Fork kicks out #7 for the season, 15.27

[Matt Fly 1]

It hasn't been officially posted yet, but #398 has been caught from Fork. Come on guys, don't this fish look bigger, a camera does wonders in different angles, although 15.27 is huge.   OOPS!!!! TPWD said 15.5, my bust, don't want to take nothing away from that mamoth she-pig.

TPWD Press Release

LAKE FORK SPEAKS WITH 15.5-POUND LARGEMOUTH: BUDWEISER SHARELUNKER NO. 398

ATHENS, TexasTo paraphrase a line from a bad mystery novel, Lake Fork has been quiettoo quiet. While lakes from Conroe to Casa Blanca produced six entries in the Budweiser ShareLunker program, the all-time leading producer of trophy largemouth bass was mute.

Fork broke its silence Tuesday, when Billy Pfeil of Alba pulled a 15.5-pound largemouthBudweiser ShareLunker No. 398from the lake.

The huge fish was 25.25 inches long and 23.5 inches around. It was the 19th largest Budweiser ShareLunker entry from Lake Fork and the 24th largest fish entered into the program.

Not since Jim Harrell caught a 16.12-pound fish from Lake Fork on March 22, 2002, has the lake produced so large an entry.

Pfeil was fishing in 12 feet of water using a black-and-blue 5-inch Senko when the fish took it at 2:30 in the afternoon.

The angler who catches the 400th lunker will receive a prize package that includes $400 per pound of weight. That fish must be turned over to TPWD alive; for tips on caring for lunkers until pickup, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/rules/'>http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/rules/

Anglers fishing from the bank or from a boat with no livewell should pay special attention to this information.

Anglers legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass in Texas waters may enter it into the ShareLunker program by calling David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or by paging him at (888) 784-0600.

For information on the Budweiser ShareLunker program, including current and previous season records, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/

The Budweiser ShareLunker program is made possible through support from Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Since 1991, Anheuser-Busch, in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, has contributed millions of dollars in funding to support conservation causes and fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation programs in Texas.

[KU_Bassmaster. 11]

Yeah, that thing looks WAAAAAYYYYY bigger than 15.27.  That's the biggest from Fork in a while isn't it??

[roadwarrior 6,559]

If he hadn't weighed that fish, the guy could claim any weight he wanted.

Man, that's a hawg!

[Matt Fly 1]

We aren't doing anything in Texas to alter genetics.   This female will go to the hatchery, she will be placed with a male that has good genetics its self to lay eggs in a controlled enviroment.    DNA samples will be recorded.  In 20 years, they will be able to tell that one of her offspring has become a sharelunker also, we hope so.    A fully mature female can lay up to 50,000 eggs.    Only a handful will turn out to have the right genes out of her spawn.    

It was once explained that you can line up all the 50,000 6'8" guys in Texas, it doesn't mean all of them can play basketball.   Its misleading to think that 50,000 eggs will become sharelunkers, only a handful will have the right gene, the dominant eggs. Or, theres always runts in the litter even though parents are well papered.

Some of these fish don't make it to the hatchery, its sad, but we the fishermen in Tx have been reaping the rewards of the program for 20 yrs.   We didn't have a record over 13lbs until the research started.

You want a shot a double digit bass, contact your state authorities, compile the fishing data on license sales and economy generated, and the boost to the economy from having a program like the share lunker program.   Thats how it got started.   We spend x amount of dollars on fishing in TX.   Some of it should be used to boost the fishing even more.   Alas, Lake Fork, generates 30 million a year by itself.

KU can attest to what Fork did for him, his personal best of over 10 lbs.   I hope the rest of you coming can also leave with their personal best.   One fishermen trying to get state programs started is one voice, but with us all on the same side or same team, we have a loud voice to be heard.  

If Ca. had an active program, bass stocking program, she would have eclipsed the WR already, let me say if TX had those waters, we would be knocking the door down.    Ca. does not actively stock F-1's, they merely allow the fish to reproduce on their own.  

[zimmy 0]

HEY MATT

WHEN I GET THERE THURSDAY THAT MEANS#399 AN 400 WILL BE WAITING FOR ME TO CATCH  8-) ZIMMY

[Matt Fly 1]

Last summer, night fishing, guide Randy Oldfield caught a 15+ on a standard black and blue jig in 5ft of water in Glade Creek.  That wasn't publized, but if you know Randy, he launches exclusively out of Coffee Creek, and 95% of his night clients fish in Glade.   It would have put him in the top 25, so the fish was around 15.7.   pictures are posted at the Minnow Bucket of this fish also.

