Fly Fishing the San Marcos River in the Fall
The San Marcos River in the Fall
Most people think of spring when they think of the San Marcos River. But fall is every bit as good, and in some ways better. The summer crowds are gone, the mornings are cool, and the bass are feeding hard to fatten up before winter. If you've been waiting for the right time to float the San Marcos, this is it.
What Makes the San Marcos River Special
The San Marcos Springs are the second-largest springs system in Texas, pushing out roughly 100 million gallons of water a day at the same temperature year-round. That steady flow of cool, clean water is what makes this river so reliable, and so different from anything else in Central Texas.
Drought, heat waves and cold fronts that shut down other rivers barely touch the San Marcos. In the fall, when a norther can turn other fisheries off for days, the San Marcos keeps fishing. If you only have one day to fish and you want to stack the odds in your favor, this is the river we'd pick.
It's also just a beautiful place to spend a day. Clear water, cypress-lined banks and long stretches with no one else around. More than a few of our clients tell us it's the prettiest river they've ever fished.
What You'll Catch
The San Marcos holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, native Guadalupe bass and Guadalupe/smallmouth hybrids. You'll also run into Rio Grande cichlids, several kinds of sunfish, carp, catfish and gar. On a typical full-day float, you can realistically catch five or six different species.
Big bass are common here, too. Steady flows, plenty of food and light fishing pressure all add up to larger fish than you'd expect from a river this size.
The real draw, though, is the variety. One minute you're watching a Guadalupe bass crush a popper along the bank. The next, a hybrid is ripping line off the reel in a fast riffle. No two casts feel the same.
Why Fall Is Prime Time
As the days get shorter and the air cools, the bass start bulking up for winter. They get aggressive, and they'll move a long way to hit a fly. Mornings are made for topwater, with a popper or foam bug worked along shaded banks drawing some violent strikes.
Later in the day, we switch to a Clouser Minnow or streamer stripped through the deeper pools and along the edges of the vegetation. Because the water temperature stays so steady, the fishing stays consistent from one day to the next, even as the weather swings around.
Fall weather on the river is about as good as it gets, too. Cool mornings, comfortable afternoons and none of the summer heat or tubing traffic.
How We Fish It
We float the San Marcos. Wading doesn't work well here because of the depth and the vegetation, and floating lets us cover a lot more good water. We use stable whitewater rafts that carry two anglers and a guide, so everyone gets plenty of shots.
We run several different floats through the San Marcos and Martindale sections of the river, with fast riffles, deep pools, undercut banks and gravel flats. We pick the float based on conditions, your experience and what the fish are doing that week. Your guide handles the rowing and positions the raft so you can put the fly right where the fish are. We offer both full-day and half-day trips, and you can pair a San Marcos day with a Colorado River or Llano River trip if you want to see more than one river.
If you're new to fly fishing, don't let that stop you. Beginners are welcome, and the San Marcos is a great place to learn. We'll work with you on the cast before we ever push off, and your guide will coach you through the day. If you've been fishing for years, we'll put you on water that will challenge you.
What to Bring
We provide all the gear, including rods, reels and flies. You'll need to bring:
A Texas fishing license
Polarized sunglasses (you'll see a lot more fish with them)
A hat and sunscreen
Clothes that can get wet
A light layer or rain jacket for cool fall mornings
If you want to use your own gear, bring a 5 or 6 weight rod with a floating line. Rig one for topwater and one for streamers, and bring a few poppers and Clouser Minnows in natural colors.
Fall Dates Go Fast
Fall is one of the best times of year on the San Marcos, and weekend dates fill up quickly. If you've been meaning to float it, now is the time to lock in your date.
TPWD Launches Prize Giveaway for Tagged Guadalupe Bass in Lower Colorado River
Feb. 3, 2022
Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
AUSTIN – Grab a rod and reel and head to Central Texas for a chance to catch one of 30 tagged Guadalupe bass and possibly win a prize. From February 4 until August 31, any angler who catches one of the tagged Guadalupe bass from the Lower Colorado River near Austin and Smithville will be awarded a prize package and be entered into grand prize drawings at the end of the seven-month period.
