Thursday

Fairfield Lake Angler Wins ShareLunker Prize Drawing

  •  Fairfield Lake angler Bryan Allen of Conroe wins Toyota ShareLunker grand prize drawing.
  •  2022 was a record year for largemouth bass ShareLunkers in Texas.
  •  Winner caught a second Lunker at Lake Nacogdoches.

Bryan Allen with his second ShareLunker of 2022 at Lake Nacogdoches; his first was caught at Fairfield Lake. By registering his catches, Allen was entered into a grand prize drawing... and won!

As the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker season gets rolling, it’s a great time to look back at the success of the program last year. Lucky Texas angler Bryan Allen not only hooked two “fish of a lifetime” (on Fairfield Lake and Lake Nacogdoches), he was also selected as the winner of the annual grand prize drawing.

A total of 93 reservoirs produced at least one Lunker in 2022, led by O.H. Ivie with 121. Lake Fork (48), Fairfield (38), Conroe (26) and Sam Rayburn (23) were among the other top producers of the season, which wrapped up Dec. 31. The 512 total fish entered is a new single season record, up from 460 that were caught in 2021.

 

In addition to helping produce bigger, better bass for Texas lakes, anglers who enter their big bass catches in the program receive special recognition and prizes, including an entry into a year-end drawing to win a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and an annual fishing license.

 

“The 2022 ShareLunker season was one filled with multiple milestones, and we are glad we can close out the season with the year-end grand prize drawing,” said Natalie Goldstrohm, Toyota ShareLunker coordinator. “Bryan Allen was randomly selected from all the qualifying 2022 entries. Be sure to enter your Lunker bass into the ShareLunker app or website for your chance to be included in the drawing for the 2023 season.”  

 

Allen reeled in his 24.5-inch Lunker Class fish March 19 on Fairfield Lake and submitted it to the program to become eligible for the drawing.  

 

“Fairfield is one of my favorite lakes to fish,” said Allen. “I grew up in Florida fishing a lot of grass lakes and Fairfield is a good grass lake as well. I had caught some good fish there a couple of weeks before and made the trip out to Fairfield again that day. I have a small boat and usually go by myself, so I went and fished like I normally do. I was throwing a swim jig around and while fishing in some grassy points, I landed the fish.” 


Fishing pier at Fairfield Lake State Park.

Allen headed out to Lake Nacogdoches May 28 and netted a 10.45-pound Elite Class Lunker, which he also entered into the program using the ShareLunker app. 

 

Allen discovered the ShareLunker app two years ago and began submitting his catches. He was thrilled to win the $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and an annual fishing license. 

 

“I was overjoyed and really excited to get the call from Natalie [Goldstrohm],” Allen says. “I’m not a person who gets lucky and wins a lot of stuff, so this is pretty awesome. A big ‘thank you’ is in order for everything the ShareLunker program does for these lakes in the state of Texas.” 

 

Allen said he spreads the word to everyone about the program, the app and his favorite fishing spot, Fairfield Lake. 

 

“The prize for me is the opportunity to catch these big quality fish all the time,” he said. “These lakes have amazing genetics — any given day you can go out and catch a good quality bass.” 



Fairfield Lake State Park

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