The Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam is the southern most trout fishery in the United States. The prime season for fishing the Guadalupe is from December through March. The Guadalupe is similar to a number of other tailwaters in that nymph fishing is our most productive fishing method.
Hatches on the Guadalupe include midges, blue winged olives, caddis, slate drakes, hexagenia, tricos, and various terrestrials. Click here to see Guadalupe River Tailwater Access Points and Current Flows Preferred gear for the Guadalupe is either 4 or 5 weight rod. I personally prefer a 9 foot 5 weight for fishing on the Guadalupe. Our average fish length on the river is about 16.5 inches and, while brown trout have been caught on the river from time to time, the most prolific trout species are rainbow trout.
Waders are suggested for fishing in the winter months but it is possible to wet wade in the early and late months of the season. On many float trips, hip or waist-high waders are much more comfortable that chest waders. Click here for the Guadalupe River Hatch Chart and Suggested Flies.
Both the State of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited stock trout on the Guadalupe River each year, we typically see trout survive throughout the hot summer months. While many local fishermen take advantage of the various fee access locations on the Guadalupe River tailwater, my preferred way to fish the river is via raft on a full or half day float trip. Unlike a number of western waters, it is possible to get out of the raft and walk-wade along the Guadalupe.
While the river banks are private property, the river bed is public land. This effectively makes a float trip a mixed trip, where an angler has chances to fish the deeper water without worry of topping their waders and then get out of the boat in order to fish the riffles and shallow runs.