OUTDOORS: Lake Conroe Fishing Report

Fishing on Lake Conroe is fair to good, depending on what you are after. The water temperature at the dam early in the morning has been running 47.18 degrees. As the day wears on and the sun comes up, it has been warming up some, especially in the shallows. The water at this time is clear and the level is 201.06 feet, and no water is being released, according to the San Jacinto River Authority.

Black bass fishing is fair. Fishing guide Butch Terpe said he has been catching them shallow in water 5-6 feet deep over submerged vegetation. He said he had a party out recently and caught some up to four pounds. They caught them on soft plastic worms in watermelon color. Spinner baits will work well over the vegetation as well. The bass can also be found around docks and riprap at the same depths.

Crappie fishing is fair to good. Terpe had trips out recently that caught 10-12 on brush and timber in water down to 30 deep. Some people have reported catching crappie around the FM1097 bridge in the same depths. Minnows and jig are both working well. The main challenge is the winds that can cause a problem trying to hold on structure for crappie fishing.

Catfish are excellent. Terpe said his parties have had fast action on keeper catfish. He recently had a father and son out, and they had 47 keepers in three hours. The sizes are generally running 1-2 pounds with an occasional three-pound catfish landed. They are on baited holes in 20 feet of water. Good bait for catfish right now is shrimp and punch baits, as well as chicken livers. Terpe said he personally likes a No. 8 sponge hook with punch bait.

Hybrid stripers and white bass have slowed down. Terpe said he has had reports of a few hybrids being caught on the baited holes when catfishing.

Bream are deep with the cold water. A few are showing up when fishing 20-30 feet deep. Meal worms and night crawlers are good baits.

Terpe, who works out of Stow-A-Way Marina, has made the facts and information for this fishing report available. Terpe has been a full-time guide for more than 30 years. For information about his services, call 936-856-7080. For information about Stow-A-Way Marina, call 936-856-4531.