Lone Star Fly Fishing
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I’ve seen quite a bit of egregious poaching going on this year. People keeping fish with bait, in the slot, or way too many. Some got caught, some got away.
One guy in particular I named “the wicker basket guy.” Saw him 3x at the steps across the from Maricopa under the bridge loading up a wicker basket hidden down in the water with Trout caught on bait. Would catch a fish, throw it in basket, bait his hook and repeat. First time, I saw him from a distance in my raft and immediately texted all 4 game wardens. Said they were 30min out but heading that way. I didn’t say a word to him. We went about our business caught some fish. About 5min after he saw my boat, he packed up and left in a hurry. When he lifted basket out of the water he dropped it on steps and many trout flopped out. He scooped em up and took off. I rowed over to the bank walked up ramp, saw him get in truck at Maricopa and leave. Gave wardens description but they never caught up with him.
A few days later I was coming down above Maricopa as I always do on my trips. I was up by the chute a couple hundred yards upriver and noticed 2 guys fishing on those steps by the bridge. Sure enough it’s wicker basket guy and a buddy poaching fish with bait. Again I immediately text game wardens. They said they were en route. This time I didn’t take any chances as he seemed to know what he was doing, why else hide a basket down in the water instead of a stringer or cooler unless you know you’re breaking the law? Stayed a ways upriver hoping he wouldn’t think anything was up. Guess he noticed my boat and took off after a few minutes. Got away again.
Didn’t see him for a couple weeks but this past Sunday I was coming down above Maricopa as I always do. Low and behold it’s wicker basket guy back at it again, this time with his family. I immediately text Game Wardens, said they were en route. I wasn’t taking any chances so stayed way upriver so he didn’t spook again. He hung around longer than usual but sure enough, he noticed my boat and started packing his gear up. I told the wardens he was getting ready to leave again and they said they were 5min out. His family slowed him down a little but they started walking back towards Maricopa so I discretely walked up to see which direction he went. As he pulled out, it was looking like he was going to get away again. Told the Game Wardens he was heading east on 306 and I went back down to my boat bummed. But the third times a charm! Apparently he pulled into the gas station close by and the wardens were able to stop him. Hopefully stocker Trout that don’t taste very good at $150 a pound (or whatever the fine is) might deter him in the future. The fish were confiscated but you get my point. Maybe not wicker basket guy but I love a happy ending lol
Recently another angler and GRTU member told me he saw a guy poaching fish with bait at the Patio Hole, including a nice holdover Brown on a stringer. He called a warden but the guy took off got away and they never caught up with him. I recommend TEXTING the wardens, as it says on GRTU card. Some people are just ignorant don’t know the the law, still no excuse but I’ve seen some who definitely know what they’re doing. Getting on your phone to call could spook em. The wardens respond quickly to text. I have their numbers saved in my phone to make it faster but I’m also on the water just about everyday this time of year. Don’t confront poachers either, once a Trout is thrown on a stringer it’s too late for the fish anyways. Better for them to get caught and learn the hard way.
I obviously prefer fly fishing for Trout but it’s not up to us to tell people how they should fish. If someone wants to spin fish, more power to them. Just respect the resource. Pinch barbs and put a single hook on lure. I do think bait is a big problem as most Trout swallow it deep and are likely going to die anyways. Would be hard to have it outlawed completely as this is Texas and the fact that you can’t keep em with bait is pretty good. If someone insists on keeping stocker Trout that taste like crap, intended as a sport fish for all anglers to enjoy, better make damn sure they know the regs when I roll by or game wardens will be contacted immediately and I’m out there almost every day. I appreciate the work our Game Wardens do to help protect our river.
Tight lines
Yes sir no problem, hope the same and the long range forecast looks promising. Will keep our fingers crossed
Alex – flows dropped to 110 at beginning of month Tues Oct 1st before I started Trout fishing again but no change at all between Fri and Sun, they’ve been constant at 110 the entire month. I don’t know why GRTU website still shows 153. http://www.gbra.org has correct info. Any changes in flow are announced on their website as well and you can see nothing has changed since 10/1. I agree water temps have been safe to fish in the 60s down through #5 especially before noon or throughout the day on cooler days like we had this past weekend, I can confirm the numbers you got Sunday.
Surprised nobody has brought this up here yet.
“Canyon Reservoir Advisory October 10, 2019
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) will reduce the water release rate from Canyon Reservoir Monday, October 21, due to continued low inflows into Canyon Lake. As current conditions persist, releases from Canyon Dam will be approximately ~60 cubic feet per second (cfs).
Over the past 45 days, inflows upstream of Canyon Reservoir have averaged less than 90 cfs which limits the releases from Canyon Reservoir to that equal to the inflow. Any variations to flows are made in response to rainfall, changes to inflows, or to meet downstream water supply commitments.”At least they are waiting a little bit. Hopefully we have more sustained cooler weather by then and no 90deg days. Trout in upper parts of the river should be ok but not good downriver if we have warmer weather when they drop flows.
Right on, might get some different readings with that but could also be accurate if you took temps later in the day, not sure
Interesting, I’ve been getting lower readings than that but only been out in AM hours. Was it in the afternoon or evening? No GRTU leases in upper 2 miles of river. No public access other than right below dam. Uppermost GRTU lease is Maricopa around the ~3 mile mark. You float it or took temps at the dam? Around Maricopa?
I was out floating Monday (yesterday) with the cool front that came through, water temps I got were in mid 60s 1 mile below dam rising to high 60s at 4th crossing ~5.5 miles below dam when we stopped fishing around noon. Still warm days coming in forecast and water has been warming up to near or above 70 deg as day progresses. I know you were Striper fishing which is always fine but for others who may see post, still need to be careful when Trout fishing.
The 70deg rule applies to fishing for Trout as they can die from stress in 70+ deg water. You are correct that there’s some great fishing for species other than Trout in The Guad and 70deg rule wouldn’t apply to them. That being said, I know of people “targeting other species” accidentally catching Trout in warm water so I recommend using good judgement on where you decide to fish, i.e don’t throw streamer Trout would eat where you know there’s Trout if water is above 70deg. I’ve found Stripers prefer big flies Trout usually won’t eat in The Guad but have also caught them on smaller stuff as well so use your best judgment.
Water temp info is available under “flow” tab of main GRTU website. Graph isn’t correct but you can click on individual monitors for respective distances below dam. If you plan on fishing shoulder seasons or Summer on Guad would be good idea to get a water thermometer. Fishpond makes one I have for $20.
I assume it applies towards 3 strike rule but can’t say for sure.
