From state parks to river crossings, the Hill Country offers some of the best fishing with breathtaking views. This area of Texas rises at the Balcones Escarpment and spreads west across the Edwards Plateau. It has an abundance of rivers, streams and creeks, as well as natural and man-made lakes. Fishing conditions are close to perfect all year, so anglers have plenty of opportunities to catch the limit from these beautiful lakes and waterways. Here are just a few of our favorite fishing spots and don’t forget some tips for catching bullhead catfish.
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7 Amazing Fishing Spots in the Beauty of the Hill Country
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7. Cypress Creek in Wimberley, TX
Photo by Facebook:Cathy Rahn Berryhill
This spring-fed creek starts at Jacob’s Well and empties into the Blanco River in Wimberley. Most of the creek is private, with small public sections in town. You can access a public section through the town square park. The Lodge at Cypress Falls is considered the best place to fish the creek, but this section is private and charges a fee to fish. It is home to numerous species of fish, but careless anglers can easily spook the fish in the creek’s crystal clear water.
6. Sabinal River, from Lost Maples State Natural Area to the town of Sabinal
Photo by Facebook/EMarie Bowman
The Sabinal River is a small stream, which can be accessed through Vanderpool and Utopia, but the area from Lost Maples State Natural Area to the small town of Sabinal offers the best fishing. It has large populations of largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, and sunfish.
5. San Saba River, accessible spots in Menard County
Photo by Facebook/Presidio de San Saba
The San Saba River, near Menard, Texas, is about as close to a wilderness fishing adventure as one can get in the Lone Star State. A four to five mile float on the San Saba can take eight to ten hours. This terrain is a transition zone from the Hill Country to the south and the Panhandle to the north. The San Saba is a slow moving river with deep pools and undercut banks. Pecan and oak trees line the shoreline with thick vegetation. Most of the accessible sections of the river are in Menard County.
4. Blanco River, flowing through Blanco State Park
Photo by Facebook/Blanco State Park – Texas Parks and Wildlife
The Blanco River is 87 miles long and flows from the springs in Kendall county through the Hill Country and empties into the San Marcos River. The river has 21 named feeder creeks flowing into it, but the best fishing can be found in Blanco State Park. It is home to Guadalupe bass, smallmouth bass, Hill Country hybrid bass, sunfish and catfish. Anglers can also find stocked freshwater trout during winter months. It’s a must-visit on any list of Texas fishing spots.
3. Guadalupe River, below Canyon Lake Dam
Photo by Facebook/Guadalupe River State Park – Texas Parks & Wildlife
The Texas Parks and Wildlife stocks the Guadalupe with freshwater trout year round and with rainbow and brown trout every fall and winter below Canyon Lake Dam. The Guadalupe is also home to Rio Grande perch and Guadalupe bass, which are native to the Hill Country. The river bottom is limestone and cobble as with most hill country streams, and at river flows of 300 cfs or less, the river is suitable for wading. Free public fishing access is available year-round at Guadalupe Park just below the dam. Stocked trout feed on caddis, midge and mayfly hatches, and nymphs and streamers are the most effective flies.
2. Llano River, flowing through the South Llano River State Park
Photo by Facebook/South Llano River Canoes & Kayaks
Anglers will find an abundance of fishing spots in the North and South Llano Rivers, especially the South Llano River State Park. You can fish from a kayak, sit on the river bank, or wade into the river and go fly fishing. The river offers a variety of fish, including largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, perch, channel catfish and yellow catfish.
1. Pedernales River, flowing through Pedernales Falls State Park
Photo by tpwd.texas.gov
The Pedernales River is a 106-mile long tributary of the Colorado River originating from springs in Kimble County and flowing east to Lake Travis. It is named after the flint rock found along the waterway and has limestone escarpments and 23 feeder creeks. The state park offers five miles of river filled with largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, as well as several species of sunfish and catfish.
Don’t let a big catch get away! Be sure to visit one of these great Texas fishing spots.
