San Gabriel Whites / Steps

Figured I might start a thread for others to report on their fishing fun out on the San Gabriel. The whites ought to start moving soon, with the temperatures in the 70 and 60 all this week an next.

Went out to the river this last Sunday to take a look around, things are quite a bit different than last year. Water is way up. Alot of trees and debre has been moved all around.

Over by the Steps area large chucks of the eastern portion of the fishing bank have been washed away. The water was moving very very fast, but that should let up soon.

Looks to be a good year. Hope to see you all on the River.

only problem is all the fish there are 9 inches

The water will not let up soon. Lake G'town in 4.5' over pool and they will start releasing any day now. That's not a bad thing though. It'll concentrate the fish in eddies and make em' easier to catch.

I've made it to the white runs in previous years but always wondered if anybody fishes for bass or catfish in the river?

NO fish yet, but we are hoping for a good spawn!

P.S. There are no fish in Granger!

Might do some kayaking there saturday hope to find some fish.

all the whites i caught last year were over 14 inches

Many people fish for Catfish on the San Gabriel. Tons of trot lines and limb lines as well. I don't think the river is good for largemouth. Great for Crappie.

You're using the ruler wrong or holding your mouth wrong...there's plenty of legal size and above whites in the San Gabriel.

I would also have to disagree with snowyriver2 almost all of the whites I catch are 9 3/4 inch lol. When they are running you can get a limit but it may have to catch 60 fish to get it.

If we are going to see some bigger whites this will be the year. Major flood 2 years ago kept most people from fishing the spawn. Last year there was bearly enough water.

That river can be very productive for cats.

I think you missed a year there. It flooded 3 years ago and you are right it kept alot of ppl out, but there were still plenty of fish caught. The year after that I limited out on a dozen days between February and April. One day 6 of us caught our limit of whites and crappy within an hour below the steps. Last year was garbage because there wasnt any water. Most of the spawn happened on the lake.

This year should be killer as long as we dont get rained out.

You are correct. Three years ago I was in Big Bend during spring break. Not a drop of rain, meanwhile central texas was getting pounded. Two years ago I went to the steps and it was packed. I started catching limits all by myself about 100 yards upstream from the train tracks while everyone was elbow fighting below the steps.

how about tejas camp.anybody tried there. The whites there are usually a little bigger in G town

Plenty of water at Tejas, but no whites (yet)

Put the kayak in the water Friday but didn't find any whites. Launched at the primative launch and paddled about half a mile downstream, then came back and went about a mile upstream. Water temp got up to 54 so it shouldn't be long.

if you are talking about the steps im thinking about, im thinking about checking that area out this week. you dont think the lack of water in that area last year will effect the run this year?

www.grangergang.com Check it out.

I also went out to the primative boat launch this past Saturday. No luck, but the water temp was around 54-56. Shouldn't be long now. Figure the cold snap this week might prolong a week or two more. The next couple of weeks should be fun.

Anyone been to the step and tried standing in the water. Looks like you would need to be pretty sturdy not to get washed away.

Lived in RR for 30 years. I have fished Granger/San Gabriel numerous times without catching more than a couple here and there. I need one of you "experts" to show me how it's done.

Tommy Tidwell taught my freshman science class when I was in High School. I could call him, but I hear he mostly fishes "secret" spots on the main lake.

Any thoughts....?

I'm thinking about a trip out there this year as well. Never fished it, but drive by quite a bit

Get much rain on the San Gabriel? The fish should get going soon there. lots of fun fishing there.

this cold front probably knocked it back a week or 2

Anyone have any updates on water temperature. I figured all this cold rain isn't helping. Suppose to get into the mid sixties Friday and Saturday. Maybe they will star this weekend? Any thoughts.

That water will be ugly down there.

Anyone have any reports from out here or is it still to flooded?

Flooded and boderline dangerous. Georgetown is still releasing so it will be that way for a while.

I drove across the bridge on 95 yesterday afternoon. The water looked like it was up pretty high and flowing pretty hard. Right now, I wouldnt waste my time trying to catch any there.

