Twin brothers Trace and Levi Loe of south Arkansas doubled up on trophy bass Sunday at DeGray Lake, becoming the first anglers to enter the lake into the Arkansas Legacy Lunker Program record book.
The brothers were pre-fishing for an upcoming tournament when Trace boated an 11.16-pound largemouth and called the Legacy Lunker hotline. While they waited on the transport truck, Levi hooked another giant that weighed 12.63 pounds.
AGFC Legacy Lunker coordinator Will Lancett met the anglers at the ramp within about 20 minutes of the second catch to weigh and evaluate the fish.
The first bass qualified for the program and was transported for spawning. The second fish, however, was in poor condition with visible fungal sores that had penetrated the slime coat. After an attempt to revive and release the fish, it died shortly afterward.
Lancett said the anglers did everything correctly by calling immediately and caring for the fish while waiting on the transport team. Because both bass were alive when officials arrived, both brothers will be recognized as having donated Legacy Lunkers five and six to the program. Each will receive a reproduction mount and an invitation to the program’s annual banquet, where a new Xpress boat is awarded.
The deceased fish was donated to AGFC for examination. Biologists will use it to determine age, growth rate and overall health, data that can help guide future management of DeGray Lake.
Lancett noted that, given its condition, the fish may not have survived long enough to spawn even if it had not been caught.
For the Loe brothers, the day marked the first double-digit bass for Levi and another unforgettable story for both anglers as they head into tournament week.
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