Conroe Primed to Break Out of Winter Doldrums

 By Pete Robbins 

 

How would you like to come to a Big Bass Tour event, weigh in a 9-pounder, and not be within 5 pounds of the winning weight? Or catch a bass over 11 pounds, and end up 3rd overall? 

 

Both of those things have happened in recent years on Lake Conroe and it’s what continues to make it such a compelling venue. Any entrant, at any time, can catch the fish of a lifetime and win a boat. 

 

But what makes it exceptionally difficult to gauge is what it’ll take to win. In 2018, there were three bass over 11 pounds, three more over 10 and nine more over 9. Over the past two years, it hasn’t taken double digits to bring home the big prize. 

 

But prepare for a slugfest in the upcoming BBT event, Bass Pro Tour competitor Colby Miller advises. The Louisiana pro knows all about big fish fisheries, and while a recent cold snap throughout the south kept some fish pushed back, as it’s warmed up they’re itching to get close to their spawning grounds. That means there are several ways to catch them in several different zones. 

 

“It’s definitely getting to the time of year when the fish are all thinking about being shallow,” he said. “So I’d think that the grass will be a big player for giants.” 

 

He’d focus on the upper half of the lake, fishing lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs to cover water. In particular, he’s quickly come to rely on the Berkley Jack 6 lipless crank and knows that the Special Red Craw pattern is a pre-spawn Texas killer. He also would have at least one of Berkley’s Powerbait Slobberknocker Bladed jigs tied on. 

 

“One of my favorite colors is Green Pumpkin Shad,“ he said. “it’s not too bold like a bright white and it’s not completely green pumpkin. It’s the best of all worlds.” 

 

For anglers still wanting a true pre-spawn giant, Miller expects that it’ll be possible to pursue them off the bank. 

 

“I’d look in shallow brush,” he said. “And other places with hard spots or rock points in 6 to 12 feet of water. There’s a lot of that north of the bridge, but focus on the offshore places that and heading into the prime spawning areas. 
 

While he might cover water with the Slobberknocker and Jack in the grass, when he goes offshore he’d be more tempted to wait it out on key structural elements. 

 

“Really and truly, if you can, camping out is not a bad idea,” he explained. “If there are big fish around, at some point they’re going to pull up and eat, and you want to be there when that happens.” 

 

While he likes some relatively new additions to Berkley’s lineup when covering water, as described above, for the offshore bite he’d go old-school. 

 

“I love to Carolina Rig a fluke-style bait or a Berkley lizard,” he explained of the technique that seemingly takes a disproportionate number of the big fish awards around Texas every spring. “It’s been a player my entire lifetime. One key adjustment I make is that I use a lighter weight than most people – 3/8 or ½ ounce – which force me to fish slow.” 

 

In this event it’ll be critical to watch the live leaderboard, because even if your personal best largemouth gets eclipsed for the overall big fish award, a little strategy and proper timing helps in maximizing earnings. Furthermore, this tournament may typically have the greatest disparity between the heaviest money winning fish and the lightest. If you play your cards right, it’s possible to get paid – and paid well – with a relatively light bass.