It’s time again for rainbow trout fishing across Texas. The State is stocking thousands of easy-to-catch, tasty rainbow trout in 185 ponds, lakes and rivers across the state.

There is stocking of rainbow trout below several dams and spillways, which often have very cool water and provide excellent conditions for trout fishing. This year, rainbow trout will be stocked into the Canyon Tailrace on the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake and the Possum Kingdom Tailrace on the Brazos River below Possum Kingdom Lake.

Any age or skill level can enjoy the thrill of fishing for rainbows. Rainbow trout can be caught on a variety of baits and lures. Depending on an angler’s experience level and interest, they can be caught using simple, light tackle or on hand-tied flies using a fly rod. Other tips to consider when trout fishing include arriving early to stocking sites on stocking days, maintaining a safe and courteous distance from fellow anglers, keeping an array of baits and lures nearby and having ice available when harvesting trout to keep fish fresh.

Cheese, kernel corn, nightcrawlers, red wigglers, and meal worms make good trout baits. If you’d rather use a lure, try a small inline spinnerbait or a spoon.

Regulations
• No Minimum Length Limit; Daily Bag = 5 trout
• Special limits are in effect on parts of the Guadalupe River.

Fishing Licenses
• Adults: Buy yours online, by phone (800-895-4248), or at a retailer for as little as $11 for resident one-day, all-water fishing.
• Kids: No license is required for anglers under 17 years of age.
• Visitors of all ages can fish without a license within Texas State Parks.

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 found on many restaurant menus, and anglers can easily find recipes to prepare these fish online.