Lake Conroe Fishing Report February 10, 2007
Dead Fish In All The Creeks!
Many fishermen have been finding dead and dying fish in the Lake for several weeks. The fish have been identified as tilapia. I contacted Mark A.Webb, District Supervisor, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Bryan Inland Fisheries Office and he advised me that the fish were "blue tilapia" an illegally introduced exotic species that do not withstand cold temperatures. Mark advised that the reason these fish are even allowed in private water is that they are an excellent food fish and almost always die off in the winter. Lake Conroe and Lake Houston have been warm enough all winter the past few years to allow the population of tilapia to build up. The young tilapia can provide some forage for bass and other predators but adult tilapia compete with bass and other sunfish for spawning space so it doesn't break anyone's hearts to see the fish die. There is NO know danger to the bass population.
Weather
The fact is all of the fish are not real happy with all the cold weather. The surface temperature of the Lake has a hard time getting back to 50%. We are having a few warm days; but, then we fall back into the 40's at night. Not to worry, warmer weather is in the forecast!
White Bass and Hybrid/Striped Bass
White Bass and Hybrids are still scattered; but, some fair catches have been coming in for those fishermen fishing humps on the main Lake and the deep side of drop offs along sandbars and extended points out into the main Lake at the mouth of the main creeks. Both the Whites and Hybrids have been caught trolling PetSpoons behind a deep diving crank at the head of the main creeks in the deep part of the creek. There have been several good catches around the Island off of Bentwater. Lewis Creek entrance has also produced a few fish; but, you have to work for them. White bass begin their upstream migration when the water temperature consistently reaches the 50's. Finding them often is a hit-or-miss proposition. Start working the creeks, every channel bend and hole is a potential fish-holding spot. The males are the first to move up the creeks & river. After the water upstream has had a chance to warm, the larger females follow. Now if you can stand the cold at night, several good catches of hybrids and whites have been reported using live bait at night with lights under the 1097 Bridge.
Catfish
Catfish fishing continues to be good. The fish are still in deeper water and are not near as aggressive with the cooler water temperature. Most of the catfish fishermen are finding baited holes in 28 to 32 feet of water along and in the creeks and the river channel. Some good catches have also been reported from many of the deep Marinas around the Lake. Chicken liver, shrimp dipped in "CatfishKiller Cheese Bait" and Premo that has been diluted down with menhaden oil seem to be the baits of choice. Weather conditions have been such that we have not had very many jug fishermen on the Lake the past few days. CatTales Guide Service has been getting his customers all bundled up with lots of clothes and doing real well at night using cut shad for bait.
Bass
Fishing continues to be tough for Black Bass. The fish being caught are in deeper water near the edges of grass beds using Texas-rigged watermelon red worms and plum/blue worms, chartreuse & white spinnerbaits, shad colored crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Most fishermen are working all of their brush with an occasional fish on each spot. Lots of fishermen have been working the back of Lewis Creek looking for warmer water from the discharge at the Power Plant. Few have reported fish. Several bass fishermen have reported some good solid fish using a slow moving jig & pig in blue, and plum/blue against stumps and other underwater structure.
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Keep A Tight Line & Enjoy!
Papa John
Anchorage Marina Lake Conroe Fishing Guide
