Brady Stanford Selected as 2025 AFTCO ‘Guide of the Year’
May 15, 2026
Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
ATHENS – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Toyota ShareLunker Program has selected fishing guide Brady Stanford of Millersville as the 2025 American Fishing Tackle Company (AFTCO) Guide of the Year. The Toyota ShareLunker Program has partnered with AFTCO since 2025 to annually recognize a fishing guide who best contributes to conservation and the enhancement of largemouth bass fisheries in Texas.
“This award highlights the vital role fishing guides play in conservation and in supporting the future of Texas bass fisheries,” said Natalie Goldstrohm, TPWD coordinator for the Toyota ShareLunker Program. “Their dedication strengthens the program and the angling community statewide.”
Stanford has been a key contributor to the Toyota ShareLunker Program, including a pair of Legacy Class Lunker entries. He reeled in 13.13-pound ShareLunker 670 on Jan. 2, 2025 after landing his first Legacy Class largemouth bass on Jan. 23, 2022 with 15.03-pound ShareLunker 613. Both of the massive bass came from O.H. Ivie. In addition to personal catches, five of Stanford’s clients have caught Legacy Class fish and numerous others have submitted DNA samples to enhance the Toyota ShareLunker Program and fishing in Texas.
“I am humbled to be considered for the Toyota ShareLunker Program’s AFTCO fishing guide of the year,” said Stanford. “I am so fortunate to be able to share my passion for fishing with others and even more so, that I can make a living doing what I love. I credit my love for fishing to my grandfather and father. Even as a young boy, I realized the rush of catching big fish. As the years went by, learning how to care for and protect the species I fish for has become as much of a priority as finding those double digits.”
To be considered for the AFTCO Guide of the Year Award, the guide’s clients who catch a qualifying ShareLunker bass (a largemouth bass weighing a minimum of eight pounds or measuring at least 24 inches) on a guided trip must enter their catch into the ShareLunker database or website in accordance with program rules. The client must indicate their fish was caught during a guided trip and include their guide’s name. The client must submit their ShareLunker data and are encouraged to submit a DNA sample to the Toyota ShareLunker Program for their guide to be considered.
“Back in June of 2022 Blake Thornton, TPWD biologist, contacted me about submitting scale samples on fish eight pounds and larger, at the time I was unaware of the program,” added Stanford. “Ever since I have strongly supported the ShareLunker program helping my clients submit numerous samples from various lakes to help grow the genetic database. I am very blessed to grow up around the best lakes in the country, getting to share my knowledge of the fisheries and putting people on giant bass is amazing.”
The AFTCO Guide of the Year award is based on calendar-year seasons, consistent with the year-round ShareLunker season. The winner of the AFTCO Guide of the Year award will receive $500 worth of AFTCO gear of their choice, a $500 cash prize and be recognized at the Toyota ShareLunker VIP banquet in the fall.
The guide must have held a valid fishing license at the time of catch (unless exempt), a valid fishing guide license in Texas and must be in good standing with wildlife laws at the time of participation. All guides mentioned during ShareLunker catch submissions will be considered for the AFTCO Texas Bass Guide of the year. Eligible guides for the upcoming 2026 AFTCO Guide of the Year Award will be contacted in January 2027 to fill out the application form that highlights their accomplishments and contributions to bass conservation and meaningful ways they give back to the sport and its community. Application forms must be completed by guides by Feb. 28, 2027.
“The number of ShareLunker sized bass that guides encounter is considerable,” added Goldstrohm. “By having clients reporting these catches and providing the much-needed DNA samples, TPWD biologists can better manage Lunker populations, better understand bass populations and evaluate Lone Star bass stockings.”
AFTCO, a partner with the Toyota ShareLunker program, is committed to conservation and the preservation of fishing resources. Freshwater conservation efforts at the local level are focused on the support of state agencies and regional projects through their bass fishing conservation grant programs. At the national level, AFTCO supports the placement of artificial and natural fish habitats, lake cleanups, the Bass Bus Live Release Boat and their Fish Care 101 education content. Additional information on AFTCO’s conservation initiatives can be found on their conservation website.
“The Toyota ShareLunker Program is a best-in-class program to help produce big bass at a state level and we have been honored to support the program,” said Casey Shedd, AFTCO President. “We were glad to add support for the Guide of the Year Program to reward. The AFTCO Conservation Pledge aligns so well with the efforts of the Toyota ShareLunker programs.”
About the Toyota ShareLunker Program
During the first three months of the season (Jan. 1 through March 31), anglers who reel in a 13-plus pound bass can loan it to TPWD for the ShareLunker selective breeding and stocking program. These anglers can call TPWD on the ShareLunker hotline at (903) 681-0550 to report their catch 24/7 through March 31, 2026.
Legacy Class ShareLunker weights are all verified using a certified scale, but anglers may use a digital scale to get an initial weight to inform the ShareLunker response team. Once the TPWD team arrives, they can take a certified weight on site.
A list of official weigh stations can be found on the ShareLunker Official Weigh and Holding Stations website.
Anglers who catch and loan a 13-plus pound lunker earn Legacy Class status, receive a catch kit filled with merchandise donated by program sponsors, a 13lb+ Legacy decal for their vehicle or boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event, a high-quality replica mount of their fish from Lake Fork Taxidermy and ShareLunker branded apparel provided by AFTCO. Anglers also receive entries into two separate drawings – a Legacy Class Drawing and the year-end Grand Prize Drawing. Both drawings will award the winner a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree.
The year-round Toyota ShareLunker program offers anglers three additional levels of participation for catching bass over eight pounds or 24 inches in Texas public waters. Each of these levels provide vital data for TPWD fisheries biologists, helping them better manage bass in Texas.
Anglers who enter data for any lunker they catch greater than eight pounds or 24 inches also receive a catch kit, a decal for their vehicle or boat, a one-month subscription card to Bass University and an entry into the year-end Grand Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree. ShareLunker entry classes include the Bass Pro Shops Lunker Class (8 lb.+), Strike King Elite Class (10 lb.+) and Lew’s Legend Class (13 lb.+).
Once a qualified lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app – available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play – or at TexasSharelunker.com.
In addition to providing basic catch information, anglers have the option to send a DNA scale sample from their lunker bass to TPWD biologists for genetic analysis. Anglers who contribute a sample to the program will receive a Lew’s baitcasting reel while supplies last, with a limit of one reel per angler. Instructions for submitting DNA samples are located on the Toyota ShareLunker website.
TPWD and the Toyota ShareLunker program are once again partnering with AFTCO on the AFTCO Guide of the Year award for the 2026 ShareLunker season. The AFTCO Guide of the Year award recognizes a fishing guide who contributes to conservation and enhancement of largemouth bass in Texas.
The Toyota ShareLunker program is made possible in part by the generous title sponsorship of Toyota. Toyota is a longtime supporter of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and TPWD, providing major funding for a wide variety of fisheries, state parks and wildlife projects.
Additional vital program support comes from Legend Class category prize sponsor Lew’s, Elite Class category prize sponsor Strike King, Lunker Class category prize sponsor Bass Pro Shops, AFTCO, Bass Forecast, Bass University and Lake Fork Taxidermy.
For updates on the Toyota ShareLunker program, visit facebook.com/sharelunkerprogram/, https://www.instagram.com/TexasShareLunker/ or TexasSharelunker.com.