Stripers
White-striped bass, or "stripers," were introduced into Lake Conroe in 1995 and have become a popular sport fish in the lake. Jiggly-spoons and shad are the recommended methods of going for the sport fish. The lake record for a striper was set in 2002. The fish weighed 12.11 lbs. During the early spring, stripers may sometimes be caught at river mouths. The stripers sometimes mix with the white bass during summer.
Crappie
Lake Conroe is considered to be one of the better lakes to fish for crappie in the state. Spring and fall are favorable times to fish for white or black crappie. Both white and black crappie made a comeback in Lake Conroe because of the efforts of the Lake Conroe Restocking Association. The record white crappie for Lake Conroe was set in 1999. The fish weighed in at 2.70 lbs. The record black crappy was set in the same year and weighed 2.20 lbs. Bait or light spinners are frequently used for crappie in Lake Conroe.
Channel Cat-Catfish
Channel-cat can be fished throughout the year. Using "smelly-bait" or cut-shad typically results in catches. Trotliners are another popular method of catching channel-cat in the lake. The record channel catfish on Lake Conroe was caught in 1976 and weighed 15.5 lbs. The record flathead channel cat was set in 1990, weighing 86 lbs. "Noodling" has become a niche method of catching channel cats. "Noodlers" will walk along the shallows with their hands and arms in the water feeling along the bottom. When they feel the holes the fish live in they try to "punch" their hands through the fish's gills or mouths and pull the fish to the surface. Many "noodlers" have suffered deep cuts and gashes from the fish.
Article Written By Eric Cedric
A former Alaskan of 20 years, Eric Cedric now resides in California. He's published in "Outside" and "Backpacker" and has written a book on life in small-town Alaska, "North by Southeast." Cedric was a professional mountain guide and backcountry expedition leader for 18 years. He worked in Russia, Iceland, Greece, Turkey and Belize. Cedric attended Syracuse University and is a private pilot.
