Best Texas Fly Fishing Spots
Fly fishing is a serene and peaceful activity that can be exciting as you delve knee, or sometimes waste, deep into nature. And Texas, with its variety of landscapes and multitudes of creeks, lakes, and rivers, has endless options when it comes to casting your line. To help you narrow it down, we have listed a few of the best spots for fly fishing in Texas.
Devils River
The Devils River is home to many species of Bass, including Black, Largemouth, Smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe, Spotted, White, and Yellow Bass. You can also expect to reel in Carp, Catfish, Crappie, Sunfish, Trout, and Gar.
This beautiful piece of water is in southwest Texas. It is known as one of the most pristine rivers in the Lone Star State. While it’s quite a trek to get there, the clear spring-fed water flowing past scenic ridges and canyons makes it worth the trip.
San Gabriel River
About 30 miles north of Austin is the quaint city of Georgetown, TX. South Fork San Gabriel River is about a mile from Georgetown. Originating in Burnet County, the North and South Forks San Gabriel join to form the San Gabriel River.
With its limestone river bottoms, the San Gabriel River is home to various fish, including Black Bass, White Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Guadalupe Bass. You will also see Redbreast Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Rio Grande Perch, Common Carp, and Bluegill hanging on the end of your line.
San Marcos River
Many Texans know San Marcos River as great for floating, but anglers know the San Marcos River for its many fishing opportunities. At just over an hour's drive from Austin, the Edwards Aquifer feeds the San Marcos River.
The San Marcos River has an abundance of fish like the Largemouth Bass, Guadalupe Bass, Channel Catfish, Rio Grande Cichlids, Red Spotted Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Bluegill Sunfish, and Green Sunfish.
Colorado River
The Colorado River runs through Austin, Bastrop, Columbus, Smithville, La Grange, Bay City, Marble Falls, and Wharton and has plenty of access points to this large Texas River. The Lower Colorado River in Austin provides some of the best urban fishing in the nation.
Whether you are fishing for Largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, Catfish, or Sunfish, you can find all of these inhabiting the Colorado River.
Cypress Creek in Wimberly
Spring-fed Cypress Creek starts at Jacob’s Well and flows into the Blanco River to create an attractive environment for trout. While beautiful, the crystal clear water creates a challenge not to scare the fish. A solution to this slight hurdle is to find some shade to fish under or try kayaking.
Cypress Creek allows anglers to fish for several fish like Bass, Catfish, Sunfish, and Trout during the winter months.
Pedernales River
While the Pedernales can be rough at times, it is mostly calm and a great place to get in some Texas fishing. The Pedernales River runs for more than 100 miles through the Texas Hill Country. It flows through Harper, Gillespie County, Fredericksburg, Stonewall, and Johnson City and is a major feature of much of the Hill Country landscape.
You might find some of the best fishing is in Pedernales Falls State Park. The 5,212-acre park is a popular fishing spot with Carp as large as 15 pounds. The river basin also features several other types of fish, including the Guadalupe Bass, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Gar, and Bluegill.
Guadalupe River
This popular tubing destination runs from Kerr County, Texas into the San Antonio Bay, but tubing isn’t all it has to offer. While you’re there, swing by Canyon Lake to drop a line. Canyon Lake is located about twelve miles northwest of New Braunfels on the Guadalupe River.
The Guadalupe offers some great fly fishing experiences, and it makes the list of the top 100 trout streams in the USA. But trout are not the only fish you’ll swimming this Hill Country river. The River is full of Brown Trout, Rainbow trout, Bass, and Perch.
Blanco River
Texas Monthly magazine describes the Blanco River as winding “87 miles through green hills and dramatic, rocky bluffs." The Blanco starts as a group of springs in Kendall County and runs through Blanco County, the Wimberley Valley, and Hays County. It then joins the San Marcos River.
The Blanco River includes a gamut of fish, including Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Guadalupe Bass, and Rainbow Trout. You might also find a Channel catfish tugging at your bait.
Llano River
Formed in Kimble County, the Llano River flows a hundred miles southeast to drain into the Colorado River. It consists of granite boulders and granite-rifted channels. The Llano is a spring-fed stream of the Edwards Plateau and is perfect for recreational use when it’s slightly on the rise. The high water levels form many challenging rapids.
For the angler, the Llano is home to Guadalupe Bass, Largemouth Bass, Rio Grande Perch, a wide variety of Sunfish, Spotted Gar, and Carp.
Lampasas River
The Lampasas River starts as a small stream in Western Hamilton County. It then flows down through Lampasas, Burnet, and Bell Counties. Typically, the relatively low water will be mirky and brown with silt and dirt. The river is a local favorite and offers some good fishing.
The most popular species caught here are Largemouth bass, White bass, and Channel catfish. The area is also known for Perch and Sunfish.
Know before you go
As with all hunting or fishing trips, be sure to review the local and state-wide regulations. Start with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to learn more about the following topics:
What's new for fishing this year
Fishing licenses
Sign up for fishing email updates
Catch & Release Tips
Measurement Tips
Fish Consumption Bans & Advisories.
Conclusion
While these 10 Texas fishing destinations aren’t the only ones in this vast state, they are often the most touted in online fishing forums and reviews. Almost all of these fishing destinations have nearby camping or lodging available. Look into making your next fishing endeavor an even more exciting outdoor experience.