Skunked.

Don't happen very offen.
No sure why.
Happens to all, once in a while I guess.

I was there last week and the water was stained more than normal and VERY slow. I caught one wading between the dam and the other deep hole about 800 meters below the dam on a nymph and 1 more or mepps later in the day.

I have had horrible luck the last couple of times out there.

Yep, I was there two days ago. Right around 2PM, just about a half of mile south of the dam with no luck at all... I threw almost every fly I had, I tried some pistol pete's, and some rooster tails. What's up with this spot. Most of the locals claim to go there, but I didn't have any luck for three hours. Nothing was hitting on top, so I threw some nymphs out there as well. I wasn't fly fishing though, just normal. Any tips? Also, I tried Camp Hueco Springs, which you can also fish for free, and didn't have any luck, but it was high noon and it most have felt like 80 degrees out there in some spots. not the best weather for fishing on the top.

Excellent reports today on Berkley Natural Trout Bait in garlic or cheese, red trout worms on #16 treble.

Tried the trout fishing once more at Hueco Springs on the Guadalupe. Caught three trout, and missed a bunch more. I was using white roostertail spinners above and below the waterfall. Look for the deeper pockets. Enjoy the pics.

Below the waterfall.


Good eats. Yum!!!

How far can you wade from the dam heading downstream?

I've never waded at the dam area, but Camp Hueco Springs is very wader friendly.

At the dam there are a lot of areas to wade.There is actually
a public trail that runs about a 1/4 of a mile along side of the
river, that I know of it may go further, I have never been to
the end.It is a good gravel hiking trail built by the Corp.
Hope this helps, Good Day

It goes about a 1/2 mile then you end up at a deep pool with no trail along it. The trail is at the other side of the outlet parking area and although at the start you do not see the river it ends up next to the river towards the end.
I Caught 3 in the freezing weather on Monday.
BBRRRR! But I was fishing!

my neighbor caught his limit there today. thinking of trying my luck tomorrow. i'll let ya'll know how i do if i go.

Fished Hueco Springs Camp this afternoon. Ended up with a limit of trout, but had to work hard for it. I was using a small white roostertail fished in the pools around the waterfall area.

I only caught two below the dam on rooster tails. Going to have to try Hueco springs next.

We are going to the dam this Thursday, suppose to be sunny and warm. We are gonna take a shot at trout fishing. We are normally big on bass. I am going to go buy some white roosters tomorrow to take along. We may make our way to Camp Huaco later in the day. The whole family is going, so it is just a day of fun and fishing. My husband is anxious to try out the abu garcia reel I got him for Christmas. Any pointers on how to make the fishing experience more fun for my tween daughters? They are 11 and 12, I'm hoping they will catch a fish Thursday. It's always alot more fun when the kiddies catch something. Sorry so long, some of us gals can gab forever,lol... even online, eheh...

beatiful fish. thanks for posting the pictures.

You can fish at the base of the spillway below the dam for free. That is where they release a lot of the trout, and usually they congregate there. There is another parking area on the opposite side of the gates, and you can walk in a long ways and fish along the shore and it to is free.

Everything else is private property along river road, and several camps allow access for a fee.

Take a can of whole kernal Kounty Kist corn and some tiny hooks, and also Kraft garlic cheese that comes in the tube and rolled into little balls works really well also.

I would start there at the gates, and if you don't do much good there or it's too crowded you can then work your way downstream by going along river road and the numberous camps and crossings along the course of the river until you find a good spot.

Rio River raft is a good spot, as well as Camp Hueco. BTW Welcome to the forum, and my sig was taken at Camp Hueco last spring break.

can you use baits? rainbows are suckers for chartruese powerbait. Sparkle works great in stained water. I fish for them in AR alot.

Power baits work also, but the lower stretches of the river beyond the dam area, artificial is the only thing you can use.

Thank you for the advice. I will check out Rio River. I want to avoid the crowd. I really want my kiddos to have a chance to catch one this Thursday.

Great, and post up and let us know how they did! Maybe even some pictures would be great.

