Photo byMontgomery County Police Reporter
Story by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
A Magnolia man died after two boats collided during a Lake Conroe fishing tournament Saturday, according to Montgomery County authorities.
Michael Wayne Conaway, 58, died shortly after authorities arrived on scene north of the FM 1097 bridge near the Scott’s Ridge Boat Ramp. He was fishing in the Texas Bass Nation Southeast Region tournament.
Photo by Impulse Fishing Rods
According to witnesses and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the two boats were headed toward each other and traveling at about 45 mph. The two boats maneuvered to avoid each other and appeared to make the same move at the same time, and the boats collided. The force of the collision left a large gash in the side of Conaway’s boat.
Medics arrived on scene and tended to Conaway, but he was pronounced dead shortly after the crash.
Ron Gunter, president of Seven Coves Bass Club, knew Conaway well and said the area of the crash may have been a factor.
“Michael was not only a member of our regional circuit, he was also one of the longest-standing Toyota Texas Bass Classic judges,” he said. “That park (Scott’s Landing) sits out on somewhat of a peninsula — to get around the area, you have to hug the bank and then go south to get around the channel. There are No Wake buoys and then timber so it’s a bottleneck area.”
The bass club contributed its side-pot proceeds to Conaway’s family.
Conaway also was a member of the Katy Bassmaster Club, and the Michael Conaway Memorial Fund has been established at GoFundMe.com.
