Fly Fishing For Trout on the Guadalupe River in Texas

The Guadalupe river is the only place in Texas where you can fly fish for trout year round. This river was created as a tailwater by Canyon Lake dam and has self-sustaining rainbow trout populations year-round thanks to TPWD and Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited stockings every winter.

There are several spots to fish for trout on the Guadalupe river, including the river trail in Guadalupe Park below the dam and Camp Huaco Springs in New Braunfels.

Where to fish

The Guadalupe river in Texas is one of the best places to fly fish for trout. The state stocks the river with thousands of rainbow and brown trout every year, and many people come here to try their luck at catching the big ones.

Trout fishing is great on the Guadalupe river all year round, especially during the winter when temperatures are cooler. However, the best times for fly fishing are during November and March, when stockings take place.

There are several places where you can catch trout on the Guadalupe river in Texas, and each has its own unique characteristics. Some locations are more popular than others, and each has its own advantages.

For example, the upper section of the river is known for its Bald Cypress lined banks and breathtaking limestone cliffs. This section of the river is also less crowded than its lower counterpart, making it a good option for those looking to avoid the crowds.

Other trout fishing locations on the Guadalupe river include Camp Huaco Springs and Guadalupe Park. These sites are leased by Texas Parks and Wildlife and provide free access to the river for anglers. Located between New Braunfels and Sattler, these sites offer nearly a half mile of bank access along alternating pools and riffles on the river.

Another great spot to catch trout on the Guadalupe is below the Canyon Lake Dam. This area is often overlooked by anglers, but it is a world-class trout fishery.

The Canyon Lake Dam is located in the City of New Braunfels, and the river is stocked with trout throughout the winter. This is the perfect place to go if you want to catch a huge fish while enjoying the scenery.

It is a beautiful spot to fish, and the area features campsites, a kayak launch, and even a fishing pier. The river is a popular destination for fishermen, and the water is clear and cold.

If you’re looking for a way to experience the Guadalupe river from a different perspective, consider renting a kayak and exploring the waters on your own. This would be a great way to learn how to fish the river while enjoying the gorgeous scenery.

When to fish

The Guadalupe river is a great place to go fly fishing in Texas, particularly around New Braunfels. It is stocked with trout every year and offers world-class fishing.

The best time to fish for trout on the Guadalupe is in winter when the water stays cold. The lower temperatures are great for trout and make the river an ideal spot to catch big rainbows and browns.

Thousands of trout are stocked into the river each year by Texas Parks and Wildlife. These stockings occur between November and March and the fishing is usually good into late spring or early summer.

In addition to trout, the Guadalupe is home to a unique species of bass known as Guadalupe bass, which are endemic to the Edwards Plateau in central Texas. They are a small, aggressive fish that can be caught using a variety of methods, including fly fishing.

Many Texas rivers are stocked with Guadalupe bass, making them a popular target for both anglers and non-anglers alike. Guadalupe bass tend to hang out in the upper reaches of fast-moving water and are a favorite target for both wade and drift fishermen, but they can also be targeted by kayak or float tube.

For the most part, Guadalupe bass are more attracted to scaled-down versions of largemouth lures, including crankbaits, spinners and topwaters. Other effective options include jigs and soft plastic baits, such as grubs, tube jigs and wacky worms.

If you’re looking for a unique fishing experience, consider trying your hand at the Guadalupe river this winter. This river is stocked with rainbow trout every year and offers world-class trout fishing, especially below Canyon Lake Dam and at the River Trail in Guadalupe Park.

The river also has a number of bridges, which means you can drive your car to the riverbank and wade to fishable water. If you’re not comfortable wading, you can take a guided trip or use a kayak.

Guadalupe river fishing is a great way to spend a day on the water with friends or family and is a fun activity for all ages. There are plenty of places to camp, too, so it’s easy to set up a long day of fishing and then relax in a cozy bed and breakfast or cabin afterward.

Drift rafting

The Guadalupe river in Texas is home to some of the most productive trout fishing in the country. TPWD and Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited stock the river throughout winter to keep it healthy for fish and anglers alike. The river has been ranked in the top 100 US trout streams and holds distinctions as being the southernmost freshwater trout fishery in the United States.

During the summer, the water temperature of the tailwater is typically in the mid-60s to low-70s degrees, which allows for rainbow and brown trout to survive without much stress. This helps to keep the river fish-friendly and allow for a year-round population of self-sustaining trout.

In addition, the tailwater stays well below 70 degrees during the winter, which allows for trout to remain active. Spring releases and seeps also help to moderate the water temperature during the colder months.

One of the best ways to enjoy this fishing is with a drift raft. While you can catch trout wading, a raft offers the most stability and gives you better access to tighter areas where trout like to hang out.

Rafts are available in several sizes to fit a variety of needs and budgets. The size of raft you choose should be based on the amount of gear and people you plan to carry.

