Sharelunker Question.....

Seeing all this Ivie talk made me have a question.

Obviously they take the 13’s to Athens. What are they doing with the 10, 11, 12’s etc.? Are they taking those to Athens too with this new program?

My understanding is only the 13's go to the hatchery and the others are released back in the lake or whatever the guy who caught it wants to do with it.

<13 is just for recognition with the program.

I think a picture and weight sent to TPWD of one over 8 will get you the "atta boy" on Facebook everyone so craves nowadays.

And no not saying you as in pointing at you in particular.

I realize they need fish to continue the program but it doesn’t seem right to displace all these fish that could potentially grow into the next state record. 16 is pretty dang close if the fish was released we could be talking about a new state record in the coming season.

co-pro after they take the fish to the hatchery and spawn it, it is given back to the angler who can then return it to where it was caught or even move it elsewhere.

Sometimes they don't survive because at 16 pounds it is probably a pretty old fish.

Or it could die. Or it could just not get any bigger, or it could be in the frying pan....seems like volunteering it for a breeding program isn’t too bad after all. But, second guessing is the easiest thing in the world. I do it all the time.

A sal is 13+. Always has been, always will. The rest is just for the everyone gets a ribbon generation.

Hopefully, they get released back into the lake, but it is the anglers option. It is a legal fish and they can keep it to clean or release it back into the lake it came from. They don’t take the <13 fish to Athens.

I have fished Ivie for the last 20 yrs, I have owned a place there for the last 13.

I look in the dumpster at the fish cleaning station to see if any fish are being caught almost every trip (2-3) times a month.

I have seen numerous big bass that have met with a filet knife over the years.

I saw a 5lb small mouth on a guys rope stringer that was fishing from the bank. I'm almost sure it met a filet knife.

It doesn't seem to have stunted the population much.

A sal is 13+. Always has been, always will. The rest is just for the everyone gets a ribbon generation. [/quot

^^^This ^^^

A sal is 13+. Always has been, always will. The rest is just for the everyone gets a ribbon generation. [/quot

^^^This ^^^ I can't believe I agree with Dubee HA

Look at you taking a shot at me. Hope y'all are doing well Jerry

Just wait, after all this publicity it's going to get worse

Wish they kept the list separate by class on texas parks. Now you have to scroll thru 17 pages to count the lunkers in a year.

Ok i think they started this new SAL program because in this new format they can get a more accurate count of all the fish over 24" or 8lbs. If ya'll can remember they used to place sheets in all the marinas around lake fork (not sure of other lakes) for people to postand report fish they caught with weight and time they caught them think they had to be at least 6lbs not sure. With this new program you have to send in pics showing weights and length and they offer a pretty good prize pack. Just think its a more accurate way to help our texas lakes grow more and bigger fish and also, see how their restocking program is working to their satisfaction or not.
Just my

yes for sure, the part of the equation you didnt mention is they needed to get people to log their biggs because when they shock lakes they seldom get over 7 lbers, the bigger fish can resist it better and make one or two tail pumps and they are out of range as well as they generally are not shallow enough.

I agree Jerry. Just glad to know they aren’t taking all those other fish in. Wish they’d just go back to 13+.

RIP / RIG Ivie!

Dude at Rayburn kept his SAL 5 years ago, pretty sure he got it skin mounted. Won’t see me donating any fish to the SAL program if I ever get lucky enough to catch one. It’s better off released back into the lake after weight and pics.

I never paid much attention to ShareLunker program myself, but always believed it was a good thing. When KenTex posted about it a while back, it got me more interested and I entered an Elite status fish. Wanted to post pics of the surprise package I received but thought it would take away from anyone else receiving theirs. Let me just say, it was more than expected, and I'm proud of my shiny participation ribbon. Thank you, State of Texas!

Again I don't understand the hate.

The fish removed from any lake and donated to the Sharelunker program don't put a drop in the bucket as far as numbers of big fish on these lakes. Even if the fish were to die and not be re-released, the lake will remain unaffected. I personally believe the Sharelunker program is a big reason why these lakes are so good. Why discontinue a program that made it possible to catch these fish in the first place.


Also don't understand the hate for guys that submit data from fish less than 13 lbs to the Sharelunker program. More Data is always a good thing. Sure some of you guys have caught multiple fish over 13 lbs, but the truth is most anglers won't catch one over 10. So who cares if they are proud of their catch? If a man catches a PB that is 8 lbs, I'm going to be happy for him, and I honestly don't care what he calls it. Instead of being bothered by the fact that he is referring to a fish < 13 lbs as a Sharelunker, I will spend my energy being happy for the fisherman.

I caught my first 10 last October on Ivie. I don't refer to it as a Sharelunker. Personally I wouldn't refer to any fish < 13 lbs as a Sharelunker, but my life remains unaffected if someone else chooses to do so. Why can't we just be happy for each other?

Good philosophy. The SAL program was most likely the very reason there are so many big fish being caught out of Ive right now. If TPWD does the data mining I bet you would find the recent 16.40 from Ive was an offspring of another SAL from some lake in the past. It danged sure wasn't an original fish from 21 years ago when the lake was first impounded.

If you have landed a bass over 8 pounds the chances are very high you have indeed benefited from the SAL program whether you knew it or not. Native Texas fish rarely exceed 8 pounds even when intensively managed in a small lake being force fed a steady diet.

