound for his or her catch-a
minimum of $6,500.
The two catches also illustrated the importance of weighing big fish as
soon as possible after the catch and calling ShareLunker program manager
David Campell to report 13-pound or larger fish immediately. Hollis caught
his fish at 7:15 a.m. but did not report it until after the tournament
weigh-in that afternoon. Burns caught the Caddo fish at 11:30 a.m. and
called it in shortly thereafter, so became entry No. 487, while Hollis’s
fish became No. 488.
"Fish that meet all the entry qualifications are numbered in the order we
receive the calls from the anglers," Campbell explained. "The ShareLunker
program rules require that fish be turned over to TPWD within 12 hours
after the catch, since the sooner we begin caring for them the better
chance they have of survival. We encourage anglers who catch a fish they
think might weigh 13 pounds to have it weighed and put into a minnow tank
at a marina or official ShareLunker weigh and holding station as soon as
possible."
Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas
waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the
fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program by calling program manager David
Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or paging him at (888) 784-0600 and leaving a
phone number including area code.
ShareLunker entries are used in a selective breeding program at the Texas
Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens. Some of the offspring from
these fish are stocked back into the water body from which they were
caught. Other ShareLunker offspring are stocked in public waters around
the state in an attempt to increase the overall size and growth rate of
largemouth bass in Texas.
Anglers entering fish into the Toyota ShareLunker program receive a free
replica of their fish, a certificate and ShareLunker clothing and are
recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in
Athens.
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