Jimbo
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We started the Guadalupe River enhancement project many years ago. We looked at ways that we could improve the river habitat for sustaining Trout. The things that need to be addressed are how far can we get the cold water downstream and can we reduce siltation?
First of all if there was a way to increase flows, especially in the summer months, then we could get a higher percentage of Trout holding over to the next season. So we pursued a Flow Agreement with GBRA. And we were able to get an agreement, in fact two of them. These agreements provide increased flows from late spring through September when certain conditions are met. The bad news is the qualifying condition is the lake being at or above pool, at the beginning or anytime during the period of the agreement. Those conditions have only been met a few times, but it does help.
The other thing we could do is to minimize the thermal impacts along the river’s course then we would have colder water further downstream. How do you do that? If you increase the current speeds (with the standard releases), especially in certain areas, then the suitable Trout Habitat would increase. You would also tend to push sediments deposited by feeder creeks further downstream, increasing pore space in the gravels and increase the bug life that supports our Trout.
We visited this idea, mapping the river and using penetrating sonar to study the gravels and bedrock where if the river could be narrowed and deepened then there would be less thermal impacts from higher air temperatures. The area we concentrated our efforts was the Pott’s stretch of the river. This area has been too shallow and too wide for a long time allowing the summer high air temperatures to effect downstream temperatures adversely.
We discussed several things, but the only real long term solution involves the creation of several wing dams that will use the river’s natural current to scour a deeper channel in the grave beds there. This is the area we used the penetrating sonar to assess the deep of the gravels. That data indicated gravel beds deep enough that wing dams would give us the desired results. Unfortunately these plans were put on hold and no further action has been initiated.
Other things we looked at were: the planting of trees, that would stabilize the river banks, add shade to the river, and limit siltation. TPWD wanted to plant willows along Spillway Creek, but they never got the approval they needed.
We also looked at places some very large boulders in several areas to again cause localized scouring and more places for Trout to hold. We even looked at places so called “Lunker Structures” along the stream margins to give the Trout and other fish more places to hide in the shade. The reality is high flows could easily move the large boulders out of position and bury the Lunker Structures with gravel pushed downstream in the higher flows.
So we are back at the only proven long term solution, the installation of wing dams. These wing dams would require the group cooperation of: TPWD, GBRA, and COE. The toughest part of that is getting COE approval as they control all instream projects as Canyon Lake is primarily a flood control project. It can be done, but we need to pick up where we left off and see if we could get the project approved.
The Board has taken up the subject once again with our latest Board Meeting. I am hoping we will again restart this project and see if we could get the first phase at Pott’s installed. We could use this area to test the theory and evaluate the results. Something like this will take a very long time to get the necessary approvals before any instream work can be done. It’s time to start pushing the ball down the field again….
Jimbo
Why do we stock Kanz?
As managers of the Trout Fishery we do many things that are best for the fish and not the fisherman. Remember we are conservationists first and fishermen second. Also as soon as these fish hit the water, they don’t belong to GRTU, they belong to the citizens of Texas and all sportsmen. So we concentrate our stocking efforts in upstream locations, where water temperatures are the coldest in the heat of the summer. We have too look where we can put these fish first and then that they can be accessed by anglers and still have a good potential to carryover to the next year. Some of these spots are a long wade away, but possible. Another place we used to stock was JDL. Even after that lease expired, because the habitat is so good we stocked it, and you could come upstream from River Rose (or Whitewater while it was a lease and now because you can pay a parking/access fee). Now JDL does not want us to use his property to stock anymore, so we don’t.
We even but several hundred pounds of Browns above Horseshoe falls. Why? Because we can and that water is always cold enough to support Trout unless the entire lake is drained. And there they have a good chance at seeding downstream locations over the years. In past years we even had a lease up below horseshoe falls we stocked before the HOA kicked us out.
As far as you are saying the guides are crowding the area, well they know just like you and me where the best water is and how to fish it. And as Kevin said be there first or come after they have left. There are many other good sites downstream that the guide boats can’t fish till afternoon. And then there is the water below Michaels. Most guide boats won’t fish it because they don’t have take out points.
It’s going to be crowded no matter where or when you fish the river. The Guadalupe is no longer some unknown backwater. It has gained a reputation as a Trophy Trout Fishery. So more and more anglers are coming to fish this river. If you can’t deal with the crowds this isn’t your fishery anymore. One of my secrets you can do is fish the weekdays, when many anglers have to work. I like to fish Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, just for those reasons.
Jimbo
~ 2640 weighting a total of 4000lbs….
