Conroe Courier June 2, 2023

School is out for the summer — bringing an influx of Montgomery County residents to visit Lake Conroe in the coming weeks.

Summer tends to be the busiest season for the lake, as around 80,000 people visited Lake Conroe Park along Texas 105 during the summer season in 2022. Visitors in 2023 could surpass that number, said Park Manager Shane Mosely. 

While some will visit lake houses and take boats out for a spin, there are other options, such as staying in a lakeside resort or casting a line and maybe catch a “monster” blue catfish like one biologist did in 2018. 

No boat? There are several businesses that allow people to rent one. 

Here are five things visitors need to know before travelling to Lake Conroe:

Where do I stay? 

There are a plethora of options for people to choose for lodging. The Courier put together a list of Airbnb’s to stay over the summer. 

Other options for lodging include resorts and RV parks. 

Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe | Houston, which opened in 2020, features a 20-story luxury tower, 303 luxury suites, 32 lakeside cottages, 80 boat slips, and a 3-acre water park. It also has a variety of watercraft rentals, including pontoons, kayaks and a SUP board. If someone wanted to stay in, the resort has a spa, a golf club and live music.

For more information, visit Margaritaville Lake Resort’s website. 

The Thousand Trails Lake Conroe RV Campground provides a camping experience for those that want a more outdoors option. 

If visitors own a boat, they can launch it into the lake from the site. If they don’t have a boat, the campground offers guests an option to rent one along with kayaks, paddleboards and canoes.

There are three options for staying at this campground — renting space for RV owners, renting a cabin or renting a tent space. Prices range from $65 to $211 a night.

For more information, visit the Thousand Trails Lake Conroe RV Campground website.  

Where to rent a boat? 

A quick Google search shows there are several places that offer boat rentals. Some of these include pontoon boats, which are ideal for day cruising, and even a party barge that is capable of fitting up to 35 people. All boat renters must have a Texas boating license in order to operate any vessel. 

Some resorts like Margaritaville offer rentals on site, while there are some separate businesses that offer rentals.

Einstein’s Surf and Boat Shop, which is part of Margaritaville’s services, offers- four boat options that can accommodate up to 35 people and ranges from $320 to $1,440. Renters must be age 21 and older. For people that plan to be the captain, they must be born before September 1, 1993 or have a valid Texas boating license. Most rentals are good for two to eight hours, while the party barge is good for three to six hours and comes with a crew. 

For more information, visit Margaritaville Lake Resort’s website. 

Maybe you’re looking for personal watercraft rentals, or to embark on adventure looking for treasure. 1097 Watersports has several options that include personal watercraft, kayak, canoe, paddleboards and pontoon boat rentals. Renters must be 18 and up to operate the personal watercraft, while all ages can rent a kayak, canoe and paddleboard. Prices range from $90 to $1,600, including boat rentals. A safety deposit is required. 

1097 Watersports also includes a Jolly Pirate Ship is an interactive adventure that includes captain and crew. There’s  pirate-themed activities, witty banter, singing, dancing, and family fun. The crew engages willing participants in a treasure hunt and authentic cannon fire, according to the company’s website. 

For more information, visit the 1097 Watersport’s website. 

Where to swim?

The lake has two public access points for swimming — Lake Conroe Park, off Texas 105, and Scott’s Ridge Swim Area, off FM 1097 near Scott’s Ridge Road. Park admission is $5 per person while access to Scott’s Ridge is $5 per vehicle per day. Scott’s Ridge is open from May through September. 

Where to fish? 

Anglers know Lake Conroe as one of the top fisheries not only in Texas but in the United States, according to the Visit Conroe website. 

Bass, crappie and catfish are just some of the fish that can be found in the lake’s waters. But for June, July and August, crappie and catfish are plentiful, the website continues. For June, crappie will be finished spawning and move out to the brush piles this time of year. While catfish can be caught all year-round, a lot of activity on the lake is found during July and August. 

Most fishing is done in shallow areas near marinas or boat docks.

For tips and more information about fishing on Lake Conroe, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website and the Visit Conroe website. 

michael.d.garcia@houstonchronicle.com

 

Â