Still too much flow like FishSlayer07 said!

500 CFS is being released out of Lake Georgetown. I'm assuming the Steps are still a wash?

I had checked eariler in the week on thursday and it was still too high, I think they were releasing 500 that day as well.

Sound like the spawn is still a little ways off. I'm seeing reports out of Reimers Ranch and Lake Somerville. Hopefully circleville will start up soon too.

Went yesterday around 4pm,what a difference from last year!! Fished next to a guy who was using river minnows on bottom caught around 10 then he gave up. 4 bass boats came through and was very suprised compared to last year. River is up and running. Saw several stringers of fish. I myself fished for 2hrs and only managed 3 fish on the fly.

3 fish in 2 hours isn't horrible.sounds better than my weekend at cbsp. I fished 10 hours with no fish.

caught 12 keepers today

You guys are going to make sure there are plenty of folks fishing on the S.G. 33 posts and 1600+ views(aka lurkers too lazy to check it out themselves) I think I will now pass on the S.G.

WOW, I didnt think someone would pass on the S.G because of fishing reports and pictures of their catch, for worry of crowdedness. Never had a problem like that in the 25 yaers of fishing that river. I decided to jump in the forum and get my feet wet w/ a report but i guess that was my 1st and this is my last post cause i offended someone for passing up the STEPS. I hate to hear that. Bye the way CATS, nice mess of fish. Good job!

No way keep posting.That place is crowded no matter what you do.Though it sounds like the good reports may actually thin the crowd.

i fish with a kayak no crowds just me and the lord. loll

Reports, reports, reports??????

looking forward to it, im going sunday

very few fish there and very muddy, but in 2 weeks, ....look out

I may swing by there this evening on my way home and take alook at things.

I went over to the steps Wed after work and nothing. Same for everyone around me too. Lots of moving water but no fish.

only caught 3 today and son caught 1

we need some warm weather, for about a week

put on a OU shirt and you'll catch more

went to the steps and the primative boat launch today and had no luck along with the other nine thousand people that were there. the only people who were catchin' anything were the guys catfishin'...

water was 49, high and moving fast. everywhere was pretty muddy and really slippery, i found that out the hard way!

we went today and i caught one 10.5 incher but threw him back. saw a guy catch a few down the river alittle ways. all small males

what were you fishin' with? it seemed like grub jigs and live minnows under floats were the baits of choice for most people there today....

i was using green road runners, i wish i had some river minnows but i could catch any

Buddy and I put our boats in at the primitive launch after lunch. Paddled up to within 300 yds of the steps.

Fished until 5:30, caught a whopping one fish between the two of us.

Weather was nice today but I think their still shut down from the last cold front. A few more warm days should do it.

Bill

got 5 at granger on jigs yesturday

any reports today? the spawn in on in most places. hard to believe no one is catching here.

i dont know whats up, i did catch one female last time so they are starting to come up. we just need some hot weather

its fished out

Well 1/2 full stringers have still been coming out - I think a few days of warmer weather and a rise in the h20 temp a few degrees will bring a few more waves of them. Just keep at it! I'll likely fish Somerville this weekend, though.

Well the spawn is on. At least as much as I can be. The steps and San Gabriel were very crowded this weekend. But alot were catching fish. I did ok with 12 keepers on Sunday fishing from 8-11 on the bank. Almost every body that fished more than a couple minutes seemed to have at least a fish or two on the stringer. Of the 12 fish, 10 were male. Females eggs were a ways from being mature.

i also fished sunday pm. kept 13 mostly males 2 were females. not to bad until a huge portion of the bank fell in up river and muddied the water. yes big crowd

I say it every year, I gotta get out there once to do some fishing

anymore reports from Monday or today? can't decide to try it out or not. You guys get alot of rain out in Granger today? Just wondering if the water is too muddy or not. Going somewhere to fish tomorrow. Granger, Yegua, or Reimers. undecided as of yet. Have the day off.