[Matt Fly 1]

Zimmy, you guys gonna be in from Chicago this thursday, tommorrow?

[Low_Budget_Hooker 98]

Sorry Zimmy,..Matt will tell you himself that I have dibs on #399.  Called it last November man,...if you came down with us a few weeks later we could have given you a shot at #400.  j/k of course.

Let us know how you make out, please post anything we may want to know in the post below!  Thanks in Advance and catch 'em up!

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1132009969

[Matt Fly 1]

I just read that Randy Oldfield said this was caught on a senko, but heard another report that is was homemade custom brown jig.   Want know until TPW posts story, It showed up at 4pm yesterday at the marina, and if I had a monster fish in my livewell, I'm gone to the nearest certified scale......ASAP!!!!!

[zimmy 0]

MATT

WE FLY INTO DALLAS THIS THURSDAY MORNING 11:30 AM ,THEN DRIVE TO FISHERMANS COVE. RICKYS IS GOING TO HAVE THE BOATS THERE FOR US.

HOPING TO GET MY FIRST TEN POUND BASS EVER DOWN THERE!   [LBH I WOULD HAVE LOVE TO BE THERE WHEN YOU GUYS ARE BUT ALREADY HAD THIS TRIP BOOKED BEFORE YOU GUYS CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA. HOPING NEXT YEAR YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND I'LL BE THERE! 8-)ZIMMY

[Matt Fly 1]

I have buddy flying in from Mass. Friday, we'll be on water all weekend.  Sole purpose was to come back and fish Fork again.    He lined up Rick Carter for a guide I believe.   Rick has been running a BassCat also.

[BD 0]

What a sow!

I think it's bigger too.

[Matt Fly 1]

Latest Emails said it was caught in the Little Caney area, that is the middle creek that splits the fork down by the dam, the same area the state record was caught.   My amigo that keeps his ear to the ground is from Fork, and works at the Bass Lantern, the Minnow Bucket resturant.

[AC_Doctor 0]

Let's hope this fish may make an "egg" donation and be re-released back into Lake Fork.  What a beautiful beast!!!

AC

[Minuteman 1]

The angler holding the fish is like 3' 4" tall, right   ?

[Captain Cali 2]

That's a BIG BASS!!

[Rattletrap 1]

That's a healthy, good looking bass.   I bet it made some killer filet's.....  ;D

[flechero 142]

Latest Emails said it was caught in the Little Caney area

Probably caught it in front of the gypsy camp! LC is a great area, not nearly the pressure as the bigger name areas out there. The real reason we fished it though was my boss's house was in the back of LC and he used to leave the boat in the water, tied to a tree for us... with a note in a ziplock bag on the seat with where to go and what was working... he almost always pre-fished for us the day before. Ahh... the good ol' days! ...lol

[KU_Bassmaster. 11]

LC is where I caught mine.  On the east side about half way up it.

[Low_Budget_Hooker 98]

Zimmy- next year is almost in the works already.  We are planning either Fork in late feb/early march or somplace totally different w/o the pressure.

Matt-where is your friend in Mass from,..we're neighbors, maybe you could get me another guy to add to my call list for the season?

[Matt Fly 1]

I'm gonna butcher this, Antassawamock, I think, I just say Antass.   His name his Scott, I actually met him through another fellow from Ma. that has lived in Tx for a long time.    He loves Fork.   He actually arrives on Tues, We will fish wed-sat, I told them I would take a day off, but have scheduled way too much time has it is in March.  I have another inspection, surprise inspection, that could be any time.    Lots of irons going right know.  

Matt

[Low_Budget_Hooker 98]

Nice, he's about 20 minutes from me,..tell him to join so we can chat!

[ball_coach_1 0]

Son, that's a hawg!   What an awesome picture that guy has to share for the rest of his life, and am sure the story that goes with it will increase with drama daily.  

[GobbleDog 1]

pfff, that's nuthin. I've caught bigger bass than that.  

:-/

[Hookhead 0]

WOW!  What a monster!  I think that angler is really Burl Ives....