Anyone know how the Smallmouth got into the
Devils River?
Be interesting to find out.
Thanks.

I'm not sure how they got in there, but if i ever get the time, id like to kayak in there and check it out! looks like nice country to me!

They clearly moved up from Amistad, which was stocked with them in the 70s and eighties... It's perfect habitat for them...

Amistad Stocking History

I guess they swam there

They move upriver only during major floods which isnt very often. Its a special fishery. Its my favorite place in Texas to fish. Its hard to figure out but once you do its rewarding. Caught 20 over 4lbs earlier this month.

^^^^^^^this^^^^^^^

a small group of us have floated it 15x and it's a very special place for the adventurer fisherman.

All true. Smallies were stocked in Amistad an never did overly great. The Devils and Pecos are clear and spring fed above the lake and they did great. Trip of a lifetime is to canoe down either river and fish for them. A few of my most memorable trips!

Thank's to all for responding.

does the river always have water betweeen pools? or does it need to catch some water?

it has been my dream trip for a couple years now. I wanna yak the river bad!!!

Hoping to put together a trip in the spring.

NickHasty, The Devils and the Pecos have a real heavy influx of spring water in their last miles before the lake. While in dry times the river can require some dragging in a few shallow areas it never goes dry. The first time I canoed the Devils we were driving along a dry river bed thinking we had made a mistake coming down here. Then literally within a few miles we get to the area we would put in called Bakers Crossing. The river here had already became this beautiful crystal clear smallmouth infested stream. As you go downstream for several days the river continues to get a little bigger due to added spring water along the way.

Sounds like an awesome trip!

Man, I've got to float the Devils river. Sounds like the closest thing I'll experience next too fishing the creeks in Arkansas. My best trip was on the Crooked Creek in Arkansas. My goodness, that was amazing fishing. I'll make a trip to the Devils this upcoming Spring. Is there a outfitter y'all would recommend?

it gets really shallow at times of drought like last year and makes for a long trip when you are dragging the canoe 70% of the time. Last year it was a 4 day trip but this year it is a 3 day trip using gerald bailey. It changes every year due to the influence of landowners and the nature conservancy. Neither want the public on the river and its only a matter of time before they make it even more difficult to go down it. Its already very remote and rugged with no public access, but they are making it tough. I could go on and on about the battle we face but hopefully it will be here for a while to enjoy.

As of now the state doesnt want to issue gerald a vehicle permit to pick up canoers at the natural area. so its a 3 day trip if you want to fish and a 2 day if you just paddle all day both days to the take out point below geralds house. I'm actually thinking about guiding a few select trips for people down there next year if things work out. If anyone is thinking about going, just shoot me a pm for details on geralds pricing, what to bring, etc.