Winter Rainbows Arc Across Texas

Annual Rainbow Trout Stockings Begin Dec. 3

by Tom Harvey, TPWD Staff

(Nov. 27, 2008 – Austin, TX)… For an inexpensive, entry-level fishing experience the entire family can enjoy, it doesn’t get much easier than winter rainbow trout fishing in Texas.

Beginning Dec. 3 and continuing until mid-March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will stock upwards of 260,000 hatchery-reared rainbow trout at 119 sites across the state. Many of the fish stockings will be conducted at small community fishing lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces offering easy angling access.

TPWD has been stocking rainbow trout each winter since the 1970s, providing Texans a simple and economical opportunity to go fishing.

Catching these hungry fish can be easy, making the experience ideal for both novice anglers and kids. The fish will bite almost immediately after stocking and typically will take a variety of baits, from whole kernel canned corn or commercial soft bait to artificial flies and even small spinner baits.

Fishing gear can be as basic as an inexpensive spincast rod and reel combo, a small plastic bobber, a fishing weight and a hook. It’s also a good idea to carry along a pair of needle-nosed pliers to help remove hooks, and a five gallon bucket, small ice chest or a fish stringer to keep your catch. Be sure to keep freshly caught trout cold on ice or refrigerated.

The complete 2008-2009 Rainbow Trout Stocking Schedule is on the TPWD Web site. Here anglers can find stocking locations, stocking dates and driving directions to each site. Many locations offer special events for youth prior to allowing the public to fish. Check with local parks and recreation departments or water authorities for additional information. Most sites get an annual dose of more than 1,000 trout.

Among the winter trout stocking sites are 13 Neighborhood Fishin’ locations in city suburbs across the state. These spots get trout stocked every two weeks in the winter, but catfish are also stocked there in the summer, making them year-round family fishing destinations. Details are on the Neighborhood Fishin’ Web page, which lists the urban area, lake or pond, driving directions, and a TPWD name and contact phone number for each site. Money donated to TPWD from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic is being used to support Neighborhood Fishin’.

Other popular fishing holes like the Guadalupe River below the Canyon Reservoir Dam, which includes the tailrace, also receive multiple stockings from December into March. As the only fishable place in Texas where rainbow trout can survive during the summer months, the Guadalupe River will get almost 17,000 trout stocked this winter.

One public access point along the Guadalupe River has been leased by TPWD specifically for trout fishing, Camp Hueco Springs. A map and directions to this site are on the TPWD Web site.

Anglers should note there are special harvest restrictions in place along a 10-mile stretch of the Guadalupe River below the tailrace. In this area, anglers may retain only one trout per day, which must be at least 18-inches in length, and any trout harvested must be caught on artificial lures.

For additional details about the special harvest regulations and the location of that river stretch, please consult the TPWD Outdoor Annual. The special regulations zone does not include the area immediately below Canyon Lake Dam. There, as in other Texas waters, the daily bag limit is five trout and there is no minimum length.

A valid Texas freshwater fishing package is required to fish for trout. Youth ages 16 and younger and all anglers fishing from the bank in state parks are exempt from the fishing package requirement.

Keys Ladies Fishing Seminar Features Celebrity Speakers, Dec. 5-7

by Betty Bauman

(Nov. 24, 2008 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL)… Registrations are still available for women to learn fishing skills from fly fishing guru Sandy Moret and other celebrity speakers at the 9th Annual “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”® seminar, Dec. 5-7 at Holiday Isle Beach Resorts and Marina, Islamorada, FL. This award-winning fishing seminar series for women, held in conjunction with the Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and presented by Mercury Outboards, kicks off with a welcome reception at Holiday Isle on Friday, Dec. 5 from 6 – 8pm. The seminar is at Holiday Isle on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 7:20am – 4:30pm. Attendees will be treated to a reception on Saturday night at the Keys to Life Studio of Art, hosted by artist Pasta Pantaleo. An optional, full day of fishing out of Whale Harbor is on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 7:00am – 3:30pm, followed by fillet demonstration.

The class session starts at 7:20am on Saturday where fishing techniques are taught at beginner and intermediate/advanced levels. Topics and respective speakers are Offshore/Capt. George Mittler, Bottom/Capt. Skip Bradeen, Inshore/Capt. Mark Johnson and Capt. Hank Brown, Basics/Capt. Lee Lavery and Fly Fishing/Sandy Moret. Moret is the eight-time grand champion of the Keys’ most prestigious fly tournaments and is often featured on the Walker’s Cay Chronicles, The Reel Guys and Andy Mill’s Sportsman’s Adventures. Capt. Skip Bradeen is the Florida Keys fishing expert on several radio stations. Capt. Hank Brown is the founder of Hookup Lures.

After lunch, the women will participate in several “hands-on” fishing stations, such as conservation techniques, spin casting, net casting, knot tying, gaffing grapefruits, boat handling, trailer backing, ballyhoo rigging and reeling against pressure, until 4:30pm. On Sunday the ladies go fishing, followed by fillet demonstration.

Featured on Inside Edition, NBC’s Nightly News and more, the series is partially supported by the FWC through the Sport Fish Restoration Program and by partners such as Mercury Outboards, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger, BoatU.S. ANGLER Insurance, Gulfstream Int’l Airlines, and Shimano. Other partners include Magic Tilt Trailers, Eagle Claw Hooks, Minn Kota and more.

Registration is $160, including instruction, use of equipment, meals, T-shirt, goody bag and more. The full-day fishing adventure from charter boats, with fishing tackle and bait provided, will range from $55 to $330 in addition. It’s best to reserve at least one week in advance at the latest to allow for securing a fishing spot. Contact: phone: (954) 475-9068; email: info@ladiesletsgofishing.com;