TPWD Posts Annual Trout-Stocking Schedule, 20,331 Rainbow Trout Headed to Canyon Tailrace

The suspense ended this week after Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) posted the annual rainbow trout-stocking schedule to its website.

Some 20,331 eight- to 11-inch rainbow trout will be stocked in the Guadalupe River ‘tailrace’ below Canyon Lake Dam on Dec. 3, Dec. 10, Dec. 17, Dec. 22, Dec. 30, Jan. 7, 2022, Jan. 14, 2022, Jan. 21, 2022, Jan. 28, 2022, and Feb. 27, 2022.

TPWD will stock 1,500 rainbow trout at Guadalupe River State Park on Jan. 8, 910 trout in New Braunfels’ Fischer Park Pond 1 on Dec. 12, and 200 at the Lazy L and L Campground in New Braunfels on Feb. 18, 2022.

“TPWD stocks catchable-sized fish during winter months to create angling opportunities throughout Texas,” said TPWD’s rainbow trout Program Director Carl Kittel. Rainbow trout love cold water, can be caught on a variety of baits and lures (worms, commercially available pastes, corn, spinners, spoons, flies and more), and are great to take home and eat. Our winter rainbow trout program has been a favorite with anglers for over forty years.”

TPWD plans to stock a total of 352,563 rainbow trout in Texas from Nov. 24 through Mar. 6, 2022. Because rainbow trout are unable to survive in Texas after the winter, anglers are encouraged to keep up to their daily bag limit of five trout. Rainbow trout are an attractive, tasty fish and anglers can easily find recipes to prepare these fish online.

December through March is rainbow trout season along the Guadalupe.

Dates and locations of fish-stocking are subject to change. Most trout stocking occurs between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Exact times are unavailable. Total quantity is distributed over the scheduled stock dates.

TPWD will stock 352,563 rainbow trout in approximately 200 Texas waterways. For a complete list, click here. Want to see what trout-stocking looks like? Click here to see a 2020 video.

According to this map on TPWD’s website, fish will be stocked at Guadalupe Park, Whitewater Camp, 4th Crossing, 3rd Crossing and at  Camp Huaco Springs.

Many camps and resorts in this area offer river access to paying guests. Free public fishing access is provided year-round at Guadalupe Park, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Camp Huaco Springs.

Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited’s 2021-2022 lease access program for members is sold out.

Click here for how-to tips on trout fishing. To review TPWD’s winter trout-stocking program angling tips, click here.

Harvest Regulations

Anglers who are fishing at leased areas have free access to the river from 30 minutes before daylight until 30 minutes after dusk. They may use the properties for bank fishing and to launch non-motorized watercraft such as rafts, kayaks and canoes for the purpose of fishing.

There is no minimum length limit, daily bag = five trout. An angler fishing from a dock, pier or jetty within a Texas state park may use no more than two poles.

Trout anglers will need a valid fishing license that includes a freshwater fishing endorsement. Anglers under 17 years of age are not required to have a license.

Special Limits on Parts of Guadalupe River

Two sections of the river are subject to special harvest regulations on rainbow and brown trout. All trout in these areas must be caught on artificial lures and the following bag and size limits are in effect:

• Beginning 800 yards downstream from the Canyon Dam release gate and extending to the easternmost bridge on FM 306, there is a 12- to 18-inch slot limit. Trout 12 inches and under or 18 inches and longer may be retained. Daily bag limit is five trout, and only one can be 18 inches or longer.
• From the easternmost bridge on FM 306 downstream to the second bridge-crossing on River Road, there is an 18-inch minimum size limit, and a one-trout-daily bag.