Jimbo
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Where were you fishing?
Well thanks everyone !!!! I have been walking around in a bit of a fog lately. There have been many things going on in my life that have me distracted and sometimes I wonder how I appear to everyone else. It is always very helpful when we have so many members willing to help with the stockings, as it is a lot of work carrying all those buckets into our LAP sites.
The first stocking the fish were a little smaller than we are normally receive from the Hatchery, then again high numbers are always nice on the first load. I am hoping they get a little larger on average in the next 3 loads. I will finish arranging the last two stocking dates and get those permits in hand. I wanted to do more feeding of the Trout through the winter and brought it up before at the recent GRTU Board meeting, but they voted it down. We will continue feeding them through the summer, so we still have that going for us.
It’s very nice, when I hear from our members that they like the way things are going.
Thank You !!!!
Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
Check…
IH35 to Hwy 306 west, cross the Guadalupe River, turn left at the light (2673), follow the road to the next light, turn left on River Road, look for Rio on your left before the 4th crossing of the Guadalupe.
Jimbo
RI0 has put locks on all their bathrooms. They do not want LAP members using them right now. They told me our members were trashing the bathrooms, muddy boots, used toilet paper all over the place instead of flushing everything. For now, they are off limits till we get something worked out. I will talk to them and see what can be arranged. There are good bathrooms at Lazy L&L and on the lower river at River Road Camp. Of course, you always use those public ones at gas stations and the like and there are out-houses at Real Pit BBQ. I would recommend if you are going to use the bathrooms at businesses, buy something from them too.
Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
I saw the rocks upstream of the bridge today. My guess is they are using them to build new piers for the pedestrian walkway. Are they permanent? I’m not sure, but I’d guess they will be removed once the construction is finished.
I also talked to a guide there who was talking about TxDot wanting to limit the use of Horseshoe River Lodge for launching their rafts. They did not want anybody under the bridge (or floating under the bridge) while construction is going on and it should last till April I am informed. I also see a bunch of sedimentation problems caused by the construction. The rains earlier in the week really eroded a trough on the Whitewater side and dumped a bunch of sediment into the river there. I don’t know what we can do about this, but I will be talking to WORD and TPWD about this next week.
Jimbo
Alright….
I have gone through the Lease Access Sites Pictures and Information. I have updated all the information and put up some new pictures.
Of special note is the accessing of the river at River Rose. The construction of the new pedestrian walkways and bridges has everything messed up and this is anything but easy right now. Be sure to cross 306 at the light using the pedestrian crossing switch to hold the traffic when crossing. The trail down is now gravel and sketchy. You may even want to use the bridge and cross to the other side once you look at it. If the construction workers ask you to use a certain way to get to the river, then do so.
Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
Visit the LAP Photos and information sticky at the top of this forum to see where to enter and park your vehicle at #5. The entrance to #5, if you are driving downstream on River Rd., you will pass over the 4th crossing, bend right going up the hill, then bending to the left at the top of the hill, there is a stone gate on your right. You enter there, no gate or code necessary, drive down the pavement about 100′. Then on your right, you will see the GRTU Parking sign. This is where you park, there is a 5 vehicles maximum and it’s a year-round site.
Trout are stocked at most sites, and some other places in-between, during the season. We will announce the locations of stocking the day after they happen, here on the forum. We have not started stocking yet this year. The fish you will find in the river at this time are all Holdovers. They are very educated, but worth the effort because they are so fat and strong. Watch you water temperatures and only fish for Trout when the water temperatures are 68 degrees or colder.
Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
The only thing really that is not in this post is Summit is a 6 vehicle max parking.
There is a post in the Sticky about changes in the LAP sites this year. Look at the top of the Lease Forum for more information.
I still have not gained access to the old LAP Site Photos and info to update that information. Hopefully I gain access this week.Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
To our new lease members, I would recommend attending some of the stockings to familiarize yourself with the location of the leases (especially one of the first two stocking as we will most likely visit every one of them). You will also get a chance to see the fish go in the river and where they will likely be easily caught the next day. As always, we recommend that our anglers give these fish 24 hours to acclimatize to their new environment so they will be strong and able to more easily recover from their being caught and released.
Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
We are planning on having 4 stockings this year. We will make an email blast 10 days before the scheduled stocking date and then put up a topic on the forum to check in, so we know how many volunteers to expect. Once everything is in motion and the fish are on the way, we proceed with the stocking no matter what the weather is; hot, cold, wet, or otherwise. So, watch the weather report and dress accordingly. Bring your waders, boots, and a good pair of gloves for toting the Trout laden buckets to the river. I look forward to seeing all our volunteers again and getting a bunch of nice Rainbows in the river.
Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
That LAP Sites Photos and Info needs updating. Right now, I can not access that sticky to make the updates. I am working with the web-master to get access and update the Sticky.
Right now the major updates are the new parking spots at River Rose (because of construction) and the new Summit LAP site. I hope to have the updates done this week.Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
I apologize for assuming Summit would be easy to find. I am a long time Central Texas resident and Guadalupe River Bum who knows all the little details of the river and all the new and old access sites. I am also so old school that I don’t have an easy way to figure out the GPS location and attach it to the post. I am older than dirt. The Summit is located about half-way down River Rd. from #5 and Little Ponderosa, on your right as you are driving downstream. Once you drive past it, you will easily recognize the big stone entry and signs. There is no GRTU sign at the parking spot yet (I also need to find the sign for Potts and put it up). I will see if I can find a sign in the locker and put one up later this week. I hope the pictures will help, but if you can see them, the parking spot is the last gravel pad on the left just past the dumpsters and before the road bends to the right where the river-side condos are located.
Jimbo Roberts
GRTU V.P. of Fisheries
My pleasure! I’m always looking for another site to expand the number of sites our LAP members can use to access the river. If anybody ever hears of some place that would like to lease to us, they can contact me with the information, and I will see if we can come to an agreement.
Jimbo
You should be receiving then in the next few days. There’s still plenty of time before the new season starts November 1 2024. I got mine 2 days ago and it was post-marked on the 16th.
Jimbo
That is very good advice!!!!
I might add to fight the fish as hard as you can to minimize the time the fish is actually fighting you and your equipment. You would be surprised just how strong modern tippet material has become. Learn to tie your knots well and lubricate each knot become pulling it tight. Check your tippet often for nicks that can cause breaks and replace it if one is detected. There’s nothing worse than breaking off a big fish. During the fight try and stay downstream of the fish so that it is fighting the current as well as the rod. This also generally pulling the hook into the fish, as opposed to the fish hanging below you and you pulling the hook away from the fish. Use a net! Buy a net with a rubber basket and buy one that will handle the largest fish you might catch. I use a net with a 18″ hoop and a handle that is 14″ long. Yes, they are a bit much carrying it around while wading, but it allows you more reach and more room of error when getting the fish into the net. If you are going to fish from a boat then buy a Boat Net, with an even bigger hoop and longer handle. Always…. ALWAYS…. wet your hands before trying to do anything with the fish. Once netted, leave the fish in the water to remove the hook. Barbless hooks help with the quick removal (sometimes they will just fall out once the tension in the line is released) and Hemostats will also help. If the hook is deep in it’s throat, especially the base of the gill structure, just cut the tippet instead of removing it. Flys are cheaper than the fish you just caught. If you want a picture, use the technique described in the video, grab the base of the tail with one hand and cradle the upper part of the fish under it’s peck fins. Get the camera ready before you lift the fish from the water. This should take no more than 5 seconds or if you’re doing it right!!! Place the fish back in the net submerged totally in the water, then if it can remain upright, just dip the rim of the net below the surface and let it swim out (sometimes you have to turn the net upside down, under water to get them to swim out). If the fish is disoriented and can not remain upright on it’s own, again grab it’s tail like descibed above and cradle it below the peck fins. If there is current, point it’s head into the current, you don’t need to move the fish back and forth (Gills are designed for the water to flow in only one direction and water moving from the backside to the front can actually damage them) If in still water move the fish forward , as if it were swimming, to increase the water flow across the gills. when the fish can remain upright on it’s own, let it swim out of your hands. Do all of this and you’ve done the best anyone can do to insure the survival of the fish.
Never…. Never…. NEVER….
Lay a fish on a dry bank for any reason. This is the worst thing you can do if you plan to release the fish and expect it to live for any length of time !!!!Remember, everything you do right makes a difference and increases the chances this fish you just caught will live and thrill another fisherman sometime in the future.
Jimbo
