It is definitely that time of year.
Once again an angler has proved it’s not the size of the lake that counts, it’s the size of the fish in the lake — at least when it comes to catching big bass.
On the morning of March 19 Johnny Spruiell of Iowa Park was fishing in three feet of water in South East Cove on Lake Amon G. Carter when a 13.75-pound bass took his 7-inch Power Worm. The fish was 26.5 inches long and 21 inches in girth and is now ShareLunker 546.
Lake Amon G. Carter is operated by the City of Bowie. The 1,848-acre lake is served by two boat ramps. It has a history of producing big bass in mid-March. The lake record, a 14.44-pounder, was caught March 15, 1996. On March 13, 1998, it produced ShareLunker 272, a 14.31-pounder.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocked Lake Amon G. Carter with both northern largemouth bass and Florida largemouth bass beginning in 1971. Since 1985 all stockings have been Florida largemouth bass; most recently in 2000 and 2001.
“The reservoir boasts quality habitat in the form of rocky shoreline and boulders, native emergent vegetation and standing dead timber,” said TPWD Inland Fisheries biologist Todd Robinson. “The reservoir also sports a robust prey base of threadfin shad and bluegill. Food, cover, water, and space, all suitably arranged, provide most fish and wildlife what is required for a healthy population, and the Florida largemouth bass fingerlings stocked in 2000 and 2001 are now reaching the age where they can achieve ShareLunker size.”
