It's time to tell the boss, "I'm going fishing." They are catching monsters at O.H. Ivie Lake. About an hour east of San Angelo, this local body of water is drawing headlines nationwide.

For several years, O.H. Ivie Lake has produced some of the biggest bass in Texas.  Last week, fishing guide Jason Conn landed a monster. Coon reeled in a 17.03-pound largemouth bass.  This is the 8th heaviest largemouth bass ever caught in Texas.

Conn donated his catch to the Sharelunker program. Program coordinator Natalie Goldstrohm said in a press release last week, "Bass this large are especially rare, and this fish is one of the biggest bass ever caught in Texas.  We are thankful to Conn for sharing his catch with the program and for the chance to spawn this exceptional bass with a male Sharelunker descent, so her offspring have the best genetic potential to grow into Lunker bass."

The SharLunker program is an excellent way to grow our bass bigger and more prominent in area lakes. It is also a chance for anglers to win achievement decals, merchandise, and $5000 in a shopping spree.

Other lakes in the state where the big lunkers have been hauled in include Conroe, Lake Fork, Joe Pool, Walter E Long Reservoir, Brownwood, Arlington, Athens, and Alan Henry.

The hottest, by far this year so far, is Lake O.H. Ivie.  It's the second year in a row the lake has yielded a monster over 17 pounds, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The Texas state record is 18.18 pounds, held by Barry St. Clair of Klondike. He caught this monster on Lake Ford in 1992. There is little doubt in the minds of anyone that's been to Lake O.H.Ivie this year that a state-record fish is lurking under the lake's murky waters.

You better get your paperwork to your HR Department at work for some time off. A record largemouth bass catch in the last thirty days is a valid legal reason for time off in Texas.

Ok, I made that up.  But it ought to be.

Either way, don't delay. Otherwise, you'll be reading about someone else catching it.

Get our free mobile app

Endangered West Texas Animals

Animals we just don't see as much anymore here in West Texas