Drift rafting can be a great way to experience the Guadalupe river as you are in control of your boat and the flow of the water. With a raft, you are also less likely to get tangled up in the current, so it is a good option for beginners.

You can also fish from a drift raft for other species like smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and striped bass. If you want to target these species, you can throw small baitfish streamers such as Woolly Buggers or dragonflies into the runs.

The Guadalupe is a popular fly fishing destination for many reasons. It is a great place to fish for rainbow and brown trout, and it is also home to some of the best warmwater fishing in the region.

Wade fishing

If you’re looking for a tailwater trout fishing experience in Texas, the Guadalupe River is an excellent choice. It’s regularly stocked and offers both warm and cold water, depending on the time of year you visit.

One of the most effective ways to catch fish in shallow waters is through wade fishing. This is because predatory fish tend to stay near the shoreline and can be targeted by stalking them with a fly rod or jig. It is also a good technique for locating schools of fish because you can quietly sneak up on them and sight cast to them.

Another key element to successfully wade finishing is knowledge of the area and its conditions. You should know the water temperature and clarity, as well as how much current is present in the waters. These factors can affect your lure choices and retrieval speeds.

In addition, you should be aware of other anglers that may be on the water. You should be kind and communicate with them, but you should also give them space if they are not fishing in the same area as you are.

If you plan on wade fishing, it is important to wear proper footwear, which will protect your feet from stingrays and sea urchins. It is also recommended that you use waterproof insulated gear to keep you warm and safe.

Wade fishing is a great way to spend a day on the water, and it can be a fun and exciting experience. It’s also an ideal activity for beginners as it allows you to get up close and personal with the fish that you’re targeting.

While it is possible to wade fish from a boat or kayak, wading can be a more efficient way to cover large areas of water. It also helps you to avoid causing damage to the environment by removing heavy machinery from the scene.

A good wading rod and a sturdy vest are necessary for a successful wade fishing trip. These items will help you carry all your equipment and rigs, making it easy to change lures or retie your leader.

Which flies are popular on the Guadalupe river?

The Guadalupe river, located in Central Texas near New Braunfels between San Antonio and Austin, is one of the state’s most popular fly-fishing destinations. It’s the southernmost trout fishery in the country, and every year from mid-December through early March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks nearly 24,000 rainbow trout.

Since 1966, the Guadalupe has become a favorite springtime spot for anglers looking to catch trout and other cool-water game. Fortunately, the section of the Guadalupe below Canyon Dam is always cold enough to keep the trout alive.

For the best trout fishing opportunities, you’ll want to be using flies that represent the prey insects trout are most likely to feed on. These include a variety of mayflies, caddis flies, and damselflies.

Which flies are popular on the Guadalupe river when the sun is shining?

The Guadalupe river is a great place to fish for trout. You can catch many different species of trout on a fly rod and use dry flies and nymphs to fish the river.

During sunny weather, most anglers will fish a black Woolly Bugger on both the warm and cold water sections of the Guadalupe. This will help attract and keep trout on your hook.

A Wulff Hairwing wing is also a good choice for fishing the Guadalupe river when it is bright and sunny. The Wulff Hairwing is a high floating nymph that can be used to imitate any number of flies that can be found in the river.

On a half day trip with Mike and his bud from Dallas, we caught and released too many trout to count. The red squirmy worm and Prince Nymph were both effective.

Which flies are popular on the Guadalupe river when the sun is shaded?

The Guadalupe river in Texas is a great place to fly fish for trout. It offers low fishing pressure in a beautiful landscape with many species of fish and easy access.

You’ll find a variety of warm water fish in the Guadalupe, including redbreast and longear sunfish, bluegill sunfish, green sunfish, small Guadalupe bass, Rio Grande cichlids, and carp. The Guadalupe river also has a healthy population of cold-water fish like rainbow and brown trout.

During the day when the sun is shaded, a Wulff hair wing or similar high-floating pattern works best. You may also want to use a lighter-colored fly on brighter days and a darker color on cloudy or rainy days.

Which flies are popular on the Guadalupe river when the sun is setting?

When the sun is setting on a day of fly fishing for trout on the Guadalupe river in Texas, there are certain flies that tend to be the most popular. These include a number of different dry flies, nymphs and streamers.

For dry flies, you can try a variety of different patterns, including the Prince nymph, Hare’s ear, Zug bug and other similar fly types. You can also choose to fish the bottom with some small streamers that have been tied to a weightless bobber.

Nymphs and subsurface patterns are another great way to catch trout in the late afternoon. This is when trout tend to group up in deep pools where the pressure has largely gone away for the day.

For bass, you can fish small zonkers, crayfish, wooly buggers, and beadhead nymphs. If you prefer a more traditional bait fish pattern, you can fish the Clouser minnow and a few other smaller patterns.