Just another side note, It’s time to start watching out for the Brown Trout Redds. If they are in spawning mode, they will be cleaning spots of gravel soon. So watch out for bright and clean gravel and don’t walk or stand in them. I know it’s a little hard to distinguish some redds from where the last fisherman was just standing for awhile and fishing a spot. So just watch where you walk and try to avoid all these spots. It sure would be nice to get some “Born in the River” Browns coming out of this season !!!
Jimbo
We recommend fishing barbless and most everybody I know does, but it is not required. Like was said before, you can use your hemostats to mash the barbs down on any fly. Just make sure you don’t also break the hook point off. I’ve done that before, mash down the barb, and because the hook is weakest there, also bust the point off. I did that one time on a midge and lost a few fish before I realized the point was gone and they were just holding on to the fly for awhile…
Jimbo
I worked a pod of them for 2 1/2 hours last Friday… I have never seen them so fussy !
I threw everything I had at them: nymphs, streamers, emergers, and drys. I did not catch a single one out of that pod. The funny thing is I did catch at least 25 Perch right among them that would come out of no where to nail my fly and many times right in the middle of that pod of Browns. From what I see these Browns are in pre-spawning mode. I have actually seen Browns in a Daisy Chain chasing each other around to determine the pecking order for spawning dominance. I was lucky that I caught 2 Browns right off when I got there or I would have zeroed on Trout that day. At least we will be getting a fresh load of Rainbows next weekend. Maybe that will get in an eating mood…
Jimbo
Woo Hoooo,… You know I’ll be there !!!
Jimbo
This is always a fun event. Most years just a few Trout are caught. This year There are still quite a few Rainbows that made it through the summer. They are notoriously fussy this time of year. You could catch a bunch if the day is right, but usually they are hard to get to bite from them. And yet every year it seems something around 20″ is caught and landed. There are many other categories in the tournament, like biggest fish, Bass, Perch, etc. There are many prizes given out and just participating you have a shot at several of these. And Action Angler makes a generous donation to GRTU every year because of this tournament. It’s a good way to see the river, the ways it’s changed, where the fish are holding, and pick up a few pointers from the best. Plus your fishing on the Guadalupe, and that’s always a fun and relaxing day for me.
Jimbo
Alex is right ! Thanks Alex !
Jimbo
I would also say it is very important to attend other stocking dates also. The second stocking will cover the other sites downstream not stocked in the first stocking. Also the Brown Trout stocking should be attended to see where they go in the river. And the third Rainbow Trout stocking is the one we really need extra hands as the enthusiasm has waned and usually the fewest number of volunteers show up to get the Trout in the river. Anyway be sure to keep all this sensitive information to yourselves (LAP Members). Thanks !!!
Jimbo
There are some nice specimens that made it through the summer. GRTU has being using a supplemental feeding program through the summer which seems to be working fairly well. The holdover would have been much better with flows of say 250cfs, but it’s about as good as it can get with the low flows we saw late summer.
Jimbo
I would do the 8 hour float. You will see more of the river, see more of the productive sites, you will have time to ask more questions, and also have more time for the guide to critique your casting, presentations and drifts….(mend the line,…. mend the line,….. mend the line…….. for a drag free drift)
Who should fill that other seat is up to you, they do not have to be an angler.
As far as your spectating wife, you can not bring her as a spectator to LAP sites for free(unless she is an LAP member which I will assume she is not). That said you could pay for her access at commercial sites ahead of time like: Rio (Lower Rio has such a limited access or river frontage she might not see much but again pay ahead of time at Rio’s main office), Lazy L&L (Little Ponderosa pay at Lazy L&L), and Action Angler,… as they have offices which are open in the winter and spring season and you can pay for her access.
Jimbo
No e-mail has been sent yet. The first dates have been reserved for the Hatchery to send us Trout. Dan is still working on getting additional sites and he might just succeed. With the low flows this year, everyone will have to be more cooperative with the other anglers fishing around them. When the first stocking announcement goes out I will post a topic about angling etiquette and how to handle these crowded conditions we are likely to see especially after the first two stockings. Low flows will keep these fish a bit bunched up at first. It will take longer than normal for them to spread out into those other great in-between spots, but it will happen. It will take some willingness to fish with others closer than normal and also remember the golden rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. I will encourage anglers to talk among themselves and allow new anglers coming into these areas room to fish too.
Jimbo
Up to Six vehicles from the LAP can be parked at River Rose at a time during the day. Always display your parking tag while accessing LAP sites.
Jimbo
Always put your parking pass where it can be easily seen (like hanging from the rearview mirror). This allows the owner to know at a glance that you are a LAP member and parking there legally. Also always carry your personal tag with you and display it where it can be easily seen. Mine is attached to my flyfishing vest, some will put it on their hat, or if you use a fanny pack I would suggest you put it on the shirt you are wearing. Safety pins work, but zip-ties hold on better.
Jimbo
