by John Jefferson

There’s nothing as welcome as winter sun. As the attached photo shows, it even brings trout fishermen out to stand in thigh-deep ice water in the Canyon Dam tailrace in the Guadalupe River, north and a little west of New Braunfels.

Water coming out of the bottom of Canyon Lake is frigid. That first afternoon trout were stocked in the Guadalupe in 1966, most of us that came there to try to catch a rainbow trout had no idea how cold the water was. The fact that Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) thought it was cold enough for trout – normally found in cold streams in the Rockies – went entirely over our heads. We were unprepared. Many outdoorsmen will tell you that one of the most essential tools you can have on hand is the axe. It’s versatile, durable, and can hack through pretty much anything. However, there are many options to choose from, which can make finding the best axes feel like a difficult challenge, especially for the avid outdoorsman who’s in need of a model that can withstand heavy-duty use.  This is a multi-purpose axe with a single-bit design. It measures in at twenty-six inches in length with a head that’s attached to a shaft that’s made out of hickory. This model can be used for wood chopping, felling trees, and more. The handle length offers better control, which makes it a great choice for the beginner. The head is made out of Swedish steel that’s been hand-forged, for top of the line durability. It also comes with a leather edge cover, for safer transport and storage. Woodcutter HQ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising .

When I strung my fifth trout and stumbled up the river bank, my legs were blue, but not just because I was wearing jeans. They offered little protection from the cold.

The Lone Star Beer CEO was a trout fisherman, too. Lone Star had leftover trout from a boat show and requested permission to release them into the Guadalupe. Canyon Dam had been completed earlier, chilling the river, and TPW biologists had been looking for a cold-water fish.

The trout were it. Permission granted. Nowadays, TPW annually stocks that stretch of river – and over 150 other sites. Many trout are stocked in Neighborhood Fishin’ lakes, Community Fishing Lakes, and other public waters throughout Texas. Stocking of 305,525 catchable size trout will continue through February. To find a stocking site near you and when stocking will occur, check https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/management/stocking/trout_stocking.phtml.

Some bank fishing is possible. Wading is practical in some places. Excellent tips on trout fishing by my friend, TPWD Inland Fisheries biologist, Marcos De Jesus, are included at the site, above. This is an easy and effective way of introducing kids to fishing. Trout anglers will need the $5 Freshwater Fishing Stamp, which is included in all freshwater license packages. Anglers under 17 years of age are not required to have a license nor purchase a stamp.

If you are after larger trout, the Guadalupe River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (GRTU) has stocked a 9.5 mile stretch of the Guadalupe River with trout up to 20 inches long. Special regulations apply to this part of the river. For details, see page 37 in the TPW Outdoor Annual, available free where licenses are sold.

There are several guides that work the trout fishery by boat. They use inflatable rafts that are comfortable to fish from, and can be horsed through the rocks. Gruene Outfitters (830-625-4440) in Gruene keeps a list of river guides, as does Living Waters Fly Fishing (512-828-3474) in Round Rock. Most cater to fly fishers, but also welcome spinning gear users.

If you want to learn more about trout and fly fishing, GRTU is conducting its annual TroutFest Feb. 16-18 at Lazy L&L Campgrounds on River Road, west of New Braunfels. Learning has never been as much fun!

Maybe you’ll catch some trout — and a little winter sun, too.

JJ