LeBlanc: Toyota ShareLunker Program Debuts Mobile App
I guess that every bass angler in the great state of Texas has by now heard of the changes made to the ShareLunker Program that started January 1, 2018. In case you haven’t let me highlight for you the new four new classes in the updated program.
Lunker Legacy Class: Is a continuation of the past program in every angler who catches and loans a 13 pound or larger bass to the Toyota ShareLunker program during the spawning period January 1 to March 31 will join the prestigious Lunker Legacy Class. These valuable fish are an integral piece of the Toyota ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program and anglers will be eligible for a prize package commensurate with the importance of sharing their lunker. Each Lunker Legacy Class angler will receive a Toyota ShareLunker Catch Kit containing branded merchandise and fishing tackle items, a 13 pounds plus Legacy decal, VIP access to awards programing at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, a replica of their fish, and an entry into the year-end ShareLunker Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 shopping spree and an annual fishing license. These special fish are entered by calling the program directly when you catch one – any time of day or night – at (903) 681-0550.
Lunker Legend Class: Anglers who enter a 13 pound or larger largemouth bass January 1 through December 31 will become a part of the Lunker Legend Class. These anglers will receive a Toyota ShareLunker Catch Kit and all of the other offerings of the Lunker Legacy Class.
Lunker Elite Class: Anglers catching double-digit largemouth bass 10 to 12.99 pounds Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 will become a part of the Lunker Elite Class. These anglers will receive a Toyota ShareLunker Catch Kit containing branded merchandise and fishing tackle items, a 10 pound plus decal to display their achievement, and an entry into the year-end ShareLunker Prize Drawing for a $5,000 shopping spree and an annual fishing license. Additional prizes may be included in the prize drawing prior to its entry deadline.
Lunker Class: Anglers entering largemouth bass at least 8 pounds or 24 inches January 1 through December 31 will be recognized at the Lunker Class level. These anglers will receive a Toyota ShareLunker Catch Kit containing branded merchandise and fishing tackle items, an 8 pound plus decal to display their achievement, and an entry into the year-end ShareLunker Prize Drawing for a $5,000 shopping spree and an annual fishing license. Additional prizes may be included in the prize drawing prior to its entry deadline.
With the start of the new year-round participation the Toyota ShareLunker Program is debuting a new website and mobile app to facilitate entries and provide anglers with news and updates.
Catching an 8 pound or larger bass is no easy feat, so the registering your catch has been made as simple as possible for anglers to be rewarded for their achievement with the Toyota ShareLunker Program. With the new mobile app, anyone can enter their lunker bass from their smartphone or tablet right from their favorite fishing spot. The Toyota ShareLunker app is now available for free download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Anglers also have the option of entering their catch at the end of their fishing trip on the new Toyota ShareLunker website, https://texassharelunker.com. The digital entry form allows anglers to quickly submit photos of the fish being properly measured, weighed, and held.
The mobile app and website entry forms include simple instructions for anglers who would like to provide a sample of fish scales from their lunker bass to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) researchers for genetic analysis.
By entering the information and providing scale samples from catches of 8 pound and larger lunker bass, anglers can provide TPWD with important data that the fisheries biologists and hatcheries staff can use to make the bass fishing in Texas even better.
To view the full list of prizes and official rules and entry information, visit https://texassharelunker.com. For program updates, photos and to keep up with Texas lunker catches, join the ShareLunker community online at www.facebook.com/sharelunkerprogram/.
The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a longtime supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.
The anglers who fish for the big mouth black bass seldom catch fish in the classes of the ShareLunker Program and to do so generally take a lot of fishing, knowledge gleaned from the days of fishing in all kinds of weather and a lot of trial and error experience. The big bass angler learns the importance of such things as the phase of the moon, high and low barometric pressure and other factors that can affect the bite of the fish. To this mix throw in some luck and you have a ShareLunker angler. Oh, in a recent conversation with TPWD biologist Mark Webb he stated that a recent fish survey in Lake Conroe showed the best bass statistics ever obtained for our lake.