Headed for a weekend with the family at a rental in Gruene. I'm basically along for the ride, as I have done zero of the planning for this trip. All I know is that it's on the Guadalupe River just north of the Gristmill.

I'm not a fly fisherman at all. Just a country boy with tackle for largemouth fishing in ponds. Is there anything to catch in this river this time of year?

Any advice is appreciated. TIA

tsuag10 said:

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Headed for a weekend with the family at a rental in Gruene. I'm basically along for the ride, as I have done zero of the planning for this trip. All I know is that it's on the Guadalupe River just north of the Gristmill.

I'm not a fly fisherman at all. Just a country boy with tackle for largemouth fishing in ponds. Is there anything to catch in this river this time of year?

Any advice is appreciated. TIA

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There are plenty of bass in the Guadalupe. You should also consider renting a kayak/tube and doing some floating. That is a pretty stretch and it's really the best way to take it in. Also, I'm very jealous. Have fun!

Such a great spot. Gruene Hall and several other live venues nearby. I've never fished it, though. Just floated it! Have fun.

I've never fished that stretch in particular, but I fish the tubing hotspots at least once a year.

Normal bass gear works just fine. Don't even have to bother downsizing...just bass fish.

I catch a lot of fish on Bandit 100 series (small squarebill) in crawfish colors. I've caught dozens of trout in the trophy zones on bass gear too (those won't be where you're fishing. You'll be able to catch largemouth and guad/smallmouth mutts and every % of cross between the 2).

Thanks for the responses! I'm definitely bringing my tandem kayak and a bunch of tubes.

I will report back with my findings.

Wacky rig senkos are the way to go in clear water like the guad. I use 1, 1/0, and 2/0 VMC Neko partially weedless hooks and from 5-10 inch senko worms of all different colors. The worm brand doesn't matter too much but I use a lot of yamamoto senko, and googan lunker logs.

If you go with this rig you will slay bass this time of year. They are breeding and they are hammering everything that falls into beds.

If you are gonna try to get bows further upstream get you a shad looking 6 inch jerkbait and you will get monsters.

i love to fish with a small ugly stick and basically any rooster tail. I have caught fish literally right under peoples tubes this way. Found my first ugly stick stuck in the rapids at my parents place. It actually was a texagers who lost it. pretty small world.

I live on the Guadalupe about 1 mile north of Gruene and fish it weekly. Top lures are a 2" white grub, rooster tail, and small crawfish crank bait. Fish the eddies just below rock formations

OP After-Action Review:

We were about 500 yards up from the Gruene Rd bridge. There were small rapids about 100 yards down stream from us. Habitat looked perfect for bass, but the only thing that even nibbled was a 6 inch bluegill that wasn't big enough to take the bait. Could see plenty of minnows and small bluegill, but never saw a bass.

I was using a variety of road runners and rooster tails.

We had a lot of fun with the family, but some good fishing would have made it even better.

Oh well....

fwiw, if you get to choose, my favorite section to fish is from just above Ponderosa Crossing to 3nd crossing.

There's a neat pond formed where bear creek comes into the river now that can be accessed by kayak. Also, just past the next rapid from that, the outside bend of that next stretch is a favorite of youtube kayak fishermen who are coy about where they are fishing.

It's a not an overly popular tubing section since most of the outfitters either put you out near Gruene or closer to the horsehoe.

Yeah rooster tails catch a lot of longear perch and really tiny bass in clear water. I still stand by the wacky rig senko if you want to get the big bass to bite.

They have seen it all there and they need a very subtle presentation they don't see that often to take a lure. They hammer shiners on a small cork/plastic float too.

Lol. That was mine! I remember you posting about it, but I'd already bought a new one. Can confirm, small rod and reel and silver and black rooster tail will catch just about any type of fish there is. I've even caught gar and some sizable catfish on it!

The same trip that bbry found my gear, I caught a 2-3 pounder. It'll catch a lot of fish period, all sizes.

Also a cool story. Last year on a creek in Oklahoma, I hooked a perch, and as I was reeling it in a smallmouth started attacking it. I kept playing with the bass, until it wrapped itself in the line 2 feet from where I was standing. It just went to the bottom, only a few inches deep and stayed there. I thought, "well, let's see what happens". I cast back out after putting the perch on a stringer, and drug that rooster tail in front of the bass. Sure enough he hit it. And he was legal! Granted I didn't get much fight out of him. It was a short trip to the shore.

aggiegolfer03 said:

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fwiw, if you get to choose, my favorite section to fish is from just above Ponderosa Crossing to 3nd crossing.

There's a neat pond formed where bear creek comes into the river now that can be accessed by kayak. Also, just past the next rapid from that, the outside bend of that next stretch is a favorite of youtube kayak fishermen who are coy about where they are fishing.

It's a not an overly popular tubing section since most of the outfitters either put you out near Gruene or closer to the horsehoe.

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My buddy's parents house is just upriver from there. Biggest bass I've ever caught was in that bear creek pond. They put some boulders at the mouth trying to keep folks out but if the water is high enough, it's not a problem (just be aware if the water is down). Definitely a great stretch of river with some deeper water that can be slow for tubes but great for kayaks.

FIDO*98* said:

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I live on the Guadalupe about 1 mile north of Gruene and fish it weekly. Top lures are a 2" white grub, rooster tail, and small crawfish crank bait. Fish the eddies just below rock formations

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I betting you have some really good stories to tell.