Lafayette Angler Reels in a Massive 12.50-Pound Bass

TOLEDO BEND LAKE (KMDL-FM) - A Lafayette angler is celebrating a trophy catch after landing a massive bass at one of Louisiana’s top fishing destinations.

12.5-Pound Bass Caught at Toledo Bend

Greer Billeaud of Lafayette caught a 12.50-pound largemouth bass on Monday, April 6, 2026, while fishing on Toledo Bend Lake. The fish was officially weighed in at Buckeye Landing Marina.

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Catch Qualifies for Lunker Program

According to the Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA), the catch qualifies as Lunker No. 53 for the June 2025–2026 season.

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As part of the TBLA’s Lunker Bass Program, anglers who catch a bass weighing 10 pounds or more can qualify for a special reward. The fish must be weighed, measured, tagged, and released alive by the association or one of its representatives.

Fish Released to Protect Trophy Population

Because Billeaud allowed officials to document and release the fish back into the lake properly, he will receive a fiberglass replica of his trophy bass — a keepsake designed to commemorate the achievement while protecting the lake’s trophy fish population.

More About the Lunker Program

The Lunker Program was created to reward anglers and encourage the conservation of trophy-sized bass by returning them safely to Toledo Bend Lake, helping maintain the lake’s reputation as a premier bass fishing destination.

Additional details and participation rules are available through the Toledo Bend Lake Association website.

How the Catch Compares to the State Record

While this was a trophy catch for Billeaud, it still falls short of Louisiana’s state record for largemouth bass. That one was caught by Greg Wiggins on February 12, 1994, in Caney Lake. It weighed in at a whopping 15.97 pounds!