Angler's Prayer Answered: A Record-Breaking Catch

Faith, Fortune, and a Fish of a Lifetime

Early Struggles and a Moment of Reflection on Fort Phantom Hill Lake

Travis McCollough, a retired plumber and devout Christian, set out for a day of fishing at the 4,200-acre Fort Phantom Hill Lake in early January. Located a mere 15 minutes from his home in Abilene, Texas, McCollough, alone in his 21-foot Bass Cat boat, launched late that morning. The day was marked by strong winds, and after several hours of casting without success, a sense of discouragement began to set in. He paused his efforts, spending ten minutes in his boat, reflecting and enjoying the unexpectedly warm, almost 70-degree weather. During this quiet moment, he offered a prayer, asking for just one bite to make his day fruitful.

The Battle with a Magnificent Bass

Reinvigorated by his prayer, McCollough resumed casting, focusing on a rocky area in eight feet of water. He deployed a 1/2-ounce Strike King football jig, colored green pumpkin, paired with a craw worm trailer, using his G.Loomis rod and Lew's reel. His technique involved slowly swimming the lure along the bottom, mimicking a crayfish, which bass in rocky habitats are known to strike. Approximately ten minutes later, his line tightened dramatically. The fish on the other end fought with immense power, confirming McCollough's intuition that his prayer had been answered with a truly colossal bass. He carefully, yet strenuously, managed the powerful struggle for about fifteen minutes before successfully bringing the exhausted fish alongside his boat. With practiced skill, he lipped the massive bass and secured it in his vessel.

An Astounding Catch and a Call to Conservation

Upon landing the fish, McCollough quickly weighed it on his portable digital Bubba scale, which registered an impressive 14.2 pounds. He then carefully transferred the bass to his boat's aerated livewell to ensure its well-being. Recognizing the exceptional size of his catch, he promptly contacted the Texas ShareLunker program, informing them of a bass weighing over 13 pounds. The program's representatives assured him that a team would be dispatched immediately to officially weigh the fish and transport it to their hatchery for spawning, contributing to future bass stocking efforts. While waiting for the ShareLunker crew, McCollough approached a trio of crappie anglers in a pontoon boat, asking if they would photograph him with his remarkable catch. Their astonishment was evident when he retrieved the massive bass from his livewell.

Contributing to the Legacy of Bass Fishing in Texas

Later that afternoon, the Texas ShareLunker team met McCollough at the boat dock. They officially recorded the bass's weight at 14.35 pounds, measuring 25 inches in length with a 21-inch girth. In recognition of his valuable contribution to the ShareLunker program, McCollough will receive a complimentary replica of his record-breaking bass. He also awaits notification for the return of his fish to Fort Phantom Hill Lake, where he will have the honor of releasing it back into its natural habitat. McCollough, already possessing a mounted bass at home, expressed his excitement at placing the replica of his 14.35-pound catch alongside it. Looking ahead, he anticipates an upcoming tournament, expressing his intent to pray for another successful catch on that day.