Nobody is hating on this. Just a lot of us still believe a 13 is the true goal of a Sharelunker. I know that’s my goal for sure.
As far as the awards for fish under.....I know I can speak for myself and say I don’t like it for the reason that’s it a reward for something under the original goal. And that’s a lot of what’s wrong with the world today. Nobody wants to work to achieve a goal. They want it handed to them. And I’ll tell you, my kids are the worst. Lol. It’s a daily battle trying to instill in them what I was taught growing up. But in this world today, they are shown different.

I’m not knocking any man woman or child that wants to turn in a fish under 13. That’s their right. Just not my cup of tea and not the goal I’ve been trying to achieve for years.

Since the ShareLunker program began in 1986 there have been 562 entrees over 13lbs. That's an average of 16 fish per year. That's not very many data points per year to try and manage the fisheries on nearly 200 reservoirs in the state. Since they modified the program in 2018, they added nearly 300 additional data points per year on catches over 8lbs. It's purely about data on their end, it has nothing to do with a participation trophy. They get hundreds of extra data points for a few thousand bucks in stickers, hats, and donated soft lures. They are better for it. Our fisheries are better for it. Us anglers are better for it. I don't understand why more folks don't embrace it. Plus putting a sticker on your truck is pretty cool in my opinion. (Yes, I know it needs a wash)

You’re wrong. For years at Lake Fork Marina we were filling out a book for TPW for fish over 7 lbs. Fish 7-12 lbs. you filled out the info on the line at the Marina. Fish over 13, they came and picked up.

Now days you just have to say "Legacy Class" instead of just "Sharelunker" to distinguish between the 13 lb fish or over 8's. Its really not that big of a deal....

TPWD had a recognition program in place previously where you could get a "Trophy Catch" (or something like that) certificate, this has just taken that recognition to the next level while at the same time providing TPWD with more data on fish over 8 lbs statewide than its ever had access to. The program at Fork where you advised the marinas of all catches over 7 lbs was a great idea, now they have been able to expand across Texas with the app. More information to be evaluated by fisheries biologists is a good thing. We're just so darn spoiled here we forget that an 8lb plus bass is the fish of a lifetime for the majority of bass anglers in the country.

Wrong about what? I have no idea what they did at Fork, it's one lake out of 188. Maybe they have that data stored somewhere, but it's not in their data base online. Here's the link. Every number I quoted is straight from their website. https://texassharelunker.com/archives/

About data. They’ve been receiving data for years for fish under 13 lbs.

...and fewer people knew about it than know about ShareLunker. You see it as part of the "Participation Trophy" generation, I am a little older than that. Others see it as a change in philosophy for a program that had a publicity problem after the loss of a few fish recently. They added minimal funds to the program, reinvigorated the vision, and are expanding the reach of the program using data learned from Florida's program. It still takes a GREAT FISH to be entered into the program, and they hold a special place for the true Lunkers in the State!

My 13.69 went to Athens and passed away at the hatchery. Got to be 16.59 when she passed, and they notified me.
The 14.59 went to hatchery, and was released.

Two AWESOME fish man!

Can I ask if you were on a guide trip when you caught them and if so who?

No by myself, Spoke to Brian Duplichain “ Tiki MAN “the morning before first one, ( remember when he used to work for wave worms), I asked him what they were biting on, he said cinnamon blue wave worm.
Well I’ll be dammed, bought some, and went out and BOOM, sure enough was a 13.66 weighted a t LFM.
4 months later went around same area with one of the first dark green chatter baits, reeling it back in slow, then BAM !!! All hell broke lose.....
Thought at first it was a big carp..... then grab her, DIDNT have a net, thought I was going to lose her but she kind of flopped on her side, 14.59.
I had a fifth wheel by LFM parked by the office, those were the days !!!!!!

Wow! Congrats to you! Brian is one of the nicest guys in the world.

Did your 14.59 get entered in the program?

He sure is a great guy

No, sharelunker program was over by time I caught it, my 13.66 was caught on 4/16/2002, #341, I wish I would have caught the 14.59 during the sharelunker dates. Would have been 2 sharelunkers on same year.
I live in Albuquerque, so couldn’t get back to Fork on time...
But it was a great experience and I was lucky as hell !!!

I've caught 3, turned in one. It died....

Tons of fish 7-12 lbs never made those books at Fork. No motivation to turn the info in and then some were making claims people were making it up. I think the current program grew out of the early attempt to collect data at Fork.

[/quote]
Tons of fish 7-12 lbs never made those books at Fork. No motivation to turn the info in and then some were making claims people were making it up. I think the current program grew out of the early attempt to collect data at Fork.
[/quote]

Correct, this is why i think they changed it because some people didn't and still dont have scales in their boat and would guess the weight and that wasn't as accurate as the new program they currently use. it gives them almost a 100% accurate data through pics of both the weight and inches and reward you for your efforts.

I don’t see a big deal about entering a fish over 8lbs into the program your going to take a picture with your fish anyway. Why not share it with SAL and get a little gift pack for her . You are still putting her right back in the lake are I hope you are anyway. I understand you guys don’t want your home lake published but with this day and age there is no way around it .

RIP to one of the 14s from ivie

I don't fakebook, tweeter instant any gram r sappy chatty , but anthing over 5 and I'm gonna booger up a cell fie and send a text message to my buddies. I don't crave anything except the adrenaline rush and one up a buddy's last picture.