Anglers seeking serious competition and rod-bending largemouth bass should look to Lake Conroe Saturday.

    Legacy Outfitters will host the Lake Conroe Open, offering cash and prizes and highlighting the amazing fishing that has taken place at the scenic lake in 2009.

    “We’ve been talking about doing a bass tournament and since our chapter is based in The Woodlands, Conroe was a natural. Plus it is hard to argue with the kind of fish the lake has produced this year. For Conroe veterans or newcomers this is a prime opportunity to get a shot at some world class bass action,” said Marshall Quigley tournament director and member of The Woodlands Chapter of Legacy Outfitters.

    In January, Ricky Bearden of Conroe set a new Conroe water body record for largemouth bass when he pulled a 15.93-pound fish from two feet of water.

According to officials with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), the monster fish holds the number 24 spot on the list of the top 50 largemouth bass ever caught in Texas.

    All told, Conroe produced four fish for TPWD’s Sharelunker program, which takes live donations of bass weighing 13 pounds or more tying legendary Lake Fork.

    Based on a 100 teams, the tournament payout will be $5,000 first place, $2,500 second and $1,000 third with all money places adjusted on entries.

    The entry fee for teams will be $150 and anglers can show up beginning at 5:15 a.m. to sign up. A portion of proceeds will benefit Legacy Outfitters.    “The tournament is open to everyone from dedicated tournament anglers to those just wanting to have some fun and possibly win some money. For anglers who also seek big bass we are offering a $20 big bass pot with an 80 percent payback,” Quigley added.

    The weigh-in will take place at Stow-A-Way Marina and feature drawings of a variety of door prizes from sponsors like Kistler, Geneva Bait & Tackle, Team USA Custom Rods, Tuffline, Z Man and U.S. Reel.

    For more info, contact Marshall Quigley at 281-352-3237 - email quigbert11@gmail.com) or Ted Price at 713-502-6379 - email taprice59@comcast.net.

    Now onto the report...

    North Sabine---Trout are starting to body up around shad on the main body of the lake. Live bait and various light colored plastics are producing the most specks. Reds are mixed with the trout. Flounder are fair along the Intracoastal on Gulp shrimp and live bait. Very few reports from the Louisiana shoreline.

    South Sabine---Capt. Phillip Samuels reports trout remain fair under birds under emerging slicks along the Louisiana shoreline. Ladyfish are starting to get thick in the system and trout are beginning to body up around shad. Gulp shrimp and light colored shrimp imitations are producing the most fish although there has been some action on topwaters. Very few reports of flounder.

    Sabine Pass---Live shrimp are producing very good catches of sheepshead at the jetties on both the Texas and Louisiana side. Trout are fair to good on live bait when the water is running sandy green. Bull reds and sharks are fair to good on cut bait and live croaker. Very few reports from Keith Lake.

    Sabine River---Bass fishing has been slow. Redfish are good from the Adams Bayou cut down to Cow Bayou on plastics and Rat-L-Traps. A few small flounder are showing around the Dupont Outfall Canal.