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Deep in the Heat of Texas

Central Texas and the Texas Coast

Fly Fishing Report August 2020

I think we can all agree that 2020 has been quite a year so far. Lucky for us here in Texas we have plenty of excellent fly fishing opportunities to get us through #theyearthatwontend As it turns out, being on the water is a great way for everyone to keep their distance, but still be together! If you are a regular on any of your local waters, you can attest to the uptick in new folks on the water. Let’s all keep an eye on our new friends who may not be fully prepared to be on the water.

If you are not familiar with fly fishing in Texas, we have a ‘grand slam’ of fisheries with opportunities throughout the year for redfish, bass, and trout. Depending on the time of year, at least two of our fisheries are fishing well, so we always have somewhere to fish! And, the second half of the summer can be great time to target redfish on the Texas Coast and bass in Central Texas. The fishing for redfish on the middle Texas Coast has rebounded nicely after Hurricane Hanna. The water has lowered, and pods of big, hungry reds can be found moving in and out of the flats, sometimes with a nice speckled trout tagging along. We are also finding lots of black drum and sheepshead. And as we move into early fall, expect the fishing to only get better! Whether you want to sight cast for reds from a boat, or wade fish to see what else is out there, we have the right guide for you! Suggested flies for the coast: Clouser minnow (in Chartreuse/White, Pink/White & Brown/White), any Shrimp and Crab pattern.

If you want a more low-key experience, look no further than to one of our Central Texas Rivers for bass. Although some of our favorite rivers (Llano, South Llano, and Upper Guadalupe Rivers) are too low to float, the beautiful, spring-fed San Marcos River near Martindale always has just the right amount of water and the fishing has been exceptional this summer. The San Marcos River has definitely recovered nicely from the flood of 2015 and there are tons of mid-sized bass and sunfish looking to eat on top. And, normally this time of year the river is packed with tubers, but because of the mandates shutting down tubing operations, there is ways less river traffic, and the fish have noticed! The San Marcos River is a great place to ‘match the hatch’! Look around for caterpillars, cicadas, frogs, grasshoppers, etc to help figure out what the fish are eating. Suggested flies: Matt Bennett’s Lunch Money, Wolley Buggers (any color with lots of flash, rust, olive, black, white, etc.), Alvin’s Dedeaux Popper (in Black or White) and Alvin’s Snake pattern (in White, Yellow or Black).

Meanwhile over on the Colorado River east of Austin, during the peak of summer bass fishing tends to slow down as the water temperatures rise. But, getting that super early morning start when the temperatures are still cool can make a trip on the Colorado River well worth it! The Colorado River tends to have the biggest Guadalupe Bass and Largemouth Bass, and this time of year there are lots of opportunities to sight cast to gar rolling around the top of the surface. Come mid-September to early-October when the water temperature drops some, we expect the bite to pick up dramatically as the bass start their fall feeding frenzy. Suggested flies for the late-summer/early fall season: Alvin’s Snake pattern (in White, Pink or Chartreuse) and Alvin’s Dedeaux Popper in any color as long as it’s big, and Lenée’s Fat Baby

If you are looking for trout on the Guadalupe River, you still have a few more months to go. The first stocking normally starts the weekend after Thanksgiving. And, it is best to wait until there have been at least a couple of stockings to make sure there are enough fish in the river to make your trip worth going. The trout season on the Guadalupe River runs from December to May, with peak season being in January-March. If you are planning a trip, look to the weekdays to avoid crowds! Good luck and see you on the water! AWGs

Fall is Here! At Least the Fish Think it Is

It's Hot Out There But So Is The Fishing

In spite of the summer temperatures settling in, the fishing has been great. The key to success , not to mention comfort, is to get an early start. We have been starting most of our trips at just after sunrise. Temperatures are pleasant up until 11 :00 or noon most days. We do have a couple of options for full day trips for folks who are acclimated to the heat. Check out this AWG blog post from 2014 for some tips to dealing with the Texas summer heat.

An added bonus of the early starts are topwater fishing. On most of our recent trips topwater has been the most productive method. The bass usually go deeper once the temps start to climb.

Right now we actually have multiple options for float trips on several different rivers. The San Marcos, Colorado and the Upper Guadalupe Rivers have all been fishing well. The San Marcos is best on an early morning half day to beat the heat and the tubers. The Upper Guadalupe is a longer stretch so it is a full day float only; and since it is flow dependent, fishing there may not be an option as flows drop later in the summer. The Colorado River below Austin has been very good lately and as flows drop the water conditions will improve on the lower sections of the river opening up many more miles of seldom fished water. Check out some recent photos below to see what we have been catching. Hope to see you on the water soon.

Colorado River 7-13-19 Fly Fishing Report

Guides Day Off 7-11-19

Central Texas Fly Fishing Report 4-29-19

Don't be an April Fool, Get out on the Water Soon

Spring is here in central Texas! While the weather can still be unpredictable, for the most part the cold days are behind us. Texas cold that is. As the days get longer and the temperatures start to climb into the 80s everything starts to get a lot more frisky. Especially the fish in our local waters. Fishing on the Colorado River has been good for a while. White Bass, freshwater drum, Guadalupe Bass, Largemouth Bass, and even a few Buffalo have all been caught on the Colorado in the last couple of weeks. A few folks have been lucky enough to catch some bass on top. As the water temperatures continue to rise topwater fishing will turn on more.

