Largest Bass to Ever Hit the Scales

Texas angler reels up one of the biggest bass to ever hit the scales in Texas.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, Jason Conn of Anna caught a 17.03-pound ShareLunker 642 at O.H. Ivie near San Angelo.

This is now the sixth-heaviest ShareLunker donated to Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Toyota ShareLunker program.

Conn spotted a big fish while guiding a trip and instructing a client at the front of the boat, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Conn noticed that fish drifting backwards in the boat when they were drifting backwards. He walked back to get into position and placed the bait.

“The bait went right over her head and she just smoked it,” said Jason. “She comes out of the water with the Alabama Rig hanging out of her mouth and she digs back down. I’m screaming for them to grab the net and once we got her in the net, I’m freaking out, hugging one of the clients while the other is hanging over the boat with the fish in the net. I finally got it together and we went over to pick her up. It was the biggest bass I’ve ever seen or caught.”

“This is an unbelievable feeling,” said Jason. “I’ve been bass fishing my entire life and I know this fish I caught is the result of the ShareLunker program. Watching what has been going on over the last couple of years with the program has been incredible. I know they are going to take good care of the fish. Hopefully she produces a lot of offspring that we can put all over the state.”

For bass weighing more than eight pounds or 24 inches in Texas, the Toyota ShareLunker program offers four levels of participation year round. In addition to the Legacy Class (13-plus pounds between January and March), ShareLunker entry classes include the Lunker Class (8-plus pounds), Elite Class (10-plus pounds), and Legend Class (13-plus pounds from April to December).

Sources: KWTX