Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) said it will begin stocking thousands of easy-to-catch rainbow trout Tuesday in ponds, lakes, and rivers across the state.
Specialized trailers will release 18,471 fish into Canyon Tailrace, the section of the Guadalupe River directly below Canyon Dam, which releases cold water favored by rainbow trout.
Stocking dates are: Dec. 5; Dec. 12; Dec. 19; Dec. 22,, Jan. 2 2026; Jan. 9, 2026; Jan. 16, 2026; Jan. 22, 2026; Jan. 29, 2026 and Feb. 28, 2026.
Rainbow trout cannot survive in most areas of Texas after winter due to warm water temperatures.
The tailrace is the southernmost trout fishery in the country, according to Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited.
TPWD plans to stock 335,048 rainbow trout throughout Texas from Nov. 25 through March 6, 2026.
The fingerling sportfish were reared at TPWD’s A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery in San Marcos.
Anglers are encouraged to keep up to their daily bag limit of five trout.
Exceptions exist within special trout-management zones on the Guadalupe River downstream of Canyon Lake, which often remains cool enough for rainbow trout to survive year-round.
Those zones are:
- Trout Zone 1 – 800 yards downstream from Canyon Dam release downstream to the east bridge on FM 306. For rainbow and brown trout, length limit is a 12-18 inch slot. Trout 12 inches and less or 18 inches or greater in length may be retained. Daily bag = 5 trout and only one trout 18 inches or longer may be retained. Harvest of trout is by artificial lures only. Click here for special restrictions on lures in this area.
- Trout Zone 2 – From east FM 306 bridge crossing downstream to 2nd crossing on River Road. For rainbow and brown trout, the minimum length is 18 inches, and the daily bag limit is one fish. Harvest of trout is by artificial lures only. Click here to see special restrictions on lures in this area.