First Time Fishing Barton Creek

I've been meaning to check it out for a long time and was not disappointed. I entered the water at the Lost Creek Access at the Barton Creek Greenbelt and waded and fished for the next mile. I started out with a green popper and after catching some of the tiniest sunfish you've ever seen switched to a black Wooly Bugger. As I learn to fly fish the Wooly Bugger has fast become my equivalent of a Roostertail when I'm spin fishing.

Once I made the switch the fish went up a few sizes, although they were still pretty small. I lost track of how many of these I pulled out of the creek.



For reference, this fish was about four times bigger than the ones I was catching on the popper.

I also saw plenty of good sized tilapia and rios, as well as several Guadalupe bass, but could not get any of them to do more than follow.

Nice post Will. You have been covering a lot of area. Good job.

Beautiful fish. Banker, could that one have red ear genes? Never seen orange on a greenie

Looks like a Green to me. Could have some Bluegill in it but hard to tell.

Thanks Chuck and KQT for the replies. Chuck, I was hoping you'd chime in on what type of sunfish that was...we need to figure out a day when we can both go fishing so you can teach me how to catch a rio!

Bet you had a blast

Great stuff!!! That's my kind of day. Wading and fly fishing for sunfish.

Thanks for the report. I've studied the creek on Google before but never tried it out.

My home waters and the best kept secret in Texas. Alas in another two weeks when school is out it will be overrun with drunks, dogs, and trash. If you're not on the water by 6:30 in the morning you're not getting any fishing in.

The best tricks I've found for the bass, olive wooly buggers, fluorocarbon tippet, and target pockets of deep water. The series of three dams at the base of the hill of life have yielded some of my best fish. Don't cast to the bass you see, if you've seen a fish it has already seen you since the water is crystal clear. Cast to where they should be and size your fly to sort out the sunfish.

I am curious about the tilapia sightings, I've fished that water for two years and have yet to see or catch a tilapia. Are you sure they weren't carp? If they are tilapia I'm going to have to do some fly adjusting to find one for sure!

Nice post 1960texan. What know spinning gear or Rooster Tails!



Side Note: Love that flyrod action!

Thanks Clayton, J-Moe, MassAction and Laker One for the replies.



Man, I'm not looking forward to the summer at all. I live in New Braunfels and we have our share of drunks and the trash they leave behind every year.

Thanks for the tips! I had an olive wooly bugger on me, I should have tied that on. Will be picking up some fluorocarbon tippet next time I'm out. Any recommendations on brand?

As for the tilapia I'm pretty sure that is what I was seeing, but I could be wrong. Fish look a little different in the water verses in the net. Here's a photo I found online, it sure looks like what I saw:



The markings on the fish I spotted were slightly different. Could that be attributed to variety and/or habitat? In any case I haven't caught one yet.

Wooly bugger = Roostertail! At least that's what I've been telling myself. I still have a million things to learn about fly fishing, but I'll get there eventually.

Honestly, I just use a spool of Trilene fluorocarbon from Walmart. I know actual tippet Flouro is thinner in diameter in the same weight compared to the normal stuff, but it's also exponentially greater cost per yard for stuff that's basically disposable. The fish don't seem to tell the difference.

You very well may have spotted Tilapia. As I said, I haven't caught one yet, but you could fill a two ton bucket with all the secrets I've yet to learn about Barton Creek. With that said, my suspicion is that you saw some large redbreast sunfish hanging around. There are some dinner plate sized ones up by Lost Creek and they will aggressively hit topwater.



Either way, I will definitely be on the lookout from now on for them! If you swing back in town in the next couple of weeks, let me know. I'd love to fish with you!

Thanks, and sounds like an awesome plan! I'll PM you before my next trip up there.

Always enjoy your post. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Gitter Done for the reply. This is a great forum...with lots of anglers willing to share tips and stories. I've learned so much from so many. This forum also serves as a fishing journal of sorts for those days when I can't get a line wet but wish I could.