Where's this video you're talking about? His story is he made two casts at it and she bit on the second.

Just a few points:
1) Congrats to the angler on catching such a remarkable fish!
2) He caught it so his fish to do as he pleases, however,
3) I’m disappointed that he didn’t release the fish under the circumstances.
4) I’m extremely disappointed that Texas Parks and Wildlife picked up this fish after the Sharelunker period had ended. Someone should be held accountable for that.
5) No one on here knows for certain if that fished has spawned once or twenty times in her lifetime or if any of the fry survived if she did spawn. So saying her genetics are already in the lake is just plain guessing until further proof of genetic testing is done on future generations. But they don’t need to transport them to Athens to do that.
6) A fish that big will only live a few more years possibly in her natural environment or in an aquarium. So putter her there for display is a very short term investment.

Shame on you TP&W! You could have gotten your tissue samples for genetic testing and then released the fish back where she belongs. Like some have said before, focus on making the lakes healthy by reestablishing aquatic vegetation, provide regular stockings in these high pressured lakes at times when the fry have a chance to survive, and stop the Sharelunker disaster. Genetic testing can still be done without removing the fish from her home lake.

That might be the case- just watch the start of the cut video which is the guide pulling his hand back from the rod and then an instant "hookset." Maybe this isnt the case but if you watch the video you would think a cast to catch top 20 Texas bass wouldn't be cut. Either way congrats on a GIANT.

Where's the video?

Must be another video.

Nope thats it. Whats the guides hand doing? Its doing something regarding the rod. Maybe working the bait for him? Why not show cast to catch on the 20th largest bass ever in Texas and maybe one of the largest a guide to "put a client on" ever. What reason would you have as his guide to not show all of it and cut it like that. Come on Chris just think about it. Its super obvious.

I agree with you Barrett. Looks like Kyle did and that could explain the awkward hook set.

Could almost make one wonder what bait was really in its mouth, awful lot of edit in that video.

If you will pay attention to all these videos for this bait they are all cut to pieces. Really makes you wonder. Another OH Ivie guide just posted one of him making a cast with the panorama or whatever this bait is they are all pushing hard and then its cut and he sets the hook and the entire sky is different. Then its cut again when he lands the fish and then the next clip is the bait in its mouth. Its pretty obvious if you pay attention but I guess some folks dont.

If that’s what happened I would not be surprised in the least. Also the guide just got sponsored by 6th so I’m sure there is a need to push those baits real hard. When it comes to the traveling circus can you really believe anything. Wasn’t there some questions on whether that 17lbr was snagged or not a couple of years ago?

He's got a 16 in 2022 as well. He's on the Texas Top 50 twice.

TPWD has already corrected their initial statement, by saying that the fish will be treated and released after she is healed up from being caught. It's best for the fish to go to Athens, be stress relieved, receive whatever fish care meds they administer, then released. What if they just snapped a couple pics, chunked her back and she was a floater a few hours later.

Kyle has been on the 6 staff for quite a while. Jason Conn didn't snag that fish. In the mouth, fair and square. The video catch is out there.

I posted pics of the 17 being snagged multiple times (hooked in the side and top) from the umbrella rig baits, guys wanted to hang me; but it was obvious where the hooks were in the picture.

They all claimed that the hooks came out of the mouth and landed in the side of the fish…well, that’s still a snag.