Since 1996, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel have stocked about 4.5 million Florida bass into Lake Austin, and in 2008 and 2010 it received stockings of ShareLunker offspring.
I'd say the efforts have been rewarded.
The lake produced a pair of Toyota ShareLunker entries last weekend from the same vicinity by anglers fishing near the Loop 360 bridge.
On Friday, Billy Weems of Liberty Hill caught a 13.21-pound largemouth about noon in 12 feet of water on a swimbait. The next day, Cody Smith of New Braunfels landed a 14.28-pounder about 10 a.m. on a jig.
T.J. Nissen of Austin owns the Lake Austin record after catching a 16.03-pound bass Jan. 27.
Last season, the lake produced two ShareLunkers, the first time in history it had more than one entry in a season.
TPWD biologist Stephan Magnelia offered this take on the success at Lake Austin: “I believe it’s a combination of an ongoing Florida bass stocking program, good habitat (aquatic vegetation) in the upper third of the reservoir, and catch-and-release by anglers."
TPWD’s chief of research and management, Dave Terre agreed: “We have been working to reduce hydrilla (an invasive plant) with timed water-level drawdowns and periodic stockings of triploid grass carp. Our goals are to reduce or eliminate hydrilla and also enhance native aquatic plants. We think aquatic vegetation is very important for habitat for bass in Lake Austin and is one reason this lake is so special for big fish. It also takes the Florida largemouth bass genetics and voluntary catch and release by anglers, because the fish need to live long enough to get that big.”
Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private through April 30 may submit the fish to the 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. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours.
ShareLunker entries are used in a selective breeding program at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center 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.
The person who catches the season’s largest entry will be named Angler of the Year and will receive a prize package from G. Loomis valued at $818. The package includes a G. Loomis NRX854C jig and worm rod, a Shimano ChronarchD1007 casting reel and 150 yards of moss green Power Pro super-braid fishing line.If a Texas angler catches the largest entry of the season, that person also receives a lifetime fishing license.
Nissen is in the lead.
Will Leschper is an award-winning member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Texas Outdoor Writers Association. Follow him on Twitter.
Comments