This contest is the latest effort to help recognize the ecological and recreational importance of the Lower Colorado River - home to the current state record Guadalupe bass. The tournament is being hosted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) along with partners, All Water Guides, Cleanup the Colorado, and the Texas River School. The Colorado River flows right through the heart of Central Texas with a proximity close to the urban population center of Austin, yet this river fishery remains an underutilized recreational resource.
“We’re incredibly appreciative of our partners and the attention they bring to the Lower Colorado River,” said John Botros, Inland Fisheries River Access Coordinator at TPWD. “Not only will All Water Guides bring the experience of catching a Guadalupe bass to their clients, but they also bestow upon anglers a responsible fishing ethic.”
Of course, nobody likes seeing trash when you are out enjoying the river, added Botros. Many thanks to Cleanup the Colorado and their efforts coordinating the recent LoCo Trash Bash events which have removed over 21 tons of trash from the Colorado River.
TPWD’s investments in angler access and monitoring, the removal of tons of trash from the Colorado River during the LoCo Trash Bash events and educating youth on paddling skills and river ethics supports the collective goals to improve the river environment and get people out on the river. TPWD believes that people can grow a sense of river stewardship through a good experience on the water and the joy of catching a Guadalupe bass.
“We are very grateful for the support from partners like TPWD, All Water Guides, Texas River School and the hundreds of volunteers who have participated in cleanup activities on the Colorado River” said John Erskine, Board Chair of Cleanup the Colorado. “Our goal is to raise awareness of and appreciation for this wonderful resource. We are happy to support this Guadalupe bass prize giveaway so that more people get out and enjoy the river and the great fishing opportunities that exist so close to Austin. We believe that the more people who use the river the more they will be motivated to protect it and keep it clean!”
TPWD is also grateful for its partnership with the Texas River School located in East Austin. Not only does the Texas River School teach paddling skills and river ethics to youth and the underserved community, but they also provide public river access for paddling and fishing as a partner in TPWD’s leased river access program.
“Texas River School and the Chautauqua Foundation have always experienced great benefits working with TPWD and think the Guadalupe bass prize give-away is another wonderful opportunity to showcase our stretch of the Colorado River,” said Joe Kendall, Founder and Executive Director of the Texas River School. “Our access site is located about four miles downstream of the Montopolis Bridge in Austin, and the public access that we provide would not be available had it not been for the support of TPWD. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard how great the fishing is along this portion of the Colorado, or even heard ‘I just caught my personal best!’”
Prize Give-Away Information:
From February 4- August 31, any angler who catches one of 30 tagged Guadalupe bass from the Lower Colorado River near Austin and Smithville will be awarded a prize package and be entered into grand prize drawings at the end of the seven-month period.
Eligible Guadalupe bass are tagged with visual Floy anchor tags that read “Reward – Clip tag and call TPWD 512-754-6844.” Each tag has a unique ID number.
Guadalupe bass have been tagged by TPWD in the Colorado River at locations near Little Webberville Park (just east of Austin) and near the leased river access sites near Smithville.
Anglers who catch an eligible Guadalupe bass should:
Take photos with the fish with the tag, preferably with the segment of river and habitat where the fish was caught in the background of the photo.
Clip the tag from the fish and take a photo of the tag legible enough for the tag number to be read. NOTE: DO NOT pull out the tag from the fish.
Call the number on the tag to report the tagged fish catch, claim a prize, and to be entered into the grand prize drawing. Anglers should be prepared to provide the tag number, submit photos of the catch, and describe where the fish was caught. Submitted photos will become property of TPWD and may be used in social media or in Agency communications.
Gift packages containing a Yeti 18 oz bottle and a Buff will be awarded for each eligible tagged Guadalupe bass caught, and grand prizes include a half-day guided trip with All Water Guides, a Yeti Tundra Haul cooler, and complimentary canoe/camp site rental at the Texas River School.
“All Water Guides is proud to support TPWD efforts to bring attention to the Guadalupe bass, our state fish and a favorite freshwater species,” said Alvin Dedeaux, owner of All Water Guides. “The tagged Guadalupe bass competition on the Colorado River will highlight what a great urban fishery we have in our backyard. We hope that you will get out on the water and join the fun!”
The public can learn more details about the prize give-away program by visiting the official website.
To learn more about efforts to conserve Guadalupe bass or where to go fishing for this species, please visit TPWD’s Guadalupe Bass Restoration Initiative webpage, www.tpwd.texas.gov/conserveguadalupebass.