ShareLunker 554 - Bass could be new Lake Palestine record




Lake Palestine produced its second Toyota ShareLunker in less than a year Saturday when Casey Laughlin of Rowlett pulled in a 13.22-pound bass while fishing a Media Bass tournament. Initially weighed at 13.02 pounds by tournament officials, the fish came in at 13.22 pounds when reweighed on the official ShareLunker program certified scale. The difference was significant, since it made the fish eligible to be submitted as the new record for Lake Palestine. The fish was 26.25 inches long and 20.75 inches in girth. It is now Toyota ShareLunker 554. Laughlin's fish wrapped his line around a tree, and he and his partner had to move the boat to free it. "When I set the hook I thought I had hooked a tree," Laughlin said. "Actually I did. She had wrapped the line around one. We moved the boat to try to free it, and when we did she came right to the boat." The two catches confirm the opinion of the lake voiced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) fisheries biologist Richard Ott in Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine's February digital issue. "Everything just seems to 'get going'a little faster in the spring on this reservoir," he said. "The reservoir has seen little fluctuation over this past year, allowing for good development of shallow-water aquatic plants such as coontail and pondweed. Bass fishing really heats up on this lake in February, even with water temperatures around 50 degrees, and only gets better through March." Laughlin caught his fish from eight to 10 feet of 50-degree water on the north end of the lake near Kickapoo Creek using a Zoom Speed Craw. Once again Ott had called it: "The far upper end, particularly the Kickapoo Creek and Neches River arms, heats up first," he said. "Bass start to fatten up prior to the spawn and can be readily caught on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits across the large flats of these two arms. You can often find them really stacked into the creek channels winding their way through these flats, especially on the colder days. I would not be surprised to see more ShareLunkers come from this lake." The current Lake Palestine water body record of 13.14 pounds was set by Lindell Booth in 2013. Booth was also fishing in a Media Bass tournament, also near Kickapoo Creek in eight feet of water. He recorded the water temperature as 49 degrees. Booth's fish, Toyota ShareLunker 545, is on display in the dive tank at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours. The number to call to report a ShareLunker catch is (903) 681-0550. If poor cell phone service prevents use of the voice number, anglers can leave a phone number (including area code) at (888) 784-0600. CAPTION Casey Laughlin of Rowlett caught Toyota ShareLunker 554 from Lake Palestine February 1. The fish weighed 13.22 pounds and was 26.25 inches long and 20.75 inches in girth. CREDIT TPWD Photo © 2014, Larry D. Hodge




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Lake Palestine Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Palestine Weather Forecast

Thursday

Sunny

Hi: 70

Thursday Night

Clear

Lo: 53

Friday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 75

Friday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 59

Saturday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 78

Saturday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 63

Sunday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 80

Sunday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 67


Lake Palestine Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 3/29: 345.75 (+0.75)



Lake Palestine

Fishing Report from TPWD (Mar. 27)

GOOD. Water normal stain; 63 degrees; 0.48 feet above pool. The lake continues at the full level, giving lots of area for spawning activity. However, the weather continues to be uncooperative, keeping the water temperatures about 5 degrees lower than normal for this date. The fish are moving in through the staging areas, but in 2-3 days they are pushed back out by north winds and lower temperatures. All species can be caught and fishing is good, but the bite periods remain short. Best bet is to watch the wind forecasts for south to southeast winds at less than 10-12 mph, and watch the moon position for the classic rise, set, and meridian times. Blue catfish remain very good on live minnows and cut bait. Hybrid stripers are good trolling rigs, but they tend to move out of an area quickly, a pattern that will continue until the strong shad spawn develops. Report by Jim Beggerly, Jim’s Fishing. Crappie fishing is good on jigs and minnows in 1-15 feet of water. About half of the fish have already spawned. Bass fishing is good in 2-8 feet of water on plastics around structure and baits that displace water on grass lines and edges of structure. Report by Sam Parker, Freshwater Fishing Adventures.

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