This yucky weather gave me a chance to clean up my tackle box and clean and oil up all my rods and reels, and I've been hanging out on this forum, almost all day and I'm ready for some good fishing weather for sure.

Good luck!

Please note special regulations are in effect from the second bridge crossing on River Road upstream to the easternmost bridge crossing on FM Road 306. In this area, there is an 18-inch minimum size limit, a one trout daily bag, and the restriction that only trout caught on artificial lures may be harvested. Anglers may fish with all other legal means and methods, and may harvest all fish except trout.

This is from TPWD, so technically you can fish with bait for other species but if you catch a trout then you have to release it. I may head up tomorrow and if I do then I'll post here with results.

There are alot of places on the white river like that as well. they take it a step further and require a singe barbless hook

Power bait does usually work the best I use Salmon Egg Peach
and Garlic flavor on a # 14 treble hooks,. Also had some success on Luhr Jensen Bangtails

Is the parking area on the other side where the nature trail is? I haven't been down that side yet. How far can you wade with chest waders past the first area. I was also thinking that they could come in handy to seperate from the crowd a little. There wasn't much of a bite at the spillway while I was there. I guess they are supposed to stock tomorrow according to the website so I'll have to try and make it some time soon.

OK, I guess I should read the whole thread before asking repetitive questions!!! I got my answers from reading some of the replies above.

nice trout

Caught these today in about an hour at the spillway with plenty more bites. Tried wading downstream with no luck, but then again I don't really know what I'm doing.

Any striped fish down there I can help you with?

I heard there are a few down there but they are big!

I wish I knew how to get a couple of them too. I am new to fishing for trout(and any other fish) in the river and it is a challenge. I am wearing my a@@ out going up and down there and not catching is not really fun. At least I can catch a few most of the time at the spillway on my way out. I'll keep trying until I figure it out, but would gladly accept a pointer or two!

Try going to Houco Springs (SP) its farther down river road and free access. Go to the river skip where most people fish near the parking lot and go down to the rapids from there look for a small and very deep hole toss in whatever powerbait or marshmellows and you should limit out fast. We went on Saturday limited out in less than hour and went to play with the big boys at Rio Raft.

USMC, I've also had some luck fishing in the area "ssj3goten" is speaking of at Camp Hueco Springs. Just find the rapids. Last year I used an ultra-light spooled with 4lb test and threw small roostertail spinners either 1/24oz or 1/16oz into the deeper pools. You may not limit, but you should catch some fish this way. The lighter line is key when using the small size spinners. Good luck.

Well, thats two for down that way so I'll give it a shot. I'm rigged up ultra light and have all the different spinners, superdupers and even have some nymphs and woolly buggers to try behind a float. I'll figure it out lol.

Any of ya'll hear of the "Rainbow Camp"? I own some property in an acreage subdivision that has private access to the river a little ways down from this camp. I looked it up on the internet and it's a camp site with river access.

There were probably 6 or 7 guys fishing down there, all were using fly rods. Nobody really catching anything. I didn't venture out there with those guys, but I didn't have any luck further up river.

Thanks,
SportFisher

I fished Rainbow Camp on Tuesday only one bite on white spinner it was a solid 20" fish but jumped off. Another guy was there caught 2 one small 10" and one solid 18" the fish are there

Do they charge ya'll for access to the river at Rainbow Camp?

SportFisher

like to try it

Fished Rio Raft area today throwing a Mepps #1 in gold. Went upstream looking for deep pockets. Fished about 2 hours with nothing. Found a nice deep pocket and quickly caught 4 beautiful trout. The largest was 25"! This was my first time ever fishing the area, had a great time. I had no idea I could catch trout this size without going to the coast...lol

Trout Unlimited puts some hoss's in there. They are the ones taking on the natural spawn too!

Are there still trout running year round in the canyon tailrace?

Should I just start at the top and yak my way to the end or what?

I heard some were being caught in the deeper pools below the rapids near Ponderosa crossing.

I sure wish the weather would cool down. I miss seeing the steam coming off the water like in this picture.

Thanks a lot... Maybe I'll see you out there one day... My rig is almost identical to yours except pretty scratched up...