I am officially hooked on this fly fishing stuff. My first week whipping a stick around was spent in Colorado and it was a blast. The first time the water boiled under my fly I knew I was finished. After that, I caught and released several limits and kept a couple for the dinner table.

So, here I am back in Texas. I have read as much as I can find on the the Cen-Tex fly fishing offerings and am looking for some solid advice on the San Gabriel River in and around Georgetown. I would also like to hook up (pardon the pun) with somebody around G-town to fish with. I would also like to get some info on the Colorado up in the Highland Lakes area.

I have an 8' 5wt rod with weight forward line and floating leader. Which flies do you suggest? Is the rod right for this area? Where are some good access points?

In addition, fly fishing is a whole new language so go easy on me with the technical lingo - I am still learning (I don't know a midge from a nymph from a whatever) and I have no idea what is supposed to float and what is supposed to sink.

Thanks,

Michael

Welcome to the addiction! Also, in Texas, you are in one of the best states in the country to fly fish! Texas offers almost endless fly-fishing opportunities.

Yes a 5wt is just about perfect if you are going to have 1 rod. Its perfect for most bass fishing situations, unless you are throwing BIG poppers or fish in real heavy cover. You may want to eventually get a lighter rod (a 2wt) for catching bluegills and other sunfish.

I think 4 essential flies to have in texas are:
1. Olive weighted (conehead or bead head) wolly bugger.
2. miss prissy (small popper with long legs, avail at many Wal-marts)
3. Betts or Pecks bass poppers (about 1/0 size, also at most Walmarts,Bass Pro,Cabelas)
4. Clouser, especially chartruese/white.

Trout flies will catch you bluegills and an occasional bass,esp in clear water.. but many places with muddy water require a bigger fly.


My suggestion... Keep asking questions. AND check out www.texasflyreport.com too. Lots of great info too.

The SanGabriel was one of my most favored places to fish when I lived in Pflugerville a few years back. I try to make it back there a couple of times a year, usually for trout in the winter (bluehole) and the whitebass up at tejas park above the lake. Summertime can be kind of tough especially below the last crossing in the park where the treated sewer discharge mixes with the river. The section above Lake Granger is a very neat place to fish but haven't floated that section since 1997 when I moved back to Bryan. I wasn't fly fishing as much back then but all the trips back there have been with the flyrod.

There is reported to be a group called the San Gabriel Fly Fishers but I could not find their website.

Here is a link with some info
http://www.totalflyfishing.com/index.php?fa=region&state=TX

That's a great link...there was a ton of info there.

Anybody fishing in and around Georgetown now?

There is a good fly fishing store located at 71 and 2244. I can't think of the name but should be able to give you info on groups in the area.

ccabal gave you great advice on flies, but i just wanted to clarify one. I would reccommend you buy the clousers with bead chain eyes, not the lead ones. The lead-eyed ones are much heavier and can be quite a challenge on a 5wt.

You are in a great part of the state to begin this hobby, much better than the D/FW metromess I'm in.

It would be even better if work would quit interfering with fishing..what a hassle.

What sort of waders/boots do you use when fishing these rivers? Any reason you can't wear shorts and some river shoes?

mswtx: I wet wade from late March through the early part of November. I do like to use felt soled shoes in the Spring & Fall, even while wet wading because slick rocks I tend to encounter along the way.

Get a copy of Fly Fishing the Texas Hill Country (available @ most fly shops in the area & online) for info on fishing the area & give Brooks Bouldin a call in Georgetown (check on smartpages.com) for info on the fly fishing club there.

Clubs, fly shops, guides & sites like TFF are a great place to start gaining info.

If your "river shoes" protect your toes and keep rocks out, you should be fine with those and shorts. You may find that some sections of rivers with channellized bedrock (blanco, upper guad, medina, etc) can be pretty rough on your ankles. For this reason I prefer something of the boot variety.

You'll likely want some waders to go fish the Guad for trout in the winter, and boots to match. Get some neoprene socks to wear with these boots in the summer. Lots of folks talk of this set-up being too hot, but as long as your feet are wet, it's not really an issue.

If you'd rather not do that, wear either what you would wear wading the flats, or some worn out tennies. I don't recommend sandals, because even if they do have a toe protector, you still will get rocks between your foot and the insole.

Thanks for the info...I have been looking at the Cabelas web site and at Academy and Sportsman's Warehouse - too much stuff and too many choices.

yes, one could spend all day in Cabelas or Bass Pro wandering around trying to decide what to leave on the shelf.

It's a good thing I'm not rich...

I live in Austin and would be happy to have a fishing partner. I've only fished the San Gabriel in San Gabriel park. I was skunked, but believe me, there are plenty of fish.

The great thing about San Gabriel park (besides free entry) is the river has a very small dam downstream, so within the park there are shallow, wadable parts, and deep floatable parts. There are also monster carp to be found in this section. I was targeting them when I broke my fly rod because I'm a dumba$$. Anyway, I have two backups, so if you want to go out fishing sometime send me an e-mail. I am taking a vacation in two weeks, so I won't be able to on the weekend of the 27th, but other than that it should be ok.