(Feb 8, 2010 TPWD News Release) Another South Texas reservoir that has benefited from rains several years ago is kicking out big bass. On February 6 Richard Flores of Seguin pulled a 15.09-pound largemouth from Choke Canyon Reservoir while flipping a 10-inch plastic worm in 12 feet of 57-degree water. That fish is now Toyota ShareLunker 478.
Flores’ fish continues a string of big bass that is significant. Of the seven fish entered into the Toyota ShareLunker program so far this year, three have weighed 14 pounds or more and one more than 15 pounds. Average weight of the entries thus far this season is 13.9 pounds.
Last season the average weight of five fish entered through mid-February was 14.19 pounds. That average was swelled by a 15.45-pound lake record from Choke Canyon and a 15.93-pound lake record from Lake Conroe.
In the 2007-2008 season only one fish had been entered by mid-February, a 13.06-pounder from Lake Conroe. In the 2006-2007 season the five fish entered by mid-February averaged 13.34 pounds.
Flores took his fish to the Calliham Store, an official ShareLunker weigh and holding station, to await pickup. The fish was 26.5 inches long and 21.75 inches in girth.
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. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours.
For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, visit the Toyota ShareLunker Program. The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures where available.
The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.
