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All Texas reports
Pedernales River
Generated artwork: BlueStreamFly · Regional illustration; not the exact location.
Should I go fishing?
Go with caution.
No single best way to fish. Wading and Bank fishing have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Fishing rating63
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 4 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1939-2025, 87 readings) show a median near 23 cfs and the lower quartile near 5 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- TPWD says the Pedernales Falls State Park area is the main public-access anchor on this 39-mile reach, with only three road crossings across the broader section.
- Try
- Build the day around Pedernales Falls State Park or an obvious crossing rather than spending the morning trying to invent access.
- Leave when
- Skip when the river is rising, muddy from storms, too low and hot, the falls area is closed or unsafe, or public access cannot be confirmed.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 4.11 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.
- Air forecast
- 83°F
- Next 24h high
- 99.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 1%
This is an air forecast, not a river-temperature reading. Use a short early plan, carry water and sun protection, and leave when heat makes the outing unsafe.
Latest stored weather check
Partly Cloudy
- Wind
- 5 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Partly Cloudy
National Weather Service
Pedernales River near Johnson City, Texas
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Pedernales River
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Clouser Deep MinnowClouserView fly guide ↗
- Woolly BuggerbuggerView fly guide ↗
- Trout Streamer Patternsjig streamerView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
March-May
What to look forBaitfish movement, crawfish activity, and mixed spring insects
Flies to try
Also try small craw pattern, rubber-leg bug
June-August
What to look forTerrestrials, minnows, and dawn topwater windows
September-NovemberThis season
What to look forCrawfish and baitfish feeding windows in cooling water
Flies to try
Also try crayfish fly
Winter stable days
What to look forSparse insect activity with slower forage-driven feeding
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Pedