The Big Ones are Biting at Lake Conroe – Here’s How to Catch ‘Em!
Less than 30 miles from the lush, green lawns and immaculately designed homes of the master-planned community of ARTAVIA™ there’s a battle raging. It’s between man and fish and it’s happening on the water of one the best recreational lakes in the state – Lake Conroe.
Year round, they’re always biting at Lake Conroe and for the men and women who love to fish, ARTAVIA™ is the perfect home base for these outdoor adventures. Located on the southern edge of Sam Houston National Forest, Lake Conroe was created in 1973 by impounding the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. Originally created as a water supply, the lake is extensively used for recreation such as boating, swimming and fishing. It has a walloping 20,118 acres of water and it is teeming with several species of fish.
Largemouth bass are the most pursued sportfish in Lake Conroe. The lake holds a moderate-sized population but has good potential to grow trophy-size bass. Catch rates are very good and the opportunity to catch a trophy bass is very high at this lake. In 1998, the biggest largemouth bass ever collected by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in an electrofishing survey was taken from beneath a boat dock here and weighed in at 14.1 pounds. The standing lake record caught in 2009 by angler Ricky Bearden weighed 15.93 pounds.
Channel catfish are the most abundant sportfish in the lake, with crappie, white bass and hybrid bass providing additional opportunities for anglers.
Abundant Vegetation is a Fish Magnet
Since fish such as bass survive and flourish as predators, they seek out places to hide until their next meal swims by. This makes vegetation on the bottom and near the shore very important and it acts as a “magnet” for large bass.
According to the TPWD, Lake Conroe is diverse with a variety of aquatic plants. Emergent, submergent and floating plants can be found in the shallow water in coves and creek arms. The exact area covered by vegetation will vary from year to year, but generally ends up being around 2,000 acres.
Flooded timber can be found in many of the creek arms especially below the Cagle Recreation Area and upstream from Scotts Ridge. Private individuals have placed countless brush piles. Private boat docks along the southern half of the lake provide excellent cover. Creek channels of larger inlets also provide some cover.
Five Tips for Catching Fish on Lake Conroe
Area fishing guides and the experts at Bass Pro Shops, have some “Angling Intelligence” (AI) for catching the big ones on Lake Conroe! Here are five tips.
#1. In the summer, largemouth bass often relate to ridges, roadbeds and along shoreline riprap. Crankbaits are the top producing bait at this time.Chartreuse with an orange belly, fire tiger, Tennessee shad and chrome with a blue back are great colors to use. The lure should run deep enough to bump the bottom occasionally on the retrieve.
#2. White bass tend to stay deep from mid-summer through mid-winter. Fish will relate to deep-water structure, such as humps. Slabs and large jigs in white, yellow and chrome should be used.
#3. Crappie will spawn as early as February 1st, if the weather is sufficiently warm. Spawning fish will seek brush piles, buck brush at the backs of coves, boat docks and shallow pond dams for places to reproduce. In this early season the fish are ready biters. After the spawn, crappie will be found either in or around brush piles. Small minnows or jigs consistently produce fish.
#4. The use of a heavy fishing line for trot lining for catfish is popular in the upper end of the lake. Baits used by rod and reel anglers will also work here.
#5. Spring and summer are good times to pursue sunfish on Conroe. Fish can readily be caught with worms placed below a bobber. Shaded areas around boat docks, shallow brush piles or the rocky area along dams will consistently produce bream. Ample numbers of sunfish can provide a good way to introduce a child to the joys of fishing!
Ready for Some Outdoor Adventure?
The area within convenient driving distance from ARTAVIA™ is an outdoor adventure mecca and Lake Conroe is just one of the many destinations. Located just north of Houston, this colorful community is the perfect place to call home. Contact us and let us show you around.