Episode 578: February Freeze Brings Banner Year For Bass Anglers and Comparing Two of North America’s Most Popular Hunting Calibers

What this episode covers

While the February freeze negatively affected the Texas coastal fisheries, the opposite was true for Texas bass anglers. Five 13 plus pound lunkers were pulled out of O.H. Ivie the 4th week of February 2021 – including the 16.4 lb new lake record (pictured). We also saw 23 Sharlunkers (13 plus lb bass) entered into the program statewide which is the most since 1995. With 5 other lake records coming in this season as well. So…why has it been one of the best big bass years in Texas’ history? Texas Parks and Wildlife Sharelunker Program Leader Kyle Brookshear gives us his take on why anglers caught so many huge bass in 2021. We also take a look some of the restructuring of the Sharelunker Program and Kyle shares some really cool information on generational genetic DNA testing on confirmed Sharelunkers that goes back as far as 5 generations. Next, our old friend John McAdams of the https://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/podcast/ jumps on to discuss two of the most popular hunting calibers American hunters are using today in the .300 Winchester Magnum and the 6.5 Creedmoor. I found the history of each to be very interesting as John educates us on the post WWII ‘Magnum Craze’ to the early 2000s and the introduction of the 6.5. What are the pros and cons of each? How do they stack up when compared at long distances? What (if any) big game would he choose not to hunt with either of them? All that and much more on two calibers that I regularly reach into the gun safe for. (.300 Winchester Magnum/6.5 Creedmoor – Photo Courtesy of John McAdams)

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