Myself and Mike "USMC_GY" fished the Sabinal River for the first time this year. Really love fishing this river. We fished the trout stocking that took place today. The Parks&Wildlife truck arrived at 10:45 A.M. and 750 hungry Rainbow Trout were put into the Sabinal River. Me and Mike were the only two anglers there. After about thirty minutes after the stocking we landed five quick fish. After that we really had to work for em. We finally got our limit at around 2:00 P.M.(Ten in the icebox). We also caught and released a few. Fish were caught on silver Super Duper Lures,Berkley Trout Bait-yellow in color,and jigs. Drop shot and bottom techniques were used. After a GREAT day of Hill Country trout fishing we headed over to the Lost Maples Cafe in beautiful downtown Utopia and had a FANTASTIC lunch. Starting the week catching Rainbow Trout on the Sabinal River. It just don't get any better.

Super times in the Hill Country. Nice fish guys.



Side Note: Never fished the Sabinal. I have seen the river on HWY 90 heading to Delrio. There is always good water. I guess Utopia is west from Uvalde? Was there any other anglers there while you were fishing? How is the Sunfish bite during warmer weather? Looks like it is fly rod friendly. May just put that on my places to fish list this year.

Thanks Curtis for the reply. You need to fish that river. Great Hill Country scenery and that river holds some nice fish. The water is clear and it has some nice grass beds. As for the trout. Me and Mike were the only two anglers there. As we were leaving two more anglers showed up and that was it. There will be trout to catch there up until late March. They will have lots of places to hide from anglers. River is spread out. I would imagine that warmer water temperatures will kill the ones that survive the anglers hooks as we get into the warmer months. As for fly fishing it looks like it would be a super place to fly fish. The Sunfish bite is pretty good during the warmer months. Heck Mike caught about five sunnies waiting for the stocking truck to arrive. One more thing. You need to eat at the Lost Maples Cafe in Utopia. Awesome place.

Very nice y'all! Looks like a nice place to fish, might have to make a detour during my Frio trip in August.

Thanks for the reply. Yes Sir it would be well worth the trip to pay the Sabinal River a visit in the Utopia area. Very relaxing for sure.

Nice trout, Chuck & Mike! Been to Denison once so far, no luck. Hope to make a couple of more trips. I have a recipe for smoked trout to try.

Bob

Thanks Bob for the reply. Man smoked trout does sound good. Would your recipe work on Bluegill/Sunfish?

Don't know. Found it on a Nebraska fishing site. It was used on stocker rainbows. It is simple. Refrigerate 24 hrs. in a solution, then bake 4 hrs in the oven at a low temp.
If anyone is interested, I can post it.

Bob

Post it! I will give it a try on the next batch of Gills I catch!

No Smoker Needed Smoked Trout

3 or more whole trout (gutted & gilled - real clean)
1 cup Morton's Tender Quick
8 tsp. Liquid Smoke
1/2 cup Morton's Ice Cream Salt
1 gallon water

Mix solution, add trout, and refrigerate 24 hrs. Found a 12 qt. plastic dishpan at Walmart.

After 24 hrs., I would rinse them off and pat dry with paper towels.

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake in oven at 200 for 4 hrs. Flip them over once, after 2 hrs.

Can be eaten as part of meal, or eaten with unsalted crackers.

If saving for later, wrap in freezer paper and freeze.

Bob

Chuck,

Sunfish would have to be scaled before soaking in solution. Skin will probably peel back easily like trout, after baked. Then you can strip the meat off, starting at the backbone.

Bob

Awesome Bob. Will give this try on a batch of Gills I keep this up coming spring. I guess you can buy the liquid smoke at the grocery store?

Found everything at Krogers in Paris. If I can find it in Paris, I'm sure your HEB will have it.
I bought the Hickory Liquid Smoke. Mesquite did not sound good for fish.

Bob

Thanks Bob. Will be giving this a try!

That looks like a great place to fish for rainbows. Crystal clear water !