Happy Fishing New Year

 

 

FOR THOSE OF US OLD ENOUGH to have looked ahead to “The Year 2000” as a doorway to futuristic wonders, it’s almost surreal to realize we’re now standing at the quarter-century mark of the 2000s.

Yet here we are: Happy 2025!

After enduring the wild roller coaster that was 2024—hot on the heels of the House of Horrors that was 2020-2023—maybe, just maybe, we’re in for a peaceful stroll through the next twelve months. Hopefully, we’ll avoid any sharp turns, sudden drops, or unexpected loops.

Of course, we have no crystal ball to predict what’s coming economically, politically, or socially. All we can do is cross our fingers and have faith in the resilience of systems that (usually) manage to keep moving forward despite the shenanigans of mere mortals.

What we can look forward to, however, with some degree of certainty, is a fantastic year for anglers.

Our intrepid Freshwater Fishing Editor, Matt Williams, kicks off this issue (see page 10) with a feature on three Texas lakes where serious bass anglers have their best shot at landing a double-digit lunker. Despite the long-term drought conditions gripping their region of the state, two of these lakes continue to produce giant catches by the boatload. The broader theme of the piece is clear: freshwater fishing in Texas is poised for a boom, thanks in no small part to the dedicated efforts of Texas Parks & Wildlife fisheries biologists.

Texas lakes have earned glowing recognition from B.A.S.S. in recent years, with at least two Lone Star water bodies consistently cracking their Top Ten U.S. Lakes rankings. This reputation is well-deserved, and much of the credit belongs to the state’s investment in freshwater fisheries research and hatchery production. Since its opening in 1996, the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens has been the backbone of the state’s efforts to boost freshwater gamefish populations. TPWD hatcheries annually produce more than 7.5 million bass, 1.2 million catfish, 5.8 million striped and hybrid-striped bass, and a million other species—all destined to replenish reservoirs across Texas.

One standout initiative is the TPWD ShareLunker Program, which saw a banner year in 2024 and is poised to continue that momentum into 2025. Launched in 1986 with the record-breaking catch of Mark Stevenson’s 17.67-pound largemouth— “Ethel,” who gained fame as a resident of the Bass Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield, Missouri—the program has since become legendary.

Initially, the ShareLunker program encouraged anglers to donate bass weighing 13-plus pounds and measuring over 24 inches for breeding purposes. Over the years, the program has expanded, allowing year-round entries in categories for 8-plus- and 10-plus-pound fish. ShareLunker bass are temporarily housed at TPWD hatcheries, where they contribute to the production of offspring designed to enhance the size and quality of the state’s largemouth population.

To date, the program has logged 3,854 entries, including 668 certified “Legacy” fish—those 13-plus-pounders caught during the January-to-March season. By the time this issue hits the streets, the 2025 season will be well underway, with new entries likely already in the books. Who knows? This could even be the year we see the holy grail: a new state record twenty-pounder.

Drought remains a concern for several major reservoirs across the mid section of Texas, where water levels are perilously low. Amistad, Falcon, and Choke Canyon are nearing single-digit capacity levels, while lakes in eastern and northern Texas remain near full pool. These low water levels haven’t necessarily dampened (unintentional pun there, sorry!) fishing prospects in the short term. They often concentrate fish in smaller areas, making them easier to find. However, the long-term impact—diminished habitat and reduced forage—could be damaging if drought relief doesn’t arrive.

Returning to the futuristic notion of our opening paragraph, Twenty-First Century technological advancements are transforming the sport of fishing for bass—and many other highly targeted species. Forward-facing sonar, supercharged anchoring systems, high-tech trolling motors and pinpoint GPS locking have turned bass fishing into something that feels like a live-action video game. These tools have undoubtedly contributed to the surge in big-bass catches—and underscore how much the sport of fishing has evolved.

Meanwhile, on the saltwater side of things, perspectives remain mixed. Conservation-minded anglers can appreciate the recent tightening of trout limits and the annual fall flounder closure as necessary steps to protect fish populations. On the other hand, those who see such measures as government overreach might be considering “For Sale” signs for their center consoles.

Our take? Sure—getting out on the bay, wading a marsh or shell bed, or just hauling a bait bucket out onto a pier or jetty may be less rewarding in the amount of keepers for your freezer—but that experience is still a hell of a lot more enjoyable than sitting around and complaining about “the good old days.”

So here’s to 2025: another year of fishing, adapting, and making the most of the waters and opportunities we’re fortunate to have. 

 

E-mail Roy at rneves@fishgame.com and Ardia at aneves@fishgame.com