I will go with you...

I would rather enter the SAL from a private water only to save the name of the public water. No one truly knows 100% what goes on in private waters as far as stocking and managment wise. All the fish go too a great cause but yes, just out of bragging rights I believe there should be a private waters/public waters. Another question...Can you enter a SAL and leave the lake Anonymous?

why would you want the pond fish in a different catigory??? Share lunker is a breeding program, doesn't it make sence to get as much diverse genetic material as possible??? As many of those good genes as possible no mater where they come from??? It's not like they are putting a limit on the numbers lol whats the dif in getting 500 or 501 or 1000? eventually those numbers are gona come up... if we do our job right that is lol

ok here is a question or should I say comment...

Sharelunker is a program designed to keep a "good" gene pool of Texas bass growing into monsters. The simple fact is the native fish of Texas never grew over 13.5lbs. and that was held for like 40+ years. Now they introduced strains of bass from Florida, California, and even Cuba. Then we got a 18.18lb bass soon after!! So, here is a thought for you all to think about. Is your fish you love so much in a "public" lake a real Texan fish or just a manufactured gene strain of other bass from other places around the world?

Our "public" lake is not so different from a "private" lake at all if you think about the gene pool.

You can say how hard it is to catch fish from one spot to another thats what I like about bass fishing. Heck if it was easy who would do it??

The fact of the matter is the rules are stated pretty clear and who cares where you caught the fish as long as the rules were followed!

You stuck him in the mouth and it counts!! Great job!!

Sorry guys, but the SAL is a total waste of money. California is the only state that even comes close to the record, and I believe the whole point of the SAL program according to the state is to create a fish to beat the world record. In all honesty if they really want big fish they need some of those California fry from the bass that actually get that big (20+ lbs). Just for the record I hate California and am a life long Texan!

I think the same thing I think SAL is a waste of money. To me if SAL was not around we would have already have caught a 20lb. fish out of Texas. Just think about it. If people would have just took a pictures and let the fish go they would have grown bigger. I know not all the fish die, but alot of them do. Just take Choke Canyon for example look at all the 15lb. that died just this year from entering them into SAL. I know that it for the most part is not the handling of the fish from SAL, but the handling of the fish before they get them that makes the diff. if they live or die. But if they would have just took a picture the fish would still be swimming around and getting bigger. To me the only reason we have bigger fish than we had before is because of the Floride strain of bass. I wish TPW would stop SAL for five years and just stock fish out of the normal hatchery. I bet we start seeing more lake records. This is just what I think so if you have something that would change my mind please let me know. Thanks Justin

If it is for breeding and growing bigger fish, or a better chance at the fish.... then WHY will they NOT take it if it is not 100% flordia strain? I remember earlier this year there was 1 or 2 SAL's that got the hoorah from the state, but where not used in the breeding as they where not 100% fla. Haw can they know the genetics of a fish that comes form a priv pond, know the fishs' blood line has not been exposed to chemicals from land run off, if is it some hybric radical cross breed...etc?

I would say, were it not for the SAL program, many of the SALs would have been mounted for the wall. At least there is some good in that aspect. Plus, in looking at the decline in SAL numbers, I think the sky rocket in numbers of anglers in recent years is a variable to be considered.

As much pressure as bass get everywhere, its a miricle to me that anyone can go out and catch one.

The program is not for prestige, its for a breeding/stocking program- the only person who should care whether it came from private waters is the OWNER of the private water from which it was taken.

Go to to your Hyperbaric Chamber.