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Add it all up and you have the potential for some record breaking catches at the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Texas in March, a reputation for trophy catches, higher than average winning weights and the world’s best bass fishermen. It can all happen at Lake Conroe.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Seventeen largemouth weighing over 13 pounds have been entered into the Toyota ShareLunker Program, the most recent in 2015. Conroe consistently ranks in the top 5 lakes for producing entry category fish weighing at least 13 pounds or better.
Photo: Craig Lamb
That’s Lake Conroe, the first lake inside Texas to host the Classic. Bulkheads (wood and steel, boat docks, piers, seawalls, etc.) are by far the most predominant and obvious manmade cover on the lake. If there is a dock bite it will be exploited in this Classic. That means the average angler is set to learn more about dock fishing than ever.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The dock fishing chapters in the Bassmaster textbook of bassing basics might be rewritten at Conroe. Find docks of all kinds, ranging from luxury to ancient and everything in between. Isolated docks, wall-to-wall docks, floating docks and pier docks. Conroe has it all.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Conroe’s docks, like its real estate, are divided into two categories. The middle of the lake, stretching a few miles north and south of the FM 1097 bridge, is lined with these 1970s-era docks. Think wood docks within casting distance of brushpiles placed by the owners.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The scene is, sniff-sniff, much different on the lower end of Conroe. Here a likely dock pattern will evolve around the offshore spoils created by the construction of seawalls. Lots of flats, ridges and ledges are there, too, creating the perfect storm for a post-spawn offshore bite.
Photo: Craig Lamb
There is more than meets the eye than high-end construction of these docks.
Big, deep draft boats — and sailboats with keels — are favorites of these dock owners. That means many of these docks are dredged so the boats fit. Think a subtle depth change that might hold big bass.
Photo: Craig Lamb
On Conroe there are literally thousands of docks of every shape and size. So are the houses and they are on the high end of luxury. The mean price for a house on Conroe is above $800,000.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Conroe is only about 45 miles north of Houston. That makes the lake popular for boaters. That also means lots of marinas. This is the lighthouse at Stowaway Marina, located mid-lake. Stowaway is a popular site for tournament launches, weigh-ins and live release of tournament-caught bass.
Photo: Craig Lamb
In the background is La Torretta Lake Resort & Spa. It hosted the 2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors. In November, Ryan Lavigne won the tournament with 58 pounds, 3 ounces. His winning margin was 16 1/2 pounds. The Louisianan will be back, representing the B.A.S.S. Nation.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The scenery changes in a big way north of the FM 1097 bridge. Conroe’s upper end closely resembles east Texas lakes like Rayburn and Toledo Bend.
Photo: Craig Lamb
The reason is Sam Houston National Forest. Undeveloped shorelines on both sides of the lake offer a striking contrast of bass habitat when compared to the lower end of Conroe.
Photo: Craig Lamb
What looks like a shoreline along Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend is actually on Lake Conroe. The upper end has shallow flats, ridges, winding creeks and the migrational habitat preferred by postspawn largemouth.
Photo: Craig Lamb
Beyond the FM 137 bridge is even more change in scenery. North of the bridge the lake narrows and transitions into a river type fishery. The San Jacinto River feeds Conroe and the fishing up here is distinctly geared toward river fishing. Think heavy cover, narrow channels and resident largemouth.
Photo: Craig Lamb
“Lake Conroe will fish small.” That is a recurring quote made by many Classic anglers. Small is historically irrelevant when compared to the size of previous Classic fisheries. Lay Lake (2010, 2007, 2002, 1996) is the smallest at 12,000 acres. Now that’s small.
Photo: Craig Lamb
If Conroe has a defining landmark it’s this lighthouse. The Harbour Town Lighthouse is part of a residential development of the same name. The 90-foot lighthouse was built as a private aid to navigation in 1977. It stands on a point located south of the FM 1097 bridge.
Photo: Craig Lamb
