Well you got your altruism......then again, I try to think both like a biologist and a businessman. Yes, surely there is money involved and potential for profits at some point in such a "scheme." Nothing wrong with that, I also work for money. Land values may increase after 15 years and a lake with a reputation for gigantic specimens not found elsewhere, or indeed, if a world record LMB were produced, they payoff could be huge, you must think like as businessman, not a biologist or fisherman to see it.

A scenario....so the project works beyond anybody's imagination and after 15 years you got a lake with a some sea monsters in it. Call up an old buddy at PRADCO and ask him, "Which bait you wanna push? We can get you a gin-u-wine 20+ bein' caught on film on that bait for 'bout 'um say $half million$....."

I've told the tale of the first scumfrog tv commercial I helped make with Keith Warren a hundred years ago before they were released for sale.

Say a rich old Japanese businessman dreams to catch a 20+ and matters not how much the cost.....I have seen koi sell to the same type dude for that $half million$ why not a 20+ every bit as rare as a top koi?

The commercial opportunities as well as the road to get there are only limited by your knowledge and your imagination. Granted a 15 year planning horizon is kinda long....but stuff likes this takes a long time.

I truly hope they raise the record and that I live to see them (all involved, including TP&WD) cash in big time. If that is what they want.

In a place some may have heard of near West Columbia, where abovementioned tv commercial was filmed, we did find a way to congregate and hold, actively feeding (biting) LMBs where they were especially vulnerable to capture by hook and line.

Oh, and I really like rainbow trout as cheap bass food....

Haha fish breeder I think I need to sign you up as my business adviser!

Seriously, to each and every one of you who have posted since my long night the other night when I texted so much and laid my guts out there, thank you so much. You have lifted my spirits and encouraged me more than you will ever know. I want to respond specifically to as many of you as I can, but no time now. I got in late last night and could not keep my eyes open, but I will answer all of these sincere comments and questions later.
THANK YOU!
Gary

Fouzman-don't the fish have genetic markers???

My name is Frank Kirk. I'm the guy who caught the 13.67 from Lake Athens SL#553 .
What started out to be a big deal for me personallly has turned into something much less. Had I known that some offspring from my fish would end up in the hands of some rich guy I would have released her. I have been accused of getting kickbacks and have had sportswriters call wanting an interview. What I'm going to do is return the mount and other stuff and wash my hands of sharelunker. This whole deal doesn't smell right.

I'm just curious, don't want to cause any trouble. But how many figerlings went back in to Lake Athens from the SL#553, and how many would have survived to that same stage if she would have bred in the wild? Are those numbers out there?

edit:
Just looked up an article posted early, said 18,000 offspring from 2 SL's were released into Athens. How many would normally survive (to the stage that TPW released them)?

Also have any OWR fish that have been stocked in Lake Athens? Article says 850,000 offspring has been released in Texas. (not sure if that is from just the one OWR fish they took from one of their contract lakes)

Thanks for sharing!
I'm waiting for 16 lb plus as a possibility- then I'm there if possible.
Pretty much size matters. Sounds like very soon fish that size or bigger will be possible. I just don't fish any public or pvt water without that size possibility- sorta limits my choices.
Keep up the great work!!!

Will you adopt me??

it is more un-American to not pay your taxes.

it is great to not like big government or unfair taxes, but it is your job to pay 100% of them until the law changes. do everything you can in your power to change the laws or give up your citizenship and move away.

My name is Frank Kirk. I'm the guy who caught the 13.67 from Lake Athens SL#553 .
What started out to be a big deal for me personallly has turned into something much less. Had I known that some offspring from my fish would end up in the hands of some rich guy I would have released her. I have been accused of getting kickbacks and have had sportswriters call wanting an interview. What I'm going to do is return the mount and other stuff and wash my hands of sharelunker. This whole deal doesn't smell right.