Yantis fisherman catches trophy bass at Lake Fork

Posted 3/25/21

A 13-pound bass taken at Lake Fork last week qualified for The Legacy Lunkers, which continue to roll in with a run of five over last weekend, including three from O.H. Ivie, giving the lake nine during the 2021 Toyota ShareLunker season. The program had a run of eight in just over a week’s time to close out February, with six being landed at O.H. Ivie.

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Yantis fisherman catches trophy bass at Lake Fork

Posted

A 13-pound bass taken at Lake Fork last week qualified for The Legacy Lunkers, which continue to roll in with a run of five over last weekend, including three from O.H. Ivie, giving the lake nine during the 2021 Toyota ShareLunker season. The program had a run of eight in just over a week’s time to close out February, with six being landed at O.H. Ivie.

Lake Fork got on the board for the first time this year, Coleman City Lake produced its first ever Legacy Lunker, and milestone “ShareLunker 600” was caught during this latest run. The 2021 season total now stands at 17 with time remaining in March for more.

Lake Fork was the site for No. 13 of the 2021 Toyota ShareLunker season Thursday night, March 12. It was the first time since the 2019 season for Lake Fork, when ShareLunker 579 was reeled in on March 8.

Stan Tencza of Yantis has been fishing Lake Fork for about six years and logged “ShareLunker 598,” which tipped the scales at 13.06 pounds. Tencza used a white chatterbait to record his catch, setting a new personal best for largemouth bass. His previous personal record was a 10.7-pounder three years ago during the day. However, most of the fishing Tencza has done over the last four to five years has been at night.

“I live on the lake and unfortunately haven’t had much of a chance to fish so far this year, but finally got out Thursday night,” said Tencza. “It was my first night to night fish this year and I started the evening throwing out big swimbaits. We were about to give up, but then I heard some shad busting the water and switched over to a white chatterbait with a spin tail trailer. On the second cast I threw it out there, let it fall to the bottom and lifted up to get it up off the bottom. I think I got a reaction bite as she probably watched it fall before grabbing it. The excitement was overwhelming to say the least. Overall, I think it was the best night of my life.”

Barry Prince of Lindale, Texas caught the last Lunker to come out of legendary Lake Fork, which was in 2019. His weighed in at 13.73 pounds and at the time was the 264th Legacy Lunker from the lake.

Tencza’s catch Thursday night became the 265th in the history of the program at Lake Fork. Similar to O.H. Ivie’s six Legacy Lunkers at the end of February, Lake Fork had an incredible run of eight consecutive Legacy Lunkers during February 1995 into early March of that year.

During the first three months of the season (Jan. 1 through March 31), anglers who reel in a 13+ pound bass can loan it to Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. for the ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program. These anglers can call the ShareLunker hotline at (903) 681-0550 to report their catch 24/7 until April 1.

Anglers who catch and donate one of these 13+ lunkers earn Legacy Class status, receive a catch kit filled with merchandise, a 13lb+ Legacy decal for their vehicle or boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event and a high-quality replica of their lunker fish.

These anglers will also receive entries into two separate drawings; a Legacy Class Drawing and the year-end Grand Prize Drawing. Both drawings will award the winner a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and an annual fishing license.