Went out yesterday paddled up from primitive launch site to right before the steps caught 10 14 inch keepers and no exaggeration 100 7,8,and 9 inchers fat little suckers were killing the ultra light beside the fact a little sore from first all day trip and thumb and index finger rubbed raw great time good fishing dont know how bad the rain is going to screw it up though.

I haven't fished the steps before but am hoping to try it tomorrow. If you see 2 guys in waterloo rods caps, holler at us! We will be trying to figure it out.

I live in Hutto and if Brushey Creek is any indication the San Gabriel is probably going to be real nasty this weekend. Water is moving very very fast

Water was ok on Sunday. Fished on a gravel bar about halfway between steps and primitive boat ramp. Went back yesterday and water was up about 2 feet and the color and consistency of pottery mud. Didn't catch anything. Every fish I caught on Sunday was a male and all were within about 6 inchs of the shore.

Well yesterday we hit it pretty hard from about 1-4pm. There was nothing going on, with the exception of a few waders in one eddy catching some tiny stuff. Like Jeff said, most of theirs came within a foot or so of the bank.

I never got close enough to see if they were whites or crappie. I did see one fella upstream from there in another eddy catch a keeper crappie.

I can see how that area is good to fish, but the high water from the rain messed it up pretty decent I guess.

Is the water still muddy? looks like a good week to try it out down there.

yesterday the water color was not too bad it was alittle of color but not that bad. fished for 5 hours and never caught a fish. put the boat in at the sirt ramp and went downriver.

Gonna try and get off work early Thursday, and head down there. Also put in to take friday off. But I'm heading to Somerville (yegua) then. I'll post a report by the weekend if I make it out to the steps. I'm taking a co-worker, my daughter and grandson. Hopefully the grandson (5yrs) one will have some luck. I will try and take a few pics while I'm there. Maybe I can post them later.

Any more info on the steps? Gonna head down this week after practice.

Anyone doing any good?

went kayaking saturday caught 5 onyl 3 keepers

Managed on 8 Wednesday. 3 early around 9:30 and 5 after 2pm. Beautiful scenery. Lots of hiking. I'm out of shape so I'm sore today. LOL. Didnt see any limits. Most had 3 - 8 fish. Should be better soon.

Just curious about all the "catching" going on there this weekend. I don't see any posts since my last one.

???

I think it's because there is not much catch in steps currently.
I have been there twice this year. Haven't seen any one catch a limit. Most of them got nothing, like me

CNR-
What is the water like at the steps? Thinkin' bout takin the kiddos tomorrow but not if it's too high or muddy...

I went out there yesterday afternoon. The water is nice. I saw alot of people with their kids. But, there were not as many people as I thought there would be. There were only about 10-15 cars there at 4pm. That was good.

As it turned out, I was skunked. No fish!. My two buddies caught one each. We used artificial. A group of three guys found a nice hole near us and had about 15-20 between them. They were catching river minnows & shad with a throw net. I guess "live" bait was the weapon of choice yesterday?

All in all, it was a beautiful afternoon out there

I always have luck with seined bait when arties won't catch'em. It's more work but it's worth it! Thanks for the report...how far from the steps did you fish?

I heading out to Granger tomorrow with my kids for the weekend and would love for them to catch a bunch of fish, cats, whites or crappies. I really dont care what the cathc as longs as it bunch!! We have a boat or will fish from shore. Anyone have any advice.

About 100 yds upstream from the steps in the deeper hole around the sandbar that has the tree in the water accross the shallow part of the river.

Fished yesterday from 3:30 until sunset and managed 3 keepers all females. Two on seined minnows and one on curly tail roadrunner (white). All caught within 100 yds of the bend at the steps. Water is slow and is shallow most places. Big crowd of people, too. Did see a few fly fishers having good success in very concentrated holes.

Fished hard today from 1:30 pm until sunset and managed 6 keepers on seined minnows all males. Also threw roadrunners with curly tail and no luck at all. All fish caught within 100 yds of the bend at the steps. Did not see anyone having great success today. Also much fewer fishers today than yesterday.