Austin Angler Reels in Potential Record-Breaking Largemouth Bass

After dragging in 14.05-pound largemouth bass from Lady Bird Lake, Austin resident Willie Pipkin might have just broken a state fishing record. If confirmed, the catch will break the 13.5 pounds lake record set in 2015.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) also reports that the fish is the third Legacy ShareLunker of the 2025 season. Anglers who catch and loan 13-pound-plus largemouth bass for selective breeding during the January-March spawning season are honored under the ShareLunker program.

Experienced fisherman Pipkin searched for the bass for two days. First, he noticed it Tuesday while sight-fishing in Barton Creek, where the fish was fiercely protecting its nest. Pipkin returned after hours of fruitless searches the following day and spent another three hours casting before the bass grabbed the bait.

Pipkin reported Outdoor Life, "I watched the bass open and close its mouth." The battle that ensued was fierce; the bass jumped twice before landing it properly.

Pipkin quickly saw the fish's potential for record-breaking status when he weighed it in his car using a hand scale. Although the TPWD will formally weigh the fish, for now, the Austin fishing community is commemorating what could be a new Lady Bird Lake legend.

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