December Lake Conroe Fishing Report

Lake Conroe's December pattern is concentrating fish around winter structure. Butch Terpe explains where to find bass, crappie, hybrids and catfish and which presentations are producing.

December has Lake Conroe settling into its winter pattern. Water temperatures have dropped into the 50s, concentrating fish around cover, depth and nearby feeding opportunities. Anglers who slow down and work the right depth can still find excellent action across the lake.

Black Bass

With winter in full swing, many black bass are holding tight to cover. Rock structure around bridges and breakwaters is a dependable place to begin. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms can all produce when worked carefully through those areas. Boat docks are another strong winter target. On the north end of Lake Conroe, grass beds still provide cover along coves and shorelines. Focus where those beds meet deeper water or other structure.

Crappie

Colder water often pushes crappie into tighter groups. Look for them around bridge pilings and deep brush piles in roughly 20 to 30 feet of water. Minnows and small jigs fished close to the cover can trigger strikes and put together a good box of slabs.

Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid striped bass also tend to school during this part of the year. They can be caught by trolling Pet spoons or by bouncing slab spoons along the bottom on main-lake humps and points. The best depth range is generally 20 to 40 feet. Stay with any area that produces a strike, because a school may be holding nearby.

Catfish

Catfishing is excellent during the colder months. Bait areas near river or creek channels with range cubes, then fish dip baits close to the bottom in about 20 feet of water. That approach can bring good action in a short amount of time. Catfish can remain active throughout the day, and larger fish are often more active during this time of year. The key is setting up near the channel, keeping the bait near the bottom and allowing the baited area time to draw fish.

Winter fishing on Lake Conroe is less about covering miles of water and more about finding the right structure, depth and concentration of fish.

Fishing report provided by Butch Terpe at Stow-A-Way Marina and RV Park.