Trout Fishing Tips

Texas Parks & Wildlife has scheduled several fishing events for youth and families in the month of January. Yesterday, I told you about the 6th Annual Youth Fishing Derby at Jasper Park Pond which will take place this Saturday.

In addition to that fishing derby, TPWD is also holding a youth angler clinic at Buescher State Park. This even will also take place on Saturday, January 13th, between 9 a.m and noon. This clinic is open to kids age 6-13 and will cover the basics of freshwater fishing. After completing all of the fishing stations, kids will be Certified Junior Anglers and will have the opportunity to put their newly learned skills in action! Rods, reels, and bait will be supplied. Kids should bring water, sunblock, hat, and insect repellent. For more information, call (512) 237-2241.

On January 20th, the TPWD will host a family trout fishing day at Fort Richardson's Quarry Lake. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and run til noon. The lake has already been stocked with rainbow trout in preparation.

Also on January 20th, TPWD will also host a family fishing day at Palmetto State Park. Kids will be have the opportunity to fish first between 9 a.m and noon, after which everybody can fish until 3 p.m. In addition to fishing fun, there will be games and prize too. For more information, call (830) 672-3266.

Want to learn more about fly fishing? On January 27th, there will be an opportunity to learn from the experts. This event will be held at Eisenhower State Park from 9 a.m. til 4 p.m. inside the rec hall. This is the perfect event for anybody who has ever wanted to tie and fish their own flies. And it's an event the whole family will enjoy. Fly tying equipment will be available or you can bring your own. For more information, call (903) 465-1956.

Labels: Texas fishing events, Texas trout fishing

January and February are historically the peak the Rainbow trout fishing months in Houston, Texas. These are the months in which the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department stock urban ponds with cold-water trout along the upper coast.

At least 16 urban areas in the greater Houston area are scheduled to be stocked with Rainbow trout during the winter. Be sure to check the stocking schedule as fishing is always most productive during the first two weeks after a stocking. After this, catching trout becomes more challenging due to decreases in numbers.

Most of the trout planted will be 8-10 inches in size. Using a spinning rod with 4-6lb test line is recommended. Fly rods should be 4-6 weight with 2-4 lb leader tippets. In the past, a No. 12 sparsely dressed bead-head nymph has out fished all other artificial flies.

Natural baits work well also on No. 10 or 12 size single hooks. Whole kernel corn has long been a favorite bait for trout anglers. Soaking the corn in vanilla extract or a manufactured trout scent can make it more attractive to trout.
Marshmallows, worms and PowerBait also work well in catching Rainbow trout.

For more fishing spots in Houston, click here.

Labels: houston trout fishing, Texas trout fishing, winter trout fishing

Beginning November 30th and continuing through March, Texas residents can start enjoying the winter trout fishing season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will begin stocking Rainbow trout across 100 sites in the state.

Catching trout in cooler weather is much easier than in warmer weather. So this is the perfect opportunity for beginner trout fishers to get out there and catch some trout. It's also a great opportunity for the kids to catch some!

Labels: Texas trout fishing, winter trout fishing

Beginning Nov. 30 and continuing through March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock upwards of 264,000 hatchery-reared rainbow trout at about 100 sites across the state. Many of the fish stockings will be conducted at small community fishing lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces offering easy angling access.

TPWD has been stocking rainbow trout each winter since the 1970s, providing Texans a simple and economical opportunity to go fishing.

Catching these hungry fish can be easy, making the experience ideal for both novice anglers and kids. The fish will bite almost immediately after stocking and typically will take a variety of baits, from whole kernel canned corn or commercial soft bait to artificial flies and even small spinner baits.

A list of stocking sites with detailed driving directions is available on the TPWD Web site. The posted stocking dates are the days the trout are available to the general public. Many sites offer special events for youth prior to allowing the public to fish and those are usually the day before. Folks should check with local parks and recreation departments or water authorities for additional information.

While most sites get an annual dose of between 1,000-2,000 trout, popular fishing holes like the Guadalupe River below the Canyon Reservoir Dam, which includes the tailrace, receive multiple stockings from December through March.

As the only fishable place in Texas where rainbow trout can survive during the summer months, the Guadalupe River will get about 17,000 fish, which includes about 5,000 trout donated to TPWD by the Comal County Water Oriented Recreation District.

“The water is low and clear right now, so the wade fishing opportunities should be good as long as we don’t get torrential rains,” said Stephan Magnelia, TPWD fisheries biologist in San Marcos. “If we got any over-summer trout survival, it was in the area close to Canyon Dam, so we’re starting with a clean slate in the lower end. The fish ought to be congregated and once you find them you should be able to catch them fairly easily.”

There are several public access points along the Guadalupe River that have been leased by TPWD specifically for trout fishing. Maps and directions to these sites are available on the TPWD Web site.

Trout anglers (age 17 and up) will need a $5 fishing stamp in addition to the regular fishing license to fish these areas.

For more information about the stockings, visit:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/troutstocking/

Labels: Texas trout fishing, Texas winter fishing, winter trout stocking