OUTDOORS: Lake Conroe Fishing Report
Fishing on Lake Conroe is picking up around the fronts as they come through. The water is clear in the main lake and a little stained in the back waters. The water temperature at the dam has been running 49.8 degrees early in the morning. The level is 201.05 feet, and no water is being released, according to the San Jacinto River Authority. Pool is 201 feet above mean sea level.
Black bass fishing is picking up. Guide Phillip James told me he has not been out bass fishing recently. In the tournament last weekend, the top finishers had limits, and in the CONROEBASS tournament, over 23 pounds took first place. Crank baits around the boat docks are producing fish as are Carolina rigged, watermelon red, soft plastics on brush piles and riprap are good. The shallows are producing keepers.
Catfish are good and can be found on baited holes along humps and points and submerged pond dams in 20-30 feet of water. James said chicken liver is working well on baited holes. James’ recent parties had good catches in 3-4 hours. The catfish caught now are running good size up to 1½-4 pounds.
Crappie are still fair one day and then slow the next. They are on the brush and other structure at a depth of 20-25 feet deep. The best bait seems to be minnows although jigs will work for anglers who are proficient with them. One party James has out caught keeper size crappie.
Hybrid Stripers (Palmetto bass) are occasionally biting on chicken livers down with the catfish on the baited holes and will occasionally hit a minnow down with the crappie but nothing consistent.
Bream are once again biting and meal worms or night crawlers are the best bait. Large hand size bream are being caught on baited holes with the catfish and on the deep brush with the crappie.
The information for this fishing report has been made available by James, working out of Seven Coves Marina. Phillip has been a freshwater fishing guide for over 30 years. For information about his services, go to www.phillipsguideservice.com or call 903-724-8291.