Combs Says It’s All About the Weather at Conroe

By Pete Robbins 

 

The annual Big Bass Tour stop at Lake Conroe in Texas is one of the most predictable yet one of the most confounding events on the schedule. Everyone knows it’ll take at least a 9 pounder to take the top prize, as it’s never taken less than 9.16, and that was in the lone fall event. The question is how far above 9 you’ll have to go to be top dog. 

 

In 2021, it took a Big Bass Tour record 14.25 behemoth from Soctt Stephens to win the grand prize, but after that the top finishers were between 9 and 10 pounds apiece. In 2017, there were four fish weighed in over 10 pounds – the “unlucky” angler whose fished pushed the scales to 10.52 was very disappointed that someone else had a 10.53. Indeed, even at these lofty weights it often all comes down to ounces or less. 

 

Veteran Texas pro Keith Combs has a good handle on Conroe, as he does on all of the state’s major tournament fisheries, and he said that this one may come down to the weather patterns and getting away from the crowds. The region had experienced a recent major heatwave, pulling fish up shallow, some of them on the beds, but then came major rains. Anglers will need to find fresh catchable fish in stable areas if they want to be consistent. 

 

“In most of the recent major tournaments on Conroe, Caney Creek has been the main player,” he said. “It’s full of hydrilla, and there are plenty of good ones in there. I’d try to buck that trend, though. it’s not that big of a creek, and the BBT usually has a lot of boats, so while there are likely staging fish in the grass and even some spawning on the inside grass lines, I’d go somewhere else.” 

 

He’d focus on other main lake creeks, and “try to get something going on shoreline cover like riprap.” He expects that a lipless crankbait and vibrating jig could be huge players, and both are big fish baits. So too are a squarebill and a flipping jig. 

 

He’s fond of the areas above the bridge like The Jungle, but said that it’s “hard to pick an area because Conroe fishes good from top to bottom.” Indeed, the down lake area is also full of big fish. For Combs, it might be about getting on the right stretch and hitting it over and over, waiting for the right fish to move in. 

 

“There are fish trickling up to the bank every day, but don’t discount the fish that are still out deep. Someone is going to catch big fish on a jig or a Carolina Rig on one of those main lake flat hard points. They’re not that deep as compared to other lakes, but there’s a lot of good water like that. If you use your electronics wisely, you can pick it apart.” 

 

Obviously, giant fish don’t show up reliably. From 2018 through 2020, this event featured multiple double digits, including four over 10 in 2018 and three over 11 (plus three over 10) in 2018. Last year the biggest fish was 9.23, so it’s critical to pay attention to the live leaderboard. Lots of 5- and 6-pound bass will get paid in this tournament, but the exact amounts will be highly dependent on strategy and timing. 

 Berkley Big Bass Tour Baits – Conroe 2025 

The Conroe event may feature a wider range of successful baits than any other BBT tournament this year. Here are some of the top choices of the Berkley pros: 

For bass on the inside grass line: 

·      Maxscent the General 

·      Maxscent Crud Craw 

·      Powerbait Swim Jig 

For bass staging in the grass: 

·      Powerbait Slobberknocker 

·      Warpig Lipless Crankbait 

·      Jack Lipless Crankbait 

 

For bass on riprap: 

·      Frittside Crankbait 

·      Powerbait Slobberknocker 

·      Squarebull Crankbait 

·      Powerbait Flippin’ Jig 

For offshore deep bass: 

·      Powerbait Football Jig 

·      Powerbait 10” Power Worm 

·      Powerbait Power Lizard

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