Lake Tyler, Lake Fork Bump ShareLunker Collection Total to Double Digits

Lake Tyler, Lake Fork Bump ShareLunker Collection Total to Double Digits

March 5, 2026

Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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ATHENS - The 2026 Toyota ShareLunker program collection season reached double digits with 11 Legacy Class entries on Thursday and Saturday afternoon thanks to Lake Tyler and Lake Fork.

Lake Tyler was back on the board for the second consecutive year while the legendary Lake Fork returned to the ShareLunker Legacy Class stage for the first time since 2021. With the addition of these two Legacy Class ShareLunkers, 10 different waterbodies have now recorded a Legacy Class largemouth bass in 2026.

Jack York of Emory reeled in 13.45-pound ShareLunker 693 Thursday afternoon, his second overall Legacy Class fish. York landed 13.51-pound ShareLunker 634 on Jan. 23, 2023, at Lake Nacogdoches and returned to the spotlight with his Legacy Class entry from Lake Tyler.

"Every Legacy Class entry tells us something about the health and potential of a fishery, including the quality of its habitat and forage base," said Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD coordinator for the Toyota ShareLunker program. "We're thrilled to see these reservoirs contribute again in 2026. It's encouraging to watch that progression, and we appreciate the anglers who help us capture and celebrate these achievements."

Dale Washington of Godley landed 13.38-pound ShareLunker 694 at Lake Fork Saturday afternoon. This is his second overall Legacy Class catch. Washington submitted his first on April 10, 2007, 13.05-pound ShareLunker #436 from legendary Lake Fork. At the time, 13-plus-pound largemouth bass were picked up through the month of April by the program. Washington's 2007 ShareLunker was a recapture of a fish caught one year earlier by Robert Jones of Clute. Washington's first fish also set a record for the number of eggs from a single ShareLunker spawn, which was 50,697 in 2007.

Meanwhile, for Lake Tyler, Thursday's fish was the third Legacy Class ShareLunker in the waterbody's history. Jason James of Whitehouse caught 13.20-pound ShareLunker 679 on March 22 last year and, at the time, just the second Legacy Class entry for Lake Tyler, the first since 2021. James Crawford of Whitehouse put Lake Tyler on the Legacy Class lunker stage on March 20, 2021, with 15.44-pound ShareLunker 604. It shattered the previous Lake Tyler record by over 2.5 pounds and still reigns as the biggest largemouth bass in lake history.

Out on Lake Fork, Washington had been fishing for three or four hours and had caught a few fish, but the bite wasn't great. Washington then decided to change things up a bit with his approach.

"It was around 2 p.m. and I decided I was going to try and fish a tree line," said Washington. "I'd been throwing a jig all day but decided I would pick up a chatterbait and literally on the second cast on this tree line, this fish hit it and the fight was on at that point. The fight was pretty phenomenal. Thankfully, I had it on braid because when it hit, it took off. I was fishing by myself and had a rough time getting my net on it because it was so big. I was finally able to get it in the net, put it in the bottom of the boat and I almost passed out at the point."

Washington knew it was well over 10 pounds but not exactly how heavy it was. He called a friend who was on another boat to let him know about the catch and asked him to come to his location. They weighed the fish on Washington's scale and when it registered over 13 pounds, they headed to Lake Fork Marina to get a verified weight.

"The experience with the ShareLunker program was great," said Washington. "Natalie told me exactly what to do. We took really good pictures and they were there within an hour or hour and 15 minutes to collect the fish. I think you all [TPWD] have done a great job and I think Lake Fork is really on the comeback because it went through a little slump there. I think with the grass growing back the fish are really getting healthy again and you are starting to see a lot more eight, nine, ten, eleven-pound fish and hopefully some more 13 pounders and bigger. I think you all have done a great job."

About the ShareLunker Program

During the first three months of the season (Jan. 1 through March 31), anglers who reel in a 13-plus pound bass can loan it to TPWD for the ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program. These anglers can call TPWD on the ShareLunker hotline at (903) 681-0550 to report their catch 24/7 through March 31, 2026.

Legacy Class ShareLunker weights are all verified using a certified scale, but anglers may use a digital scale to get an initial weight to inform the ShareLunker response team. Once the TPWD team arrives, they can take a certified weight on site.

A list of official weigh stations can be found on the ShareLunker Official Weigh and Holding Stations website.

Anglers who catch and loan a 13-plus pound lunker earn Legacy Class status, receive a catch kit filled with merchandise donated by program sponsors, a 13lb+ Legacy decal for their vehicle or boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event, a high-quality replica mount of their fish from Lake Fork Taxidermy and ShareLunker branded apparel provided by AFTCO. Anglers 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.

The year-round Toyota ShareLunker Program offers anglers three additional levels of participation for catching bass over eight pounds or 24 inches in Texas public waters. Each of these levels provide vital data for TPWD fisheries biologists, helping them better manage bass in Texas.

Anglers who enter data for any lunker they catch greater than eight pounds or 24 inches also receive a catch kit, a decal for their vehicle or boat, a one-month subscription card to Bass University and an entry into the year-end Grand Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree. ShareLunker entry classes include the Bass Pro Shops Lunker Class (8 lb.+), Strike King Elite Class (10 lb.+) and Lew's Legend Class (13 lb.+).

Once a qualified lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app - available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play - or at TexasSharelunker.com.

In addition to providing basic catch information, anglers have the option to send a DNA scale sample from their lunker bass to TPWD biologists for genetic analysis. Anglers who contribute a sample to the program will receive a Lew's baitcasting reel while supplies last, with a limit of one reel per angler. Instructions for submitting DNA samples are located on the Toyota ShareLunker website.

TPWD and the Toyota ShareLunker program are once again partnering with AFTCO on the AFTCO Guide of the Year award for the 2026 ShareLunker season. The AFTCO Guide of the Year award recognizes a fishing guide who contributes to conservation and enhancement of largemouth bass in Texas.

The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible in part by the generous title sponsorship of Toyota. Toyota is a longtime supporter of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and TPWD, providing major funding for a wide variety of fisheries, state parks and wildlife projects.

Additional vital program support comes from Legend Class category prize sponsor Lew's, Elite Class category prize sponsor Strike King, Lunker Class category prize sponsor Bass Pro Shops, AFTCO, Bass Forecast, Bass University and Lake Fork Taxidermy.

For updates on the Toyota ShareLunker Program, visit facebook.com/sharelunkerprogram/, https://www.instagram.com/TexasShareLunker/ or TexasSharelunker.com.