Lake Conroe April 14, 2007 Fishing Report

Lake Conditions April 14, 2007. The Lake is at pool - 201 - with the water visibility very good in most areas. Strong winds gusting to 35 mph in the afternoon continue to make fishing the main lake very difficult. Most fishing has been restricted to coves out of the wind. Most of the guides are still finding fish on their trips; but, the catches have been greatly reduced. The early bite has been best for catfish and hybrids on the bulkheads where the wind is blowing the shad. Once the wind gets up to 25 - 30 mph, it is difficult to hold the boats where the fish are feeding on the shad.

White Bass and Hybrid/Striped Bass
The hybrids continue to move to the bulkheads early to feed on shad. The shad are now being found along those bulkheads that are facing into the wind. The wind has moved the shad around to many areas on the West side of the Lake and into coves where there is wind blowing into the bulkheads on both sides of the lake. Drifting live bait has also been productive on the South end of the main lake. This is really tough fishing. Trolling for the Hybrids using shad colored Storm swimming baits and the countdown Rapal's with leadcore line has still been productive. The white bass have also been mixed in with the hybrids off the main points and trolling with a shad colored Storm swimming bait has proven successful for many fishermen for the white bass as well as the hybrids. Jigging spoons has also been productive for white bass, with lots of yellow bass mixed in with the whites on the humps in 25- 30 feet of water. Before you go fishing, you can study your lake maps on ESPN to find the humps and sandbars. See ESPN HotSpots Maps to study lake.

Catfish
Catfish fishing has still been great. You have to fish the bulkheads where the wind is blowing toward the bulkhead or in an area that is protected adjacent to a windblown bulkhead. This makes it necessary to fish early before the winds get to high. If you can find an eddy where there is a break in the bulkhead, the fish and shad will usually be grouped in that eddy and you will be slightly out of the wind. The best bite has been using nightcrawlers or fresh shad. The shad don't have to be alive as long as you put the bait right on the bulkhead. Two feet out and you won't catch fish. You can use a slip cork or just tight-line for the catfish. Many fishermen are also catching hybrids early while fishing for catfish. You need to be able to see the shad swimming along the bulkhead for best results.

Black Bass
Bass fishing has been real good. Lots of fish in the coves out of the wind in 8 - 12 feet of water along the edge of hydrilla beds, on brush piles, in the boat docks and even some nice fish on the rocks. Texas Rigged worms in watermelon, plum and plum/blue still seem to be the bait of choice for most fishermen. Shad colored crank-baits are still the favorite of many fishermen working the boat-docks, weed lines and rocks. The old Rattletrap is still being used to cover a lot of water quick by some of the fishermen with pretty good results. The early bite has also been best this week. Tex Bonin reported a 15.46 lb. stringer won the Thursday night tournament on Lake Conroe with big bass weighing in at 8.99 lb.

Crappie
Crappie have been scarce as hens teeth. Several fishermen have had fair catches of crappie fishing the various marinas around the lake using pink and black jigs. They still seem to turn on one day and then with a front or drastic changes in pressure move back out. Those hunting crappie in the brush piles are finding them to be scattered and only a few fish in each brush pile. Bream fishing is picking up in most areas. Many fishermen are catching bream along the bulkheads while fishing for catfish. Nightcrawlers seem to be the bait of choice.

Water levels, river flow and rainfall can all be view by visiting the San Jacinto River Authority website at: http://www.sjra.net/

Keep A Tight Line And Enjoy!!!