Wade · Best fit82/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
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Fly fishing report · Southwest
Guadalupe River
A Guadalupe River report for the Canyon Dam tailrace and Sattler area, with trout-zone rules, flow checks, fly tactics, and access cautions.
Check flow & weatherToday's fishing decisionMost live data available
82
Go now
Guadalupe River looks fishable right now.
The NWS forecast is near 96F. Fish early and verify water temperature where trout stress is possible.
Best supported approachWade
Watch nextHeat: The NWS forecast is near 96F. Fish early and verify water temperature where trout stress is possible.
Updated Aug 3, 12:57 AM UTCUsually refreshes about every 45 minutes
Best supported approachWade
Compare wading, bank fishing, and floating before choosing how you will fish.
Bank / edge82/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
Float82/100
A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.
Check before you drive
Current flow and weather.
Look at whether the river is rising or falling, then check wind, rain, and storms. These can change both safety and fishing.
Loading current flow and weather.
Before you rely on this report
How current is this report?
Conditions can change quickly. Check these dates before you decide to fish, and open the official source when safety or rules matter.
- River conditions
- Checked Aug 2, 2026, 8:57 PM
- Fishing guidance
- Reviewed Jun 1, 2026
- Public access
- No reviewed map pin available
- Rules and closures
- Official rule links checked
High confidence in the current score inputs.
6 sources are listed below for you to open.
3 public access records are listed. Private spots are never shown.
Source checked Jul 30, 2026
Plan your access
Know where you can enter.
These are public parking, launch, trail, or recreation areas—not secret fishing spots. We never show an angler's private pins, notes, or photos here.
- 0
- Shown on map
- 3
- No map pin
Location checkedDescription only
01No map pin
Area description
Canyon Dam tailrace
Core trout-zone planning area; verify current access and rules.
Restrictions and seasonal notes
TPWD trout-zone rules are reach-specific; read the current wording before fishing.
Leased access, resort access, and camp access can change by season.
02No map pin
Roadside access
Sattler and River Road corridor
Useful orientation, but many banks are private or access-controlled.
Restrictions and seasonal notes
TPWD trout-zone rules are reach-specific; read the current wording before fishing.
Leased access, resort access, and camp access can change by season.
03No map pin
Area description
New Braunfels downstream context
More warmwater and recreation influence as the river moves downstream.
Restrictions and seasonal notes
TPWD trout-zone rules are reach-specific; read the current wording before fishing.
Leased access, resort access, and camp access can change by season.
How to fish it
Start with the trout zones and Sattler flow.
The Guadalupe is Texas' standout tailwater trout page, but the useful scope is below Canyon Dam through the special trout zones. Regulations, access, and flows decide the plan before fly choice.
- Check TPWD Zone 1 and Zone 2 rules before fishing the tailrace.
- Use USGS Sattler flow as the main live condition check for the report.
- Midges, scuds, small nymphs, and streamers matter for trout; poppers and baitfish matter in warmwater windows.
- Do not assume every resort, camp, or bank is open to public fishing.
Why the score looks this way
HeatUse caution
The NWS forecast is near 96F. Fish early and verify water temperature where trout stress is possible.
FlowHelps score
USGS shows 255 cfs with a stable over about 6 hours trend. Today's flow is within the normal seasonal range of 65 cfs to 402 cfs. Weather, water temperature, and access are the next checks.
SeasonHelps score
Summer: Focus on warmwater species, early starts, and heat-aware fish handling.
Public alertsHelps score
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Fishing usefulnessHelps score
Skip trout-focused fishing when the trout-zone rules are unclear, water temperature is stressful, access is not confirmed, tuber traffic makes handling poor, or flow changes make wading unsafe.
Read the water
What changes the plan.
The Guadalupe is best when flows are safe, access is confirmed, and trout-zone rules are clear. In warmer seasons, shift expectations toward early starts, careful fish handling, and warmwater tactics.
Low clear flow
Use small nymphs, midges, scuds, and longer leaders in trout water.
Moderate flow
Cover seams and shelves with indicator nymphs or light streamers where legal.
Warm water
Use a thermometer and shift away from catch-and-release trout stress.
Busy recreation days
Fish early, pick quieter access, and expect tubes or boats in season.
Your trip plan
Know when to go—and when to skip it.
Best flows
Use USGS 08167800 at Sattler as the primary live flow signal. Stable, fishable releases support nymphing and light streamer work; very low, warm, or crowded conditions should shift expectations toward short sessions or warmwater targets.
When to skip
Skip trout-focused fishing when the trout-zone rules are unclear, water temperature is stressful, access is not confirmed, tuber traffic makes handling poor, or flow changes make wading unsafe.
Local plan
Start with TPWD trout-zone rules and stocking context, then check Sattler flow, weather, and the exact access you plan to use. Carry small tailwater flies, a thermometer, and a warmwater backup rig.
