If the tournament scales are telling the truth, and they usually do, Lake Conroe’s bass fishing is making a strong comeback.

When the Sunday Morning Tournament out of StowAway Marina starts producing five-fish limits weighing more than 25 pounds, it gets your attention in a hurry. That kind of weight does not show up by accident. It is a sign that the efforts to improve Lake Conroe’s black bass fishing are beginning to pay off.

This spring, I saw that improvement firsthand, especially during the spawn.

My clients and I enjoyed some very quality black bass fishing, and many of the spawning females we boated weighed between four and five pounds. So many of those fish were in the same size class that they seemed almost like twins. The majority of them, if not all, appeared to be Florida-strain black bass released through the Lake Conroe Restocking Program.

That is good news for everyone who cares about the future of this lake.

Through both the prespawn and the spawn, we caught numerous males and females in shallow water, which is always a positive sign of a successful reproduction cycle. A healthy spawn, combined with the continued efforts of the Lake Conroe Restocking Program, could be the single most important factor in the improvement of Lake Conroe’s bass fishing.

Another key ingredient in this comeback is the 16-inch length limit. Since September 1, 1993, more bass under that mark have remained in the lake long enough to mature and spawn. This year, that protection appears to be showing real results.

Throughout the spring, there were steady reports of big bass coming to the scales. Anglers fishing spinnerbaits and worms along the bulkheads and shallow timber were rewarded with solid catches. Several fish over 11 pounds were weighed this spring, and even a couple over 12. That alone is proof that the quality of fish in Lake Conroe is improving.

Just as encouraging is the growing acceptance of catch and release among bass fishermen. Catch and release has become standard practice for many serious anglers, and it is one of the simplest ways we can all help maintain a healthy bass population. In a sense, catch and release is a restocking program in itself.

The method is simple and rewarding. Always keep a camera handy. When you catch a fish, take the photo quickly and get it back into the water as soon as possible. Revive the fish by holding its mouth open and moving it gently back and forth in the water. This helps restore oxygen to the fish’s gills. Always work quickly when a fish is out of the water, and handle it as little as possible. The more a fish is handled, the greater the chance of injury or fungus later on.

To catch, photograph, and release a keeper, or especially a trophy black bass, is true sportsmanship. It is rewarding, habit-forming, and when a young angler is in the boat watching it happen, you have done the future of bass fishing a real favor.

After the spawn, the bass began to scatter and were no longer as easy to pattern. That is when I started concentrating more of my guide trips on crappie, and the crappie fishing on Conroe this year has been nothing short of outstanding.

Long stringers have been common. Many of my guide clients are first-time anglers, men, women, and kids alike, and watching them catch crappie fast and furiously brings a great deal of satisfaction. Catching fish tends to bring out the best in people, no matter their age.

Crappie fishing especially has a way of capturing the imagination of youngsters. There is no time for them to lose interest, and before long they become “experts,” telling everyone else in the boat how to catch them. That kind of excitement is hard to beat.

Catching one, two, and sometimes even three limits of keeper crappie usually means catching four times that many fish. The ratio of short fish to keeper crappie has been running about four to one. Days of catching more than 100 crappie have become fairly common, and that says plenty about the health of the fishery.

All in all, the spring and early summer have proven Lake Conroe to be one of the best fishing holes around.

The evidence is in the spawning beds, the tournament weights, the trophy bass, and the happy faces leaning over a boat full of crappie. Lake Conroe is coming back, and now is a fine time to rediscover it. Don’t take my word for it. Put in, make a few casts, and see what this lake has to say for itself.

Good luck, and good fishing.

I can also give you a second version that sounds even more like a vintage Texas SportsGuide print column, with a little more of that old-school outdoor voice.