Tommy Law, a well known guide on Falcon Lake, accomplished one of his lifetime goals on Friday, January 7, 2011 when he broke a nearly 20 year old lake record for black bass. Falcon is a world renowned fishery for trophy sized bass but with the events from last year, the lake has experienced a downturn in guide trips and fishing pressure. Some predicted the record would fall this spring; and with the lake fishing better than ever in recent years, even the stories of lake pirates couldn’t keep the die hard anglers away from chasing their fish of a lifetime. Texas Tournament Zone spoke with Tommy to gain some insight about his epic day on the water; and here’s the story about the one that didn’t get away!
Tommy was guiding Jeff Archie and his wife Stephanie, they were from Tennessee and this was their first time on Falcon. The first spot they stopped at was a drain coming off a spawning flat that Tommy had done well at a couple of weeks ago, and Jeff’s first fish was a fish of a lifetime for most of us.
“We were there about ten minutes and Jeff’s first fish was a 13 lb 0 oz monster; this fish was a brute and not a mark on her! Jeff caught her on a 3/4 oz football jig in 16 feet of water. She was 27 inches long and 21.5 inches in girth. I caught a seven pounder there as well,” said Law.
Stephnie was not getting bit so they decided to make a move about 20 miles to get her on a bite. It worked because she caught three real quick with one that went about 6 pounds.
“I got a phone call while we were there and a buddy of mine had a monster he wanted me to weigh and take a picture of; she went 12 lb 14 oz. After he left I decided that we would go to a place where I had a 41 lb 15 oz stinger a week or so ago.”
They pulled up on the spot, a ledge that went from 16 to about 24 feet, and made a cast and it was on; Stephanie had an 8 or 9 pounder to the top but she came off. The group caught several good fish including another 7 pounder…the big bass were loaded up and they were getting bit on almost every cast. And then it happened, around 3:00 PM Tommy decided to make one more cast.
“I made a cast a little farther out and when I picked up on the Texas rigged Watermelon Magic Magnum Fluke it felt like mush, so I just set the hook. I did not move her at all for a second or two and then all heck broke out! She surfaced out there and I told Jeff that we had another Share Lunker on; I got her to the boat and Jeff grabbed her and said, ‘Man she is bigger than mine,’ speaking of his earlier 13 pounder.”
“I put her on the scale and I saw 15 lb 9 oz pop up. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me so I ask Jeff to look and he said 15 lb 9 oz. I called James Bendele at Falcon Lake Tackle and he met me at the county ramp; we certified her at 15.63 pounds.”
Tommy’s fish replaced the existing lake record of 15.12 pounds set back on May 1, 1991. Both Share Lunkers were released back into the lake and they both swam away healthy and strong; their best five fish would have weighed 47 pounds 9 ounces!
Congrats Tommy on a well deserved record! To book a trip with Tommy or to learn more about Falcon Lake, you can contact him at 325-439-6045 or tommy@falconlakeguide.com. You can also visit his website by clicking here:
