BPT Lake Conroe Practice Update

Courtesy of MLF

Man, there's nothing like the buzz of a brand-new season, and the 2025 Bass Pro Tour opener at Lake Conroe has all the makings of a wild one. With forward-facing sonar restrictions in play for the first time, the anglers must rethink their entire game plan.

And let's be honest, Conroe isn't exactly giving out easy big bites. From what the pros are saying, if you're not dialed in with FFS during your one allowed period, you're probably gonna have a rough go.

Justin Lucas Fishing
Courtesy of MLF

Now, I've fished enough to know that when the majority of a lake's fish are suspended in deeper water, it's no joke trying to get bit without forward facing sonar. Spencer Shuffield, Justin Cooper, and Bryan Thrift all echo that sentiment.

For the non-scope periods I'll have a GT6, a chatterbait, and of course a jig tied on.

Jacob Wheeler

These guys are pros, but even they admit that without LiveScope, getting more than one bite in an area feels like a win. That means the anglers who time their sonar period just right. Whether they go early to locate fish or save it for a last-minute comeback will be the ones to watch.

But here's the real X-factor: the big ones. Conroe's got some absolute donkeys swimming around, and while a one or two pounder on FFS might keep you in the game, those nine pound to eleven pound giants could flip SCORETRACKER on it's head.

Ott DeFoe Fishing the Bass Pro Tour
Ott DeFoe Fishing the Bass Pro Tour / Courtesy of MLF

Thrift stuck an 11-12 in practice, and while he chalked it up to pure luck, that kind of bite is out there.

With the warming trend, we could see a push to the shallows. If someone taps into that bite at the right time, we might see a real shake-up. This event's got all the ingredients for a dramatic finish, and honestly, I can't wait to see how it plays out.

Follow Bass Pro Tour Stage 1 on Lake Conroe


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Jason George
JASON GEORGE

Jason George is a seasoned angler and writer with a passion for bass fishing. Competing in Bassmaster Opens and MLF Tournaments, Jason brings firsthand experience and industry insight to his engaging stories about the fishing world. Since 2012, he has been a driving force in the fishing community, crafting marketing and creative content for some of the sport’s most iconic brands and earning over 550 million views on his work in the outdoor space and beyond. His dedication to the sport and its enthusiasts is evident in every piece he writes for Fishing On SI.