Because of the higher flows this winter on the Guadalupe River, trout fishing continues to be good. Fishing should continue for at least the next few weeks. Early morning half day trips will be the best bet as temperature rise. Trout fishing will start to tail off as the recreational (tubing) traffic increases. All in all this year has been one of the best seasons on the Guadalupe in years.

Coastal fishing can be pretty awesome this time of year as well. The spring is known for windy days down on the coast, but if you are flexible with your fishing days you can have an amazing time in the salt in the spring. Redfish get pretty frisky when the water starts to warm in the spring. Just keep an eye on the weather and be ready when the wind dies down.

So now that you know what’s going on out there, grab your gear and hit the water. No April fooling around here. Spring in Texas is the real deal.

Colorado River Fishing Report 3-22-19

Colorado river 3-15-19

Fishing the Guadalupe River at High Flows

It's HOT out there, so cool off on the water!

It's a scientific fact... when it's hot outside, it's always cooler on the water! And, while late summer can bring some of the hottest temperatures of the year here in Central Texas, being on the water will remind you that things are truly better outdoors. This time of year can give you a serious case of cabin fever... But, hold tight! We have a few fishing tips to help you beat the heat and help get you out of the summer doldrums. 

The first thing to do is get an early start. Early morning temps in the low-to-mid 70's will feel almost chilly compared to the near triple digit highs in the late afternoon. And, the bite has been best before the heat sets in, so plan on getting off the water by 2 or 3 PM, at the latest. Then, make sure to protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, a hat and face buff. And, as always, don't forget to bring plenty of water in your Yeti bottles to stay well hydrated. On our guided fly fishing trips, our guides will always bring you a Yeti full of ice cold water to drink, with plenty more water in the cooler. 

On that note, we want to announce that, in support of Costa del Mar's campaign Kick Plastic, we will no longer provide drinks in plastic bottles on any of our guided trips. As many of you know, we have been working hard organizing trash cleanups on our home water, the lovely Colorado River and her tributaries. And, our First Annual Loco Trash Bash was an amazing success thanks to all of our fantastic sponsors and everyone who came out to help. Most of the trash we saw on the river was plastic water bottles! So it was an easy decision to kick plastic water bottles for Yeti bottles. We will be hosting the Second Annual Loco Trash Bash again in Spring 2019, so look for the date in the next couple of months. Meanwhile, we are working on putting together another great event for this Fall on the amazing Colorado River. Keep an eye out! No picking up trash this time... 

So, it looks like we have at several (okay, probably a lot) weeks left of this heat. If you are looking to go on a guided fishing trip here soon in Central Texas, the options are float trips on the Colorado and San Marcos Rivers, and wade trips on the Llano River. For those wanting to get salty, sight casting for redfish near Port Aransas is a great option. Check out some recent photos and videos below. 

Hang in there everybody! Fall is gonna be here before you now it. Just get out there and stay cool. You definitely don't want to be rusty for that Fall feeding frenzy! 

 

Time to Get out on the Water!

Spring is one of the best times of the year here in Texas. The weather is great, and the fishing can be great as well. As our local waters warm, the fish get much more active. Bass fishing on the Colorado, San Marcos, Llano and the Guadalupe Rivers are starting to turn on. Early spring is a good time to catch some of the bigger spawning bass. As the water gets warmer later in the spring the top-water bite will get going. Nothing better than watching a bass attack a popper on the surface!

Winter is here!

 

Winter in central Texas is never a dull time of year. Monday's high can be in the 20s and it can be in the 70s by the weekend. Our fishing this time of year can be just as varied. Here are a few options for winter fishing in central Texas.

Guadalupe River trout fishing. The Guadalupe River is the southernmost trout stream in the lower 48. The Guadalupe River chapter of Trout Unlimited (GRTU) is the largest chapter in the nation. GRTU and Texas Parks and Wildlife stock the Guadalupe River from December through February.  Most of the trout will average 12 to 14 inches but there are quite a few fish in the 18 to 20 inch range as well. The guadalupe River is a very popular destination this time of year so fish during the week or when the weather is nasty to avoid the crowds. 

Colorado River bass fishing. Even though bass fishing can be slow during colder weather, that doesn't usually last long in central Texas. Two or three warm day is usually enough to get the fish moving. Bass fishing this time of year can be very rewarding. The current world record Guadalupe Bass was caught by one of our clients in February. Several of  us have caught bass in the 7 to 8 pound range this time of year as well. Other possibilities this time of year are large white bass, crappie and freshwater drum. You might also have a chance to see a bald Eagle, an otter or a beaver on the Colorado.The Colorado River is never crowded, especially this time of year.

