FISHING - TEXAS RAINBOW TROUT

THE RAINBOW TROUT IN TEXAS
By Jim Foster

When anyone speaks of trout along the Texas coast it is mostly assumed they are referring to the spotted saltwater variety. However in this case the trout is the freshwater variety - the rainbow trout.

Fifty years ago, Texas anglers had to travel out of state to find this colorful fish. Today, thanks to an active stocking program, trout provide a winter fishery for anglers of all ages.

Rainbow trout are not native to Texas. Evidence suggests West Texas streams once supported indigenous populations of cutthroat trout, but they haven’t been found in modern times.

McKittrick Canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park has a self-sustaining population of rainbow trout, but the area is closed to fishing.

In 1966, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) began stocking rainbow trout in the tailrace below Canyon Dam on the Guadalupe River This was the beginning of one of the state’s most popular programs.

Trout don’t do well in water warmer than 70°F and sadly there are few places in the state offering year-round habitat. The good news is there are many areas where trout can thrive during the winter months.

By 1984 the program had expanded to include several state park lakes. These stockings were a tremendous success, increasing park visitation and providing angling opportunity at a time when warm water species are less active.
Trout numbers increased from 10,000 in 1966 to more than 260,000 in 2004. Today, TPW stocks catchable-sized trout in approximately 100 locations each year. Stockings take place from December through March. Most fish are harvested before warmer weather arrives and water temperatures increase.

Trout stocked in Texas are purchased from commercial hatcheries and will not move far from the stocking site. This provides tremendous fishing success for two to three weeks after stocking. After that time, the remaining fish become crafty and better adapted to the waters, thus providing a real challenge for anglers.

In the Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam, the water tends to stay cool. Trout in this river have been known to survive the summer and grow to impressive sizes. This is still the best spot for trout anglers who seek a true river fishing experience.
In addition to providing a unique winter fishery in public water, trout are utilized to create accessible fishing opportunities for physically challenged and young anglers who may never have had a fishing experience due to limited access at traditional sites. Trout are stocked in accessible areas such as city swimming pools, and anglers with disabilities are invited to experience the thrill of catching a trout.

Trout anglers will get an extra bonus this year as the TPW will stock trout at an additional seven sites from February 22 to March 7. TPW has stocked nearly 275,000 trout at 115 sites so far this season.

Trout anglers must have a valid fishing license with a freshwater stamp endorsement, except for those persons exempt from sport fishing license requirements. Licenses and stamps are not required if fishing within the boundaries of a Texas State Park. The statewide daily bag limit is five trout, with no minimum length.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com