The Herald-Zeitung

Welcome to another week of Anglin’ with Austin. All the rain dances are paying off and October is answering big time.

There is nothing more satisfying than to see the Upper Guadalupe river running strong. River flow above Canyon Lake is around 750 cubic feet per second compared to the water coming out of the dam at Sattler at 92 cubic feet per second. Canyon Lake is only down 12.48 feet and filling faster than the water can be sold out of it. Let's hope that Victoria calls and begs us to shut the gates.

Fly fishing tips

Fly fishing is not my forte or area of expertise, but I want to pass on some things I learned from a fellow guide and local businessman, Chris Jackson, who is the owner of Action Angler Outdoor Center in New Braunfels.

Chris and his clients fish the Guadalupe, targeting trout and other game fish using fly fishing equipment. He is also an avid supporter of trout reclamation in the Guadalupe.

Trout have adapted well to the Guadalupe River, but I find myself in a thoughtful pickle here. I would love to see the gates shut on the dam to improve fishing in Canyon Lake, but this would hurt the flow going to the trout in the Guadalupe. Ok, I've thought it through and I'll compromise. We can have the gates open a little bit for the trout to carry on. Even in one of our worst drought years the flow from the dam has kept the trout alive below the dam.

We live in one of the finest areas for warm water fly fishing in the country. This is one of the few areas that trout have actually lived beyond expectations. Due to the chilly, 60-degree water temperatures being released from the lower levels of Canyon Lake, the fish have adapted and managed to reproduce. Both Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) and the Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited stock rainbow trout in the river on an annual basis. TPWD's annual support of trout and fly fishing can be increased as more of us learn the ins and outs of fly fishing.

Inexpensive hobby

Basic fly fishing outfitting can be very inexpensive. You'll need a rod, a reel, backing, flyline, leader, tippet material, and flies. If you are a rookie to fly fishing, a good 5 to 6- weight rod will work and can also be used for bass and panfish. As you become more proficient, you'll want to add a different weight rod for the different types of fish you are after.

Fly fishing reels are mainly used to store line, not to reel in a fish. Most of the fish you catch will basically be pulled in by taking the slack out of the line.

I recommend visiting a fly fishing shop to rig up the best fit for your style. They'll recommend the leader and tippet material for the rod and reel that works best for your own personal style.

A nice thing about fly fishing is that you will truly experience the beauty of fishing. There's nothing pretty about throwing a 3-ounce weight 100 yards with a baitcaster, but there is something beautiful about a well-run fly rod over a beautiful river like our Guadalupe.

If you've seen the movie, “A River Runs Through It”, you know what I mean.

“My favorite fishing spots are anywhere below Canyon Dam to I-35,” Jackson said. “I target deep runs below rapids. If it's dark green moving water, I fish it. There are a good amount of holdover trout that were able to find a comfort zone through the record-breaking heat and low flows over the summer. I've been able to catch close to a dozen from floating the river about six miles. So, I wouldn't say they have a high survival rate, but given the chance to survive, they will. Not all the trout stocked can find a comfort zone, or if they do, it may already be full of other trout and have to keep searching.

“The hazards the trout face are, humans, fire ants, low flow/high water temps, striped bass, preying birds, and other fish species (like carp and suckers) that eat their eggs when they spawn. Practicing catch and release greatly improves the survival of trout. If the state decides to extend the trout protection zone up to the dam (like every other state has), it would also improve the trout survival rate.”

The fourth annual Action Angler fly fishing event will be held on Dec. 5. Visit www.actionangler.net for more information.

Fishing Report

Canyon Lake — Largemouth bass reported slow this week, smallmouth bass slow, white bass fair on live minnows and spoons, stripers slow, crappie good on live minnows around timber. Blue catfish good on punch bait, channel catfish good on punch bait, yellow catfish slow.

Lake Dunlap — Largemouth bass good on Stanley Sidewinder (senko) and trick worms and 9⁄16 jig, crappie report slow, blue catfish good on liver and cheesebait, channel catfish slow and yellow catfish slow

Lake Placid — Largemouth bass slow, crappie good on live minnows and jigs around docks, blue catfish slow, channel catfish good on chicken liver and punchbait. Yellow catfish slow.

Tip of the week

Bilge pumps are great pieces of equipment to have in the boat.

I have two for good reason. I always have a backup on hand if the first one goes out. Have it pre-wired to hook directly up to the battery in case of an emergency (you never know when you are going to need a second one running simultaneously). Be sure to include enough wire to reach the battery from any point on the boat.

Be safe this weekend and keep an eye out for little monsters lurking in unexpected places.