ATHENS, Texas — Catching a Budweiser ShareLunker — a largemouth bass weighing 13 pounds or more — is its own reward, an accomplishment shared by a relative handful of anglers.

ATHENS, Texas — Anglers caught four Budweiser ShareLunkers from four widely separated lakes the weekend of March 11-13, bringing the season’s total to 16. The big bass came from lakes Alan Henry, Austin, Choke Canyon and Fork. Mike Modisett of Lubbock caught lunker No. 13 of the current season from Lake Alan Henry on March 11. The 13.82-pound fish bit a bass minnow in 15 feet of water under a crappie house. It measured 25.75 inches long and 20 inches in girth. The fish was the tenth to be entered in the Budweiser ShareLunker program from Lake Alan Henry and the fifth to be caught from the lake this season. Lake Fork contributed its fifth fish of the season as well on March 11 when Art Price of Crowley hooked a 13.25-pounder while fishing a black and blue jig with Zoom trailer in nine feet of water on the side of a point. The fish was 26 inches long and 21.5 inches in girth. Far to the south of those lakes, Dwayne (“Duke”) Kinley of Austin pulled a 13.07-pound largemouth from four feet of water in Lake Austin on March 12. Kinley was fishing a secondary point using a Brush Hog. The fish was 26.25 inches long and 20 inches around. At about the same time Kinley caught his fish, George Shaw of San Antonio was battling a 13.26-pounder on Choke Canyon Reservoir. Shaw was fishing in 8-9 feet of water when the big bass bit a watermelon red Brush Hog. The fish was 24.75 inches long and 20.25 inches in girth. Shaw’s fish is only the fourth to be entered into the Budweiser ShareLunker program from Choke Canyon. Although the Kinley and Shaw fish appear to have spawned, ShareLunker program manager David Campbell said the fish are capable of spawning again at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Hatchery personnel began pairing males and females on March 14, according to Intensive Hatchery manager Juan Martinez. Entries will be accepted into the ShareLunker program until April 30. Anglers legally catching a 13-pound or heavier largemouth bass in Texas waters, public or private, may donate or lend the fish to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for spawning. To enter a fish call David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or page him at (888) 784-0600 and leave a phone number, including area code, where you can be reached. TPWD personnel will attempt to pick the fish up within 12 hours, day or night.

Some 40 odd years ago a grey haired man stood on a bridge with a young boy looking at a bobber floating below in the Arkansas River in Wichita, Kansas. As the old man leaned over the railing to look at some ducks that were swimming by under the bridge something fell from his shirt pocket and into the river. Ploooop ! Well there goes my teeth Grandpa told me with a wry smile on his face and lips flapping, as they tended to do when he talked without his teeth. I was about 6 years old at that time and don't remember whether we caught a fish or not but that memory was the first I have of Grandpa taking me fishing and one that I'll have and cherish for the rest of my life. My dad wasn't much of a fisherman but was always willing and ready to go along when Grandpa wanted to take me fishing. I remember a trip we went on out of Rehobeth Beach, Maryland in the Atlantic. I was around 8 years old. It was the first time I had gone salt water fishing. I don't remember whether we caught fish or not but I do remember my poor Dad either hanging over the side of the boat, and he wasn't dropping his glasses either, or laying in the cabin on the bunk moaning. Poor Dad. Those early fishing trips kindled a fondness for fishing in me that has grown into a passion. There isn't much I'd rather be doing than fishing. Even though I'm guiding full time now it is still the best way for me to relax and get things into perspective. Whether it's just watching the line peel off my reel after a cast and float gently to the water or watching a Heron stalk breakfast along the bank across the cove I'm fishing I can't imagine a better way to relax. And of course hooking a largemouth and watching him thrash the surface on the end of my line isn't too bad either, but just being on the water is still often a very magical time for me. I see that same magic on the faces of the young children I occasionally get the privilege of taking fishing. Every summer there is a tournament on Lake Conroe to benefit the Sunshine Kids. These kids are very special indeed, and I usually benefit much more than they do from the fishing trips we enjoy together. You can feel the excitement in the air the morning of the tournament when the Ladies from Houston Fish, the Bass Club that sponsors the tournament each year, are pairing up the young anglers with their guides for the day. There isn't money enough in the world to buy the kind of satisfaction one gets from taking a kid fishing. It doesn't matter whether you are cat fishing, white bass fishing, crappie fishing or bream fishing children always enjoy themselves. It doesn't have to be in a fancy boat or even a boat at all. Some of my fondest memories are fishing a small pond or creek from the bank. You don't even have to catch a lot of fish just point out the wonders of nature that are always around us but not often enjoyed. You don't need a lot of fancy equipment either. A cane pole will do just fine. If you aren't a regular fisherman ask the guy at the local tackle store or marina for some help or look up a local fishing guide and tell him you need some help. You'll find that all fishermen will be willing and often eager to help you enjoy your fishing more. Make taking a kid fishing a regular event in your life. Take your son or daughter, niece or nephew or just one of the neighborhood kids. You'll be giving them a gift that money can't buy, they can't lose, the dog won't chew up and that they will have for the rest of their life. Hopefully you'll spark in them what my Grandpa did for me and that fishing will be as good for their soul as it will be for yours.

This soft spoken, good natured, Lake Conroe guide has earned quite a reputation for consistently catching large bass. In fact he is almost solely responsible for the recent trend on the lake to disallow guides from competing in local fishing tournaments. Over the past eight years of participating in and writing about tournaments on Lake Conroe I have learned that, of the local guides, Skip Regan consistently weighs in more big bass. Several years ago I was fortunate enough to learn, first hand, through fishing a series of tournaments on the lake with Skip that he has a gift for catching big bass. As though through some special sense, he manages to throw to just the right tree or bush where that special fish will be. Even when fishing an area of the lake that he was unfamiliar with he still managed to pick the right spot to throw his bait to find that big one. He is primarily a worm or jig fisherman but is versatile enough to adapt to fishing conditions and will use whatever type of lure necessary to catch fish. For six years Skip fished several tournament circuits including, Anglers Choice, Western Bass, US Bass and Lone Star Bass. In 1986 he finished well enough in US Bass to qualify for their Classic. He is sponsored by Loch Ness Marina, Stanley Jigs and Mud Bug. Skip started guiding on Lake Conroe about 8 years ago at Loch Ness Marina, on the north end of the lake. Since that time he has developed a very good reputation with his regular clients as well as other local fishermen. As well as being able to put you on fish he has a good sense of humor and is a pleasant person to spend the day with. Skip has taught his son Mike some of his tricks for catching big bass. Mike fished a series of tournaments on the lake this summer and caught quite a few big fish himself. He and his partner, Hank White, finished 7th out of several hundred competitors to qualify for the Classic and then won the Classic by 5 pounds. Earlier this summer Skip injured his arm in a boating accident. I am happy to report that he is recovering well and will probably regain most of the use of his arm. I hope to see him on the lake again soon. September, October and November often provide the finest fishing of the year on Lake Conroe and this would be a good time to book a trip to get in on this exciting action. Check with Loch Ness Marina (409-856-4524) to find out when Skip will be back to guiding on Lake Conroe or just to wish him a speedy recovery.