Toyota ShareLunker Program Delivers a Memorable Collection Season

Toyota ShareLunker Program Delivers a Memorable Collection Season

April 22, 2026

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

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ATHENS - The 2026 Toyota ShareLunker collection season didn't disappoint during its 40th Anniversary celebration with an incredible 18 Legacy Class ShareLunkers submitted from 10 different public lakes across the state of Texas.

Two waterbodies logged their first Legacy Class fish while four lakes set new waterbody records. O.H. Ivie retained bragging rights for most entries for the sixth consecutive season thanks to a 2026 season best with five Legacy Class ShareLunkers.

O.H. Ivie has now produced 63 Legacy Class largemouth bass since the 2020 season. The West Texas hotspot accumulated 12 Legacy Class Lunkers in 2021, 2022 and 2024 and amassed a record-shattering 15 ShareLunkers in 2023.

"Reaching our 40th year with another unforgettable ShareLunker season shows just how strong bass fishing is across Texas right now," said Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD coordinator for the Toyota ShareLunker program. "Anglers brought in giant fish from across the state, proving these fisheries continue to thrive. This program succeeds because of the powerful partnership between dedicated anglers, industry supporters, and our agency team. Together, we're building an even brighter future for Texas bass fishing."

Key highlights from the 2026 Toyota ShareLunker collection season:

• Ten reservoirs delivered Legacy Class Lunkers (O.H. Ivie, J.B. Thomas, Alan Henry, Lake Tyler, Toledo Bend, Fort Phantom Hill, Hords Creek Reservoir, Purtis Creek State Park Lake, Ellison Creek Reservoir (Lone Star Lake) and Lake Fork)
• Two new waterbodies, Hords Creek Reservoir and Ellison Creek Reservoir (Lone Star Lake), increased the number of all-time public reservoirs with Legacy Class ShareLunkers to 81.
• The 27th largest fish officially reported in Texas history was caught by Austin Miles at Purtis Creek State Park Lake weighing an impressive 16.04 pounds on February 16.
• Anglers Travis McCollough (Fort Phantom Hill), Wendell Ramsey Sr. (Hords Creek Reservoir), Austin Miles (Purtis Creek Lake State Park) and Andrew Scott (Ellison Creek Reservoir (Lone Star Lake)) all recorded new waterbody records.
• Angler Brandon Burks' ShareLunker 689 from J.B. Thomas is a full sibling of ShareLunker 661 caught by Stetson Davis at J.B. Thomas on March 6, 2024.
• Angler Lawrence Lee's ShareLunker 700, caught at J.B. Thomas, is a full sibling of ShareLunker 651 caught by Lee January 17, 2024 on the same waterbody.
• Angler Ross Gomez caught the same fish for the third time at Alan Henry, a first in program history.
• Lawrence Lee became the first angler to catch two Legacy Class ShareLunker's in a day and three in a year from a public waterbody.
• Three double lunker days: Purtis Creek Lake State Park and Ellison Creek Reservoir (Lone Star Lake) on Feb. 16; J.B. Thomas and O.H. Ivie on March 8; J.B. Thomas on March 24.
• Angler Josh Jones caught his 5th Legacy Class Lunker, the most from one angler.
• Anglers Jack York, Dale Washington, and Wendell Ramsey Sr. caught their second Legacy Class fish.

These achievements highlight the success of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) ongoing bass management efforts, which focus on habitat improvement, stocking programs and genetic research to ensure anglers have opportunities to catch lunker-sized fish for years to come.

About the Toyota 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.