Bud's ShareLunker Program and Official Rules

Entries include: three bass in one day March 3-22-02...
These fish confirm Lake Fork is still the top trophy bass producing lake in Texas. This is the first time in ShareLunker history that three lunkers were picked up on one day from the same lake. These are also the three heaviest bass every picked up in one day and the largest lunker since 2/28/99.

The first 2002 ShareLunker from Lake Fork March 15, 2002 The Budweiser Sharelunker program received it's fifth entry into the program with a 13.02 lb. largemouth bass. This is the first ShareLunker from Lake Fork for 2002. The large female was caught in 4 to 6 feet of water on a clown colored Rattlin' Rogue, she measured 25.25 inches in length and had a 21 inch girth. The bass is doing well in a Lunker isolation tank at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens.	Wayne Wallender of Rogersville, Missouri 13.02 lb. Largemouth Bass caught at 3:00 PM Thursday, March 15th at Lake Fork.
The second 2002 ShareLunker from Lake Fork March 22, 2002 On Friday March 22, the first call came in at 200 PM from Richard Scharninghauser of Cudahy, Wisconsin. He caught the ninth Budweiser ShareLunker of the year from Lake Fork at 1100 AM using an 8" Green Pumpkin Zoom Lizard in 17 feet of water. The fish weighed 13.92 lb, and measured 25.25 inches in length, with a girth of 22 inches. Click Here for the rest of the story	Richard Scharninghauser of Cudahy, Wisconsin 13.92 lb. Largemouth Bass caught at 2:00 PM Friday, March 22th at Lake Fork.
The third 2002 ShareLunker from Lake Fork March 22, 2002 Jim Harrell of Texarkana, Texas caught Budweiser ShareLunker #10 at 4:00 PM on Lake Fork with a new top 50 entry. Harrell's 16.12 lb. Lunker ranks 17th on the Top 50 Largemouth Bass. Caught on a Watermelon Lizard w/red metal flake this monster fish measured 27.25" in length and 23.25" in girth and was caught in 9 feet of water. Click Here for the rest of the story	Jim Harrell of Texarkana, Texas 16.12 lb. Largemouth Bass caught at 4:00 PM Friday, March 22th at Lake Fork.
The fourth 2002 ShareLunker from Lake Fork March 22, 2002 Budweiser ShareLunker #11 was caught by Johnny Six of Tulsa, Oklahoma from Lake Fork at around 500 PM, Friday March 22nd capping off a great day on Lake Fork. The 15.65 lb Lunker ranks as # 28th on the states Top 50 Largemouth Bass was caught on a Big Daddy Jig & Frog in 6 to 10 feet of water. It measured 25.25" length and 23.25 in girth. Click Here for the rest of the story	Johnny Six of Tulsa, Oklahoma 15.65 lb. Largemouth Bass caught at 5:00 PM Friday, March 22th at Lake Fork.
The fifth 2002 ShareLunker from Lake Fork April 16, 2002 Robert Beato, an Albuquerque, New Mexico angler caught a 13.66 pound largemouth Tuesday, April 16^th, that became the record 200^th female entered into the Budweiser ShareLunker Program from Lake Fork. Mr. Beato caught his fish around 3:30 pm in eight feet of water on a Carolina rig, with a blue wave worm. It measured 25.5 inches in length and 21.5 inches around the girth.	Robert Beato of Albuquerque, New Mexico 13.66 lb. Largemouth Bass caught around 3:30 pm Tuesday, April 16^th at Lake Fork
The sixth 2002 ShareLunker from Lake Fork April 19, 2002 Just three days after Lake Fork yielded the 200th female for the Budweiser ShareLunker Program, Joey Ryan from Shreveport, Louisiana reeled in number 201. The fish was caught in 2 feet of water, Friday April 19, about 9:00 am. The 13.58-pound was caught on a 3-inch white twin-tail grub. To date, this makes 16 entries in the program for this year and 342 fish overall. This also marks the seventh entry this year from an out-of-state angler. The fish was picked up and transported back to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Upon initial examination, she appeared to have been at least partially spawned out. She measured 27.5 inches in length and 20.25 inches around the girth. "Since Mr. Ryan donated the fish permanently to the ShareLunker program, even if we do not get another spawn out of her this season, we will be able to keep her and spawn her next year," said David Campbell, manager of the program. "The DNA information that we obtain from this fish, will also provide genetic data that may play a key role in the success of Operation World Record."	Joey Ryan from Shreveport, Louisiana 13.58 lb. Largemouth Bass caught around 9:00 am Friday, April 19^th at Lake Fork

Bud's ShareLunker Program
Program Description
Bud's ShareLunker Program is a tripartite venture among businesses, state government, and anglers to preserve and enhance Texas largemouth bass fisheries. Through the Program, anglers may loan largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for spawning and research purposes which include evaluating relationships between genetics and early life history, growth, performance, behavior, and competition. After spawning, TPWD personnel will contact the angler and arrange a date at which the fish can be released back into the waters from which it was caught. In return for their cooperation, participating anglers receive a free fiberglass replica of their catch, ShareLunker clothing, and recognition at the awards banquet at Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. In addition, the Texas resident catching the largest ShareLunker entry of the season will be awarded a lifetime fishing license
Anyone catching a 13-pound-plus largemouth bass is eligible to participate by calling (903) 670-2226 weekdays or by paging (888) 784-0600 weekends and evenings.

Since the start of the Program in 1986, 333 largemouth bass from 58 public reservoirs have been donated.
For more information about the program, call 903-670-2226.

Official Rules for ShareLunker

1. The Program is limited to largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or greater.
2. The Program is in effect from December 1 - April 30.
3. The fish must be legally caught in Texas waters.
4. A Texas Parks & Wildlife employee will be solely responsible for accepting a fish into the program, based on the expectation that the fish will be able to survive and spawn.
5. Possession of the fish must be transferred to a designated Texas Parks & Wildlife representative within 12 hours after capture. The angler must sign a release absolving all sponsors, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department employees of any liability resulting from the loss or death of their fish.
6. Employees and families of program sponsors are not eligible for participation in the program.
Traditionally, anglers who donate live bass to the ShareLunker program for use in fish production and research efforts have been rewarded with a free fiberglass replica of their catch and an invitation to the annual awards banquet. Now, participants will also receive a three-in-one parka, a ShareLunker shirt and an opportunity to win a $1,000 cash prize through a random drawing during the annual banquet.
Each year, the program accepts live 13-pound-plus "lunker" bass from anglers. Bass loaned or donated through the program are used by TPW's hatchery staff in research to produce potentially trophy-sized bass for stocking in Texas public waters. In this way, the best, big-fish genes will be captured and passed on to improve bass fishing in Texas.