A Texas winter fishing staple is back.
Just in time for the holiday season, rainbow trout arrives at waterbodies across the state for the annual Texas winter tradition of trout fishing. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will begin stocking thousands of rainbow trout Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving.
It doesn’t take a lot of sophisticated fishing equipment to reel in a rainbow trout. They can be caught using simple, light tackle or hand-tied flies on a fly rod. However, anglers should keep an array of baits and lures nearby as well as ice to keep trout fresh. Rainbow trout are an attractive, tasty fish, and anglers can easily find recipes online.
“TPWD is proud to continue the tradition of bringing rainbow trout to waters across Texas,” said Neil Pugliese, TPWD rainbow trout program director. “Our annual stocking program is designed to make fishing accessible and enjoyable for everyone from seasoned anglers to families casting a line for the very first time. It’s about more than fishing; it’s about creating opportunities to connect with nature and build lasting memories.”
TPWD plans to stock 335,048 rainbow trout in Texas from Nov. 26 to March 6. Because rainbow trout are unable to survive in most areas of Texas after winter due to the warm water temperatures, anglers are encouraged to keep up to their daily bag limit of five trout.
Exceptions exist within special trout management zones on the Guadalupe River downstream of Canyon Lake, which often remains cool enough for rainbow trout to survive year-round. This portion of the Guadalupe River is recognized as one of the top 100 trout streams in the nation and is considered the southernmost trout stream in North America.
Fishing for rainbow trout on Texas rivers and streams is popular among anglers. In addition to stocking the Guadalupe River downstream of Canyon Lake, TPWD also stocks rainbow trout in the Brazos River downstream of Possum Kingdom Lake, portions of the Frio and South Llano rivers, and in the Clear Fork of the Trinity River.
