I am in need of some help. Me and 1-2 other friends are looking for a trip somewhere this summer to fly fish for some guadalupe bass and trout. I will list the questions, and please respond or pm with any info. Consider me ignorant in all matters with the exception of being able to cast. (I am not completely ignorant, but would rather be told something I know than not told something I don't).

1. Where?
2. When?
3. Are there any guides that you would recommend?
4. What is the best fly shop around your recommend location?
5. What else do I need to know?

Might I suggest the Castells?
http://www.castellguideservice.com/
They can answer all your questions and put you all on fish.

May I second that motion???

rio raft . they have a fly fisher on site. good area right there

1&2. That will depend on the primary purpose for the trip. Typically the Guadalupe is overrun with toobers in the summer months and the water temps on the river will get up to temperatures that are good for bass but not so good for trout. If you are looking for a mixed (trout/bass) trip, then spring time will be better. Late March through April will be your best time. You can still fish for trout in the summer months on the Guadalupe, but you will want to limit your time on the water to the early morning. If you do go for mixed trout/bass then the Guadalupe will be a good choice. If you decide to go more for bass, then it will depend on whether you want to wade only or if you will be bringing or renting kayaks. Kayaks open up a lot more water in the Hill Country. Wade only rivers would include the Llano & Guadalupe. Kayak/float rivers include the Llano, San Marcos, Colorado & Guadalupe. My personal picks are the Guadalupe in March and the Colorado below Austin or Llano in May.

3. Thanks Robyin & Jerry for the kind words. I am in Texas through May and then back to Durango for the summer.

4. Depends on where you will base out of. For the Guadalupe, I would send you to Action Angler. Chris has the best selection of trout flies of any shop in the region. He also has a number of really good bass flies and other gear. There isn't really a fly shop around the Llano and for the Colorado below Austin and San Marcos you have the choice between Action, Sportsman's Finest and Orvis Austin.

5. I could go on & on on this one. A mixed trip for trout & bass is difficult in Texas, simply because when the trout fishing slows down is when the bass fishing really picks up. If you get some milder weather in June, you would have a window that could open up some trout fishing but treat the trout gently. As water temps spike, the oxygen level in the water falls & the trout can be stressed (read die) from simply being caught once. If Canyon Lake reaches capacity this spring then that would change things, as the minimum flow agreement between GRTU and GBRA would then go into effect and the trout would have much better water temps throughout the summer.

http://texasflycaster.com/powerhouse-lin...shing-workshop/

I am guessing that if you get a little one-on-one time with the lineup, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you all for your help. Sounds like I need to try to up the trip to march, if for no other reason than to go with castell.

Give up on Texas and go to Mountain Home, Arkansas. Float tube Crooked Creek for Smallies, and fish Norfork, Little Red, and the lower White for trout. Go to the South Llano for Oktoberfisch and catch Guadalupe Bass and Piggy Rio Grande Perch.

Jamie Rouse, Duane Hada, Joe Salisbury are excellent Arkansas guides. Blue Ribbon Fly Shop in Mountain Home.

wouldnt fish it summer for trout cuz of toobers, but the trouts were biting at rio raft sattler in last week. all in 14 - 17 inch range. had one biggun throw the hook 3 ft in the air. but an excellent place. 7 bucks to fish though