NEW BRAUNFELS — Most motorists creeping along the narrow winding pavement that roughly parallels the Guadalupe River north of New Braunfels wouldn’t notice the wooden structure that stands where an old horse stable once did. Best to keep your eyes forward and speed at 20 mph on this road shared by wide RVs and rumbling Harley-Davidson Hogs.
Up the steep drive is a shop that might seem out of place. It’s a store that sells tranquility, but the sign above the creaky wooden porch suggests otherwise.
“Action Angler,” reads the indicator of what’s beyond the shop’s steps. And familiar does not describe the fish painted on this blue sign. It’s a rainbow trout, no doubt. But what’s it doing in Texas?
Even more curious, what is a fly shop doing alongside a river most native and transplanted Texans associate with teenage revelry, rock ‘n roll and recklessness?
Silly fly fishermen, the Guadalupe is for tubing. Isn’t it?
Well, yes and no.
On the fly
Certainly, summertime on this storied river has for decades served as a supreme rite of passage for noisy high-schoolers and college students looking for adventure and perhaps a little more. When I was first baptized by the cool flow of this sparkling stream, some of the unspoken misbehavior surely would have made Our Lady of Guadalupe blush. It was the ‘70s, after all.
But today, these unchaperoned celebrations of youth are not nearly as illicit. And I imagine the smell of colitis rarely rises up through the air. Tighter regulations and enforcement have created a tamer, if not more familial, atmosphere along one of the state’s most impressive and popular landscapes.
And as sure as summer’s heat returns annually to the Texas Hill Country, so do the squeals of tubers enjoying a brisk float, only with fewer intoxicants these days.
Then, come November or thereabouts, the river downstream of Canyon Lake Dam returns to tranquility, inviting a much different kind of thrill seeker. Rather than bikinis and swimsuits, many wear chest waders against the chilled flow released for their pleasure from the depths of Canyon Lake.
Left: Several river guides, such as Chris Jackson – shown here with Tiffany Yeates of New Braunfels – offer winter trout fishing adventures on the Guadalupe River, below Canyon Lake. The fishery generally runs at least through March, depending on water temperature. Above: Yeates shows one of several rainbow trout she hooked on Feb. 2, while fishing with Jackson, who operates Action Anglers fly shop and outfitters on the Guadalupe River. Photos by David Sikes
Not surprisingly, I’ve never seen any of these anglers with a floating ice chest full of beer, not that there’s anything wrong with that. The river’s once-seasonal outfitters and campgrounds turn quieter in winter, but are far from dormant.
This certainly describes the Lazy L and L Campgrounds, where I recently met with Chris Jackson, who owns Action Angler, and Tiffany Yeates, owner of Gruene Outfitters fly shop. Many of these river resorts serve as put-in and take-out spots for whitewater rafts used by fly guides on the river. But anglers at these resorts also wade or launch kayaks from properties, while others simply fish from private banks.
It would surprise most Texans to learn that this stretch of the Guadalupe River was named one of the top 100 trout streams in the United States. It’s also the southernmost trout fishery in the country.
While the winter flow may not always be ideal, the temperature is right and fish must feed regardless of conditions. Anglers know this. And the river rarely disappoints. That this stream is flowing at all is a credit to the dedicated folks of the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited club.
Before the nonprofit group negotiated a deal with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the river would sometimes trickle at 25 cubic feet per second (cfs) or less. A recreational flow is the lifeblood of economies along this section of river.
For summer tubers, the current is brisk, with revelry and rock’ n’ roll to match. But during winter and into spring, when the water temperature dips to a survivable 70 degrees or cooler for trout, the Guadalupe assumes a more reverent, even romantic, rhythm.
This is a time when anglers toss the tiniest flies for the thrill of arching a five-weight fly rod above the flow, followed by a gentle release, and the opportunity to repeat.
Be aware that certain stretches of the river carry strict regulations that include a catch-and-release rule and areas where natural baits are not allowed. Generally, the daily limit is five trout of any size.
Just below the dam, anglers are allowed to keep fish that measure 12 inches or smaller, with a single fish that measures 18 inches or greater as part of a five-trout daily bag.
From the easternmost 306 bridge southward to the second crossing on River Road, the daily bag is one fish that must measure at least 18 inches. Release all smaller trout. Both stretches of river, from the dam to the second crossing, carry a lure- or fly-only rule for all game fish. All of these regulations are meant to extend the recreational opportunities of this limited fishery.
It doesn’t matter that rainbows are not native to the river, though there is a wild population below Canyon Reservoir. These are the progenies of leftover trout that survived through summer. Again, thanks to the political will and efforts of GRTU, and local governments, which both have fought to maintain a cool river flow from the bottom of Canyon Lake.
As a result, Texas Parks & Wildlife annually stocks about 12,000 trout into the river, while Comal County funds the release of thousands more. These fish generally are 10-12 inches long, but some are larger. Trout Unlimited caters to a more serious angler, and they’re willing to pay for bigger fish.
Membership in TU provides certain privileges, such as access to several private stretches of the river. GRTU leases these riverfront properties, and members pay a fee for parking and foot access.
The club releases roughly 12,000 pounds of trout, in stockings that range from 2,000-3,000 fish each during the season, depending on the size of available hatchery trout. In previous years, I’ve heard reports from anglers who caught fish measuring from 24-27 inches. And this year, they’ve added brown trout to the mix.
If you’re not familiar with the Guadalupe and the complicated fishing regs, I recommend a charter adventure with a river guide. This fishery generally runs at least through March, depending on water temperature.
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