After nearly four decades into an innovative, genetically-superior largemouth-bass-stocking program, Texas has become the envy of bass anglers and state fisheries departments nationwide.
In 1986, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) began partnering with the state’s springtime big bass anglers. TPWD sought to borrow large, spawning-ready fish from anglers, place them in Texas hatcheries, and raise their fry to fingerling size. Once grown, these genetically strong bass fingerlings would be stocked into public waters to boost the overall size of Texas bass.
The goal was to supercharge the state’s lakes and reservoirs with Florida-strain largemouth bass — known for superior genetics — that grow bigger and faster than other bass. Over time, officials believed this would provide anglers with trophy-size fish most can only dream of.
The state’s groundbreaking stocking program has proven successful beyond even the most optimistic predictions. It has clearly demonstrated that big bass produce more big bass. Moreover, the program confirms that modern fisheries management can improve both the size and abundance of bass through sensible, careful oversight.
Corporate partners including Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Strike King, and Lew’s have helped TPWD achieve the unprecedented success of the ShareLunker program. The 2025 season marks another milestone in this success story.
“The 2025 collection season was another standout year for the Toyota ShareLunker program, and it’s all thanks to the dedication and passion of ShareLunker anglers,” said Natalie Goldstrohm, Toyota ShareLunker program coordinator. “With new lakes joining the Legacy Class ranks, and returning favorites like O.H. Ivie continuing to impress, it’s clear that lunker bass fishing in Texas is thriving. Every ShareLunker catch helps TPWD advance bass genetics, fisheries management and angler recognition across the state.”
This year, anglers contributed 14 “Legacy Class” ShareLunker bass from nine different Texas public lakes.
A Legacy Class bass is a largemouth weighing 13 pounds or more. It must be caught in public Texas waters and loaned to the program during the state’s bass spawn (January through March). Anglers who loan these fish to TPWD receive sponsor rewards and a replica mount of their catch.
Famed O.H. Ivie Lake maintained its reputation for producing big bass, yielding six of this year’s 14 Legacy Class entries. Over the past five years, the 19,000-acre West Texas reservoir has produced 59 Legacy Class bass donated to the program.
On April 2, visiting angler Cullie Beveal was fishing O.H. Ivie with his friend Jonathan High and guide Kyle Hall. Conditions were rough — cold and windy — but around noon, Beveal cast a swimbait at a fish spotted on a LiveScope. The bass struck, and after a short, rugged fight, he pulled it alongside the boat.
“Kyle netted the fish and put it on the deck,” Beveal said. “None of us said anything for a few seconds as we processed what had just happened. We were in awe of its size.” A digital scale on board read over 16 pounds.
“I told Kyle and Jonathan, ‘No way.’ There was just no chance that fish weighed that much,” Beveal said. “We put it in the live well and headed to Elm Creek Marina, where we had launched, because they had certified scales.”
At Elm Creek, the pre-spawn female officially weighed 16.39 pounds. She measured 27.75 inches long with a 22-inch girth, making her the 20th-largest bass ever caught in Texas and the biggest weighed by state biologists this year. Beveal and his team contacted TPWD.
“The state’s Legacy Bass program for the spring spawn had just ended, but Kyle wanted to know if they still wanted the fish for their outstanding stocking program,” Beveal said. “They said absolutely, and within 30 minutes, a crew arrived with a transport tank.”
“My bass was very much alive and healthy when we handed it off to the state. I’ll have a replica mount made to always remember that day.”
This year’s Legacy Class bass came from nine reservoirs: O.H. Ivie, Richland-Chambers, Lady Bird Lake, J.B. Thomas, Alan Henry, Lake Tawakoni, Sam Rayburn, Lake Tyler and Toledo Bend.
Lake Tawakoni produced its first-ever Legacy Class bass this year, bringing the total number of Texas public reservoirs with Legacy entries to 79.
Willie Pipkin set a new lake record at Lady Bird Lake on Feb. 5 with a 14.05-pounder. He spotted the oversized bass on a spawning bed in a spring creek near downtown Austin. After three hours of casting, he finally hooked and landed it.
The bass fought hard and jumped twice before Pipkin brought it to shore and weighed it on a hand scale, which read 14 pounds.
“I knew immediately it was a bass that would qualify for the Texas ShareLunker program, and if it really was 14 pounds, it would be a Lady Bird Lake record, too,” he said.
Pipkin called ShareLunker program staff, who dispatched a team. Using a certified scale, they officially weighed the bass at 14.05 pounds, with a length of 27.75 inches and a 20.75-inch girth. The team used a large live tank to transport the fish to a state hatchery for spawning and eventual stocking.
As part of the Legacy program, TPWD will present Pipkin with a replica mount of his bass.
“After they spawn my bass in their Athens fish hatchery, they’ll contact me and I’ll meet them at the same spot to release her back,” Pipkin said. “This whole experience has been incredible. I’ve fished in Austin my whole life, and to catch a Legacy bass that’s also the lake record means the world to me.”
Pipkin’s fish became the 672nd bass to join the Texas Legacy Class ShareLunker selective breeding program.
