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Lake Conroe 2021 Survey Report media download(PDF 2.9 MB)

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Lake Conroe - 2021 Survey Report

Prepared by Alice Best and Niki Ragan
Inland Fisheries Division
College Station/Houston District, Snook, Texas

This is the authors' summary from a 45-page report. For a copy of the complete report, use the download link in the sidebar.

Fish populations in Lake Conroe were surveyed in 2021 using electrofishing and in 2022 using gill netting. Anglers were surveyed from June 2021 through May 2022 with a creel survey. Historical data are presented with the 2021-2022 data for comparison. This report summarizes the results of the surveys and contains a management plan for the reservoir based on those findings.

Reservoir Description

Lake Conroe is a 20,118-acre reservoir on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River, Texas, built to provide water for municipal and industrial purposes. The reservoir was constructed in 1973 by the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), and the City of Houston. The Sam Houston National Forest borders most of the upper third of Lake Conroe, and considerable private and commercial real estate development surrounds the lower two-thirds.

Management History

Important sport fishes include Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Black Crappie, and White Crappie. Florida Largemouth Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass have been stocked when available. Previous habitat management actions included control of hydrilla using triploid Grass Carp beginning in 2006, regular monitoring of plant communities (including the exotic species hydrilla, giant salvinia, and water hyacinth) from 2006-2022, maintenance of the native aquatic vegetation nursery below Lake Conroe with SJRA, deployment of large fish attractor structures at 14 sites, and planting a five-mile stretch of shoreline in the Caney Creek arm with native vegetation.

Fish Community

Management Strategies

Hybrid Striped Bass and Florida Largemouth Bass stockings will be requested annually. Continue to work with SJRA, the Lake Conroe Association (LCA), the Seven Coves Bass Club (SCBC), and other interested groups to address the ongoing problem of exotic vegetation control and native vegetation restoration at Lake Conroe.

Sport Fish Restoration Logo

Performance Report as required by Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act Texas Federal Aid Project F-221-M-3 Inland Fisheries Monitoring and Management Program



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