Backup water
If the Guadalupe is too warm, crowded, off-color, or access-limited, compare the Colorado River below Austin, San Marcos River, or Medina River for a warmwater fly plan.
Hatches & flies
Bring a flexible box.
TimingWhat to watchUseful flies
December to FebruaryStocked trout, midges, tiny nymphs, scuds, and clear tailwater driftsZebra midge, scud, pheasant tail, small egg, micro bugger
Fly pattern · report suggests “Zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it ↗
Fly family · report suggests “scud”Scud Fly PatternsScud patterns typically use a curved hook, tapered dubbed body, shellback, rib segmentation, antennae, and brushed legs. Olive, tan, gray, orange, weighted, bead-body, and pregnant forms remain labeled—not aliases for one recipe.See family guide ↗+ 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box March to MayMidges, caddis, small mayflies, warmwater baitfish, and bass activityMidge pupa, caddis pupa, BWO emerger, small streamer, crayfish
Fly family · report suggests “Midge pupa”Midge Patterns by StageMidge wording can mean a threadlike larva, wing-padded pupa, film emerger, tiny adult, or visible cluster. Those profiles fish at different depths.See family guide ↗
Fly family · report suggests “caddis pupa”Caddis Pupa PatternsCaddis pupa is a life-stage family. Curved bodies, wing pads, legs, beads, and soft-hackle collars differ among exact patterns and must be labeled.See family guide ↗+ 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box June to SeptemberWarmwater forage, terrestrials, baitfish, and shaded bass waterPopper, slider, baitfish streamer, crawfish, foam hopper
Fly family · report suggests “Popper”Bass and Panfish Popper PatternsPoppers may use cupped foam, cork, balsa, deer hair, or pencil-shaped heads. Head face, size, buoyancy, tail, legs, and weed guard determine sound and action; a generic popper label does not identify one fly.See family guide ↗
Fly family · report suggests “slider”Warmwater Slider and Diver PatternsA slider has a tapered, flat, or softly shaped head that glides or pushes a small wake with limited noise. A diver has an angled, collared, folded, or otherwise shaped head that pulls below the surface when stripped and rises on the pause. Frog, baitfish, and large-insect profiles can be tied on either idea, so the exact head action, buoyancy, hook orientation, weed guard, and material must stay named.See family guide ↗+ 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box October to NovemberCooling water, early trout planning, baitfish, and low-light streamer windowsOlive bugger, scud, midge, baitfish streamer, soft hackle
Fly pattern · report suggests “Olive bugger”Woolly BuggerThe shared pattern language is a marabou tail, chenille or dubbed body, and palmered hackle. Bead heads, dumbbell eyes, flash, rubber tails, colors, and body materials materially change the tied variation and must be labeled.See photos & how to fish it ↗Fly family · report suggests “scud”Scud Fly PatternsScud patterns typically use a curved hook, tapered dubbed body, shellback, rib segmentation, antennae, and brushed legs. Olive, tan, gray, orange, weighted, bead-body, and pregnant forms remain labeled—not aliases for one recipe.See family guide ↗+ 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box 01
Fish small nymphs and midges first in clear trout-zone water.
02
Use small streamers only where legal and where fish can be handled quickly.
03
For bass, work poppers early and baitfish or crayfish patterns around shade and current edges.
04
Confirm leased access or park access before promising yourself a wade plan.
05
Watch water temperature and switch targets if trout handling becomes risky.
Rules & closures
Check the official rules before you go.
Open the agency page to confirm the exact river section, species, season, tackle rules, limits, and emergency closures.
Official links checkedRules for this river or sectionNo special rule found
We did not find a special rule for this river.
We checked the state source but did not find a clearly supported exception for this river. Check the official rules for the exact section you plan to fish.
Rules checkedJul 30, 2026
Report a correction ↗Always follow the official rule
This summary helps with trip planning. The linked agency rule is the one you must follow.
Updates from anglers
What anglers are seeing.
Recent observations from general areas of Guadalupe River. We review every update before it appears and never publish exact fishing spots, private access details, or photo locations.
Angler updates are not loading right now.
You can still use the river plan above. Check back later for recent observations from other anglers.
Where this report comes from
Open the sources we checked.
Fishing guidance checked: Jun 1, 2026
Site check: Jul 14, 2026. We regularly test report links, live scores, flow and weather data, and page loading. The content date changes only when the fishing guidance or its sources change.
Common questions
Before you leave.
What should I check first before fishing Guadalupe River?+
Check TPWD trout-zone rules, USGS Sattler flow, stocking updates, access, weather, and water temperature.
Where should a first-time visitor start on Guadalupe River?+
Start with the Canyon Dam tailrace and Sattler area, then confirm the access you plan to use.
Can I wade Guadalupe River?+
Yes in some places at safe flows, but access and limestone footing are real constraints.
What flies should I bring for Guadalupe River?+
Bring the seasonal fly box, then adjust size, weight, and color to the water level, clarity, temperature, and fishing pressure you find.