This weekend I'm planning on heading down to New Braunfels and fishing the Guadalupe River for trout. I've done a little fly fishing in CO, AK, and CA, but never in Texas. This will be the first time I've ever been to the Guadalupe, I've been reading a lot online and trying to gather as much info as I can.

Has anyone been down there lately? Any advice on patterns to try, or what flies I should buy before going?

Also, I've been reading that the public access if fairly limited. I've read there are a few places that you can pay a small fee to access the river through their land. Any recommendations on places to go?

Thanks for the info!

Fished the Guadalupe this past Monday and limited out on the trout. Current is very fast because of the water being let out of Canyon Dam. Really had to work for em. I fished with a friend of mine and he also limited out. Trail race was non fish able. We fished at Hyco Springs just up from New Braunfles on River Road.

I was down last Thursday on a float trip. We put in at Lazy L&L, rowed upstream a bit then went down stream about 4 miles. There was only one spot that we got out and waded because of how high the flows were. I personally landed 6 trout and fought about that many more but lost them near the boat. The thing to remember here is these are hatchery fish and will sit in the current seams quite a bit more than what you are used to in other places.

There are a number of places you can go down - Rio Raft, parks in the city, etc. Once you're in the water, you can wade...

Except that I would expect very high flows making wading a challenge, so be careful (wading staff would be an absolute minimum).

In fast flows, I would take a 5/6 wt rod. Nymphing and dead drifting may not be the way to go with high flows. I would carry a bunch of size 10-14 buggers in brown, black, and olive, and maybe some egg/worm patterns to run as a tandem rig if the buggers aren't getting you anywhere. I would also fish the bugger on the swing or stripped back to me.

Also bear in mind the forecast has been calling for rain on Saturday.

Fished yesterday, Water is pretty off color, a few of the guide boats didn't catch much. I caught about 8 or so Czech nymphing the weir below Rio. Flows are pretty dicey, I almost ate it at the top of Barking Dog. Nymphing was the ticket for me, with the higher flows I left the bobbers at home and added the split shot.

I threw Pats rubber legs, eggy jaun, Higa's SOS, and various other flashy flies.

I might try White Water, Rio or Action Anglers.

Good info Ben....thanks.....heading that way in 2 weeks

Current flows at Sattler are at 565 cfs. The "Wading Guide" on the Guadalupe River TU website says flows about 550 are unsafe to wade. Since I've fished it for almost 20 years, I've sometimes fished it above 550, but never was able to really wade at those flows. You can usually take a couple of steps out from shore and that's it. Going in above your knees can be dangerous. Another challenge at high flows is landing hooked fish that get below you. Trying to hoist them in against the current is often a losing proposition. I'd fish the softer water near the shore with a woolly bugger or other streamer, being careful not to get too far offshore.

a hot head pheasant tail has always serves me well down there.