Hey guys, back when Jordan Shipley wrote his story on La Perla, the thread grew quite long, and there were tons of questions, especially after the Bassmaster article came out. One of the questions was if I had bought or was buying fry from the Share Lunker program, and at that time, the answer was no. My plan was to go with the outstanding source of pure Floridas my biologist John Jones has access to.

Alton Jones had introduced me to Allen Forshage several years before. Allen runs the State Share Lunker program, and Alton was trying to be a matchmaker, believing that merging my nutrition/forage ideas with the State's advanced genetics work would be the perfect match, but Allen had told me there were no plans to do any more contract lakes with private landowners, and considered the chance a real long shot. He was intrigued however by the long growing season, the nutritional program using forage ponds, and the chance to work with the magical waters of the Rio Grande watershed.

Several months ago, after the article came out (no connection), Allen called and said that if I would sign a 15 year contract with the State, he could make it happen. I have to admit, I swallowed really hard. 15 years is a long time. I will only be a few south of 70 by then, and we have already proven we can grow giants on our own with the genes we can purchase.

Meanwhile, Jalisco is turning into something incredible after more than a year of digging, and will be boosted nutritionally by 50% of bass habitat supplemented by forage ponds as opposed to La Perla's 12 %. The future for this lake looks out of site, even without the special bass fry from the State, so the decision weighed very heavy on me.

I almost said no, but in the end, could not turn away from the unique opportunity historically, personally, and scientifically that saying yes to the contract could mean. I signed that sucker and sent it back. Bass fishermen are a crazy bunch sometimes. What we will do for a fish!!

Two weeks ago, proud papa Allen Forshage came down with the Operation World Record fry. Along with him came fisheries caretaker Raul, who was there also to show my La Perla guides and myself how to setup and use our certified scale and holding nets, in preparation hopefully for a donation of our own Share Lunker qualifier back to the State once we can catch one that is in season (they cannot accept a shocked fish...I already tried).

When the Jalisco water hit the holding tanks, Raul exclaimed with glee as the chase began the moment the two waters converged, with the little 5cm buggers running down my Jalisco zooplankton. By yesterday, they had already graduated to bigger game, as all over the lake, I saw them chasing the fatheads we stocked at 15x the normal rate.

So there you have it. I don't have much time to get on the forum, but between me and Jordan, I will try and give you progress reports from time to time in an effort to make you all feel a part of this grande Texas Experiment. We hope to make you proud of us, and proud to be a Texan.
Gary

Just curious, the fry come from donated fish from this year?

The fry came from ShareLunker 553, a 13.67 pounder caught from Lake Athens by Frank Kirk.

So we are donating fish to stock private waters now?

He said he had to sign a 15 year contract which I assume means they are buying them?

Pass the butter and salt please

So is this now a public lake?

So does the angler who donates get a kickback?

I am grateful for your efforts. I hope this turns out better than expected by far.

Yeah, I'm sure it will be public to anyone for a grand or 2 per day, per person and then another $200 per ounce over 10 lbs for every fish caught over 10 lbs.

I'd like to hear the explanation of how Texas Sharelunker fry end up in a private lake.

Best wishes to you. I hope you can make it happen.

Deep pockets will get you anything....