The infectious appeal of a Bassmaster Elite weigh-in typically anchors in the bold displays of what emcee Dave Mercer calls “G-G-G-G-G-Giant Bass!”
Fans won’t see a lot of those fish on this week’s weigh-in stage — but certainly not for any lack of Lake Fork quality. In fact, it’s just the opposite. This lake is loaded — let’s repeat that — loaded with chunky Florida-strain largemouth bass.
That doesn’t just happen. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has a longstanding reputation for exemplary fisheries management and a key element is the lake’s slot limit. Here’s the official wording.
For largemouth bass, length limit is a 16-24” slot. Bass 16 inches and less or 24 inches or greater in length may be retained. Only one bass 24 inches or greater may be retained each day.
TPWD manages Fork as a trophy lake and, with seven of the state’s top-10 bass (No. 1 was 18.18) credited to this Sabine River impoundment, the plan has worked well.
So when you hear tournament types mention “overs,” they’re referencing this dimensional criteria. Notably, Patrick Walters caught the heaviest bass of Day 1, but his 8-14 measured approximately 23 inches.
That, folks, is a chunk. It could’ve been a prespawner full of eggs or a postspawner full of shad. Either way, a fine example of TPWD’s efforts to diligently manage the fish and the fishery.
Elite rookie Josh Stracner showed off yesterday’s only “over” — an 8-12 that he caught on a clay point. This habitat, he said, provided a strategic spot for fish to capitalize on the early morning shad spawn.
Word from the water indicates that Takumi Ito, has a big “over” in his live well, so fans can look forward to seeing at least one Lake Fork stud at today’s weigh-ins.
Notably, the second-year Elite from Chiba, Japan finished third two weeks ago at the Elite on the Sabine River. Ito charmed the crowd on Day three when he held up a big fish and then said he had been eagerly anticipating the moment when he’d hear Mercer recognize one of his catches as a: “G-G-G-G-G-Giant Bass!”
Regardless of how many get the free boat ride to a Bassmaster weigh-in, Lake Fork has plenty of big, impressive fish.
Thanks TPWD.
(All “overs” brought to a Bassmaster weigh-in are released alive into Lake Fork.)