Fall shad migration drives the November bass bite on Lake Conroe

What anglers are reporting Recent reports show Lake Conroe settling into a solid November pattern. Cooler nights have baitfish on the move, and the largemouth are following them out of their summer haunts. Water levels have been on a slow, steady decline since late October, pulling fish slightly tighter to available cover.

This week's outlook With a front having just pushed through on Sunday, dropping daytime highs into the low 70s, expect water temperatures to hover in the mid to upper 60s. The fall shad migration into the creeks and the standing timber up the river should be in full swing. As the week warms back up into the upper 70s, the bite will pick up momentum. The cooling water means bass will actively feed on threadfin and gizzard shad to pack on weight before winter.

Where to start Focus your efforts in the upper lake where the old river channel meets standing timber. Look for bends in the channel that hold bait. In the lower lake, target the bulkheads and boat docks, especially those with brush planted nearby. The secondary points leading into creeks are prime ambush spots right now. If the shallow bite slows, check the deeper ends of docks in 8 to 12 feet.

Bait box

• Squarebill crankbaits (shad patterns)
• Spinnerbaits (white or silver blades)
• Skipping jigs (green pumpkin or black/blue)
• Wacky rigged stickbaits (watermelon red)
• Chatterbaits (white and chartreuse)

This weekend Saturday and Sunday look mild with highs in the upper 70s and a slight chance of rain on Sunday. Winds will pick up out of the southeast. This stable, warming trend should make for an active weekend bite. Cover water in the timber with moving baits early, then slow down and skip docks as the sun gets high.