On the Guadalupe River south of Canyon Lake, Justin Janavaris with Guadalupe River Outfitters reports that with the first few stockings done, fishing has started to pick up.
“It’s been good. GRTU just stocked the river about a week ago, and the fish are finally getting acclimated,” Janavaris said. “When they stock, in my experience, it fires up the holdovers.”
Janavaris and his clients target both stockers and holdovers — fish released in previous years that made it through the summer — with nymphs during their floats.
“It’s all about nymphing and getting those good drifts,” Janavaris said. San Juan worms, Hares’ ear, pheasant tail, and egg patterns have been very productive. You can catch them on streamers, but dry flies or top water haven’t been productive. We don’t really get any dry fly action until later in the year, around March.”
Janavaris has been targeting the slower, deeper sections where the fish can get away from the pressures of the shallow water wade anglers.
“When you slow it down and get into that deeper, more technical stuff, those bites are really subtle. It can be tough but great,” Janavaris said.
What is typically viewed as trout water for area wade anglers has been productive, as well. Wade anglers should look for riffles with boulders or a nice drop-off. TPWD began their stocking of the Guadalupe in early December and will continue to do so every Friday through the end of January.
“We are in prime fishing time,” Janavaris said.
Closer to major metro areas, anglers can catch trout at any of the many lakes stocked in the winter by TPWD.
“My goal this year is to catch a trout on a Tenkara rod,” said Sunny Lee, a fisherman in the north Dallas area. “Though I expect that’s going to be hard at the ponds since people are usually shoulder to shoulder.”
Lee was using bead-head nymphs that will sink to the trout’s level. When he uses conventional tackle, he likes to rig a drop-shot with Berkeley Powerworm.
“The Powerworm floats, so slight twitches make big movements,” Lee said. “You can’t go wrong with chartreuse garlic-scented Powerboat or corn.”
Other anglers are finding success with small rooster tails and spoons. Being mobile on the water helps, but can be difficult in crowds.
“I would only move around if it’s not packed with people. Otherwise, I stay in place,” Lee said. “Trout fishing for stockers requires patience, not for catching the fish but for the people around you.”
Recently stocked trout will stay bunched up for a couple of days after they are placed. After about 72 hours, the fish will spread out, and anglers will need to move around more to find them in the bigger ponds.