The White Bass run. Central Texas has several great rivers with late winter early spring White Bass spawning runs. Although timing the run can sometimes be tricky, it is well worth the effort when you hit it right. It can literally be a fish on every cast. This year we will be running jet boat trips for white bass on the Llano River above Lake LBJ and the Pedernales River above Lake Travis. Other rivers may be added depending on water and fishing conditions.

 

 

Early December Fishing... So many options!

Like we have been saying the last few fishing reports, here in Texas we are really lucky to have several fishing options in the Fall, and that holds true into the coming Winter months as well. Depending on the weather you can choose between trout fishing or bass, and redfish anytime. However, with the temperatures switching back and forth the way they have been, it's important to be aware of how those changes affect the bite. Understanding how the fish may react to various changes in their environment will help you decide which fish to target based on conditions and how to adjust your technique to improve your chances of getting the bite you are looking for! 

For most of us over here at All Water Guides, this is hands-down our favorite time of year to target big bass. The bass are getting ready for the winter and all sizes are feeding like crazy right now! The varying temperatures lets us fish all types of flies, from poppers and minnows to deep sinking crawfish. If it has been a little chilly over night bass may be holding in deeper holes away from the bank and will eat if the presentation is right. As it warms up the during the day they will probably move toward the banks to warm up and feed on bait fish more aggressively. Several warm days in a row can even lead to some fast action with poppers. Late Fall is setting in with a cold front that is about to hit us the first of this week. Some of us guides will probably pull out the sinking line with a small crawfish early in the day and work it slow, then switch to a floating line with a bigger crawfish when it warms up a bit and give it a bit more action. If you go out with one of our guides these are some of the techniques they will use to put you on the fish. 

Many anglers start thinking about trout this time of year, and the Guadalupe River is the number one destination for Texas trout fishing. Freshly stocked trout can be caught on a variety of attractor patterns. Stripping streamers or floating a nymph below a strike indicator are a couple of preferred methods. The Guadalupe is low and extremely clear right now so the trout spook easily and will become extremely selective as the season progresses. But, trout are being stocked weekly and overall catch rates are expected to increase as the numbers of fish in the water goes up. Light leaders and small flies will be necessary to trick the trout as they become more wary due to increased fishing pressure. As always our guides are on the water daily to stay on top of what is working to put fish in the net. 

And don't forget about the redfish! Captains Alvin Dedeaux and JT Van Zandt are the go-to guides for site casting for redfish on the Texas coast. The fishing is so hot right now that there is not much to say except you gotta try it to believe it! 

 

Changing Seasons, Changing Fishing Opportunities.

The big cool down in our weather this week reminds us that things are changing for our local fisheries... and changing fast! 

That means it's time to break out the sinking lines and weighted flies for bass fishing. Our favorite bass flies this time of year are weighted crawfish and leech patterns. And, fishing slow and deep will produce the most strikes. Some of our biggest bass are caught between now and the spring spawn! Also, timing your fishing trip can be important this time of year since bass tend to be most active right before a cold front or after several warm days. So keep your eye on the weather report before you head out!

Coastal fishing continues to be good through the fall and winter, and most people consider this to be the best time of year to catch a redfish on a fly. Cooler water temperatures and lower tides can lead to great sight casting opportunities for tailing redfish. What's more exciting than coming around a remote corner in the flats and catching site of a big ole' group of busy, blue tails?! At that moment, the possibilities seem endless...

And last, but definitely not least, late fall in Texas signals the beginning of the highly anticipated trout season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife will begin stocking our local trout stream, the Guadalupe River, starting in December. You can find the stocking schedule here. Scroll down to the Canyon Tailrace to see the schedule for the Guadalupe River. The more effective methods to catch trout on the Guadalupe tends to be nymphing or stripping streamers. Stay tuned to this page for more info on specific patterns as the season gets going. Prime time on the Guadalupe runs mid-December through March, so make sure you set the hook on a guided trip with AWG's this year before our short trout season gets away from you!  

So... time to dust off those waders and the puffy jackets and get out on the water! 

JT Van Zandt with a Colorado River Bass

Chris Koch with a nice Texas Redfish on the fly

Alvin and Grace with a Guadalupe River rainbow trout

Fall is it the Best Time of the Year?

With falling air and water temperatures, everything seems to dial down in the Fall... except for the fishing! Water levels and water clarity are great right now on the Colorado and San Marcos Rivers. Most of our warm water fish tend to sense the coming winter and begin to feed aggressively as the water temperatures drop. What and how the bass are eating has changed along with the weather and it's a lot of fun to see how different Fall fishing can be than other times of the year. 

Fall is also the prime time to fly fish for redfish on the Texas coast. The progressively temperate conditions of Fall are especially beneficial for coast fishing. Decreased winds speeds and cooler water temperatures set up great opportunities to sight cast to tailing fish in shallow water. We are lucky enough to have good fly fishing on the Texas coast all year, but the next couple of months are undoubtedly the best time of the year to target redfish on the fly.

So, is Fall the best time of year to fish in Texas? The short answer would be yes! We are lucky to have fishing opportunities year round, but fall is certainly one of the better times to get out on our local waters.