In a remarkable turn of events on January 20th, Charles Roberts of Trinity, Texas, reeled in a massive 13.785-pound largemouth bass from O.H. Ivie Lake. This exceptional catch, guided by seasoned expert Brady Stanford, marks a significant milestone for the Texas ShareLunker program, as it was discovered to be the identical fish that had been caught, spawned, and released just the previous year by another angler. The incident underscores the efficacy of conservation efforts and the robust health of the lake's bass population.
The fishing expedition began with Roberts and his companion, B.J. Tarver, alongside guide Brady Stanford, employing forward-facing sonar in their quest for sizable bass. Despite initial challenges and only a single 6.5-pound catch by mid-afternoon, their fortunes shifted dramatically. Around 3:30 PM, the crew located a substantial school of fish congregated near a submerged creek ledge in 35 feet of water. Roberts adeptly cast his spinning tackle, rigged with 16-pound braided line and a half-ounce jig adorned with a soft plastic shad-minnow, directly into the school. Observers watched as a bass on the sonar screen approached the lure and struck.
A four-minute struggle ensued in the cold waters of the lake, with Roberts battling the powerful fish. Guide Stanford, a four-year veteran of O.H. Ivie, initially estimated the bass to be around 10 pounds as it briefly surfaced. However, upon successfully netting the fish, he immediately recognized it as a potential “Legacy” largemouth, a designation for bass weighing over 13 pounds donated to the Toyota ShareLunker program. This particular catch became the seventh such fish Stanford had guided anglers to, contributing to the program's 40-year legacy of fostering large bass populations in Texas.
Following the catch, Stanford contacted the ShareLunker hotline. A dedicated team arrived with a specialized live fish tank to transport Roberts’ bass to a state hatchery. There, the fish will undergo a spawning process, with its offspring collected for future restocking efforts. Once the bass has recovered, Roberts will have the unique opportunity to return to O.H. Ivie Lake to release it back into its habitat. In recognition of his contribution, Roberts will receive a replica of his impressive catch.
Adding to the story's intrigue, this incident marks the second time this specific bass has been designated a “Legacy Largemouth” and released back into Ivie Lake. Guide Stanford revealed that the same fish, weighing 13.66 pounds, was previously caught last March by his friend, Kevin Robertson, off a spawning bed. After its initial capture, it was also taken to a hatchery for spawning, microchipped for identification, and then released back into the lake.
Natalie Goldstrohm, coordinator for the Toyota ShareLunker program, confirmed that it is not uncommon for released bass to be caught multiple times over the years. She explained that the “PIT Tags,” similar to pet microchips, allow biologists to verify if a fish has been previously caught. This re-capture phenomenon underscores the program's vital role in managing and enhancing the bass fishery. The continuous cycle of catching, spawning, and restocking these magnificent fish demonstrates the program's success and benefits for Texas anglers, lakes, and the overall bass ecosystem, showcasing the impact of collaborative conservation efforts.