Fort Phantom Hill Delivers its Second Legacy Class ShareLunker, Toledo Returns to the Mix

Fort Phantom Hill Delivers its Second Legacy Class ShareLunker, Toledo Returns to the Mix

Feb. 12, 2026

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

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ATHENS - Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir, located just north of Abilene, is back on the board with its second Legacy Class ShareLunker while Toledo Bend returned to the Toyota ShareLunker stage for the third consecutive collection season. The Toyota ShareLunker program is a cornerstone of Texas Parks and Wildlife's (TPWD) efforts to grow bigger, better bass.

Travis McCollough of Abilene reeled in 14.35-pound ShareLunker 686, a new waterbody record, on Thursday afternoon at Fort Phantom Hill, followed by Drake Wadsworth of Stonewall, Louisiana, with 13.10-pound ShareLunker 687 on Saturday at Toledo Bend.

McCollough's and Wadsworth's Legacy Class largemouth bass bumped the overall total to four in the 2026 Toyota ShareLunker collection season. O.H. Ivie and Alan Henry kicked off the collection season on Jan. 20 and 22, respectively.

The recent trend at Fort Phantom Hill illustrates the impact of how angler participation in TPWD programs can provide information on some of the largest bass in the lake. Eric Lewis of Haskell landed Fort Phantom Hill's first-ever Legacy Class fish on March 3, 2024, with 13.33-pound ShareLunker 660. His fish broke Scotty McCorkle's waterbody record, which was a 12.90-pound largemouth bass caught on July 19, 2022.

These milestones don't happen by chance-they're the result of decades of work by TPWD fisheries biologists. Using angler participation and data from the Toyota ShareLunker program, biologists guide selective breeding, habitat improvements, and stocking strategies that consistently produce bigger, better bass across Texas.

"Moments like this are what the Toyota ShareLunker program is all about," said Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD coordinator for the Toyota ShareLunker program. "These catches showcase the amazing fishing opportunities Texas anglers have across the state. Each Legacy Class fish contributes valuable genetics, helping enhance big bass populations and ensure these experiences continue for generations to come."

McCollough was on the lake at 11:30 a.m. and fished in an area that he was familiar with. He had spent about 2.5 hours on the water before landing his fish of a lifetime.

"I'm a child of God and a Christian and I said Jesus, you need to give me a bite so I can go home with something to go on for the tournament that I have to fish Saturday at a different lake, and 10 minutes later I caught that fish," said McCollough. "When I saw the fish, I knew it was over 10-pounds, and I just played her until she wore out. I didn't use a net and the fish laid up sideways and I said this thing is huge. I got her in the boat, weighed the fish on my scale, and it said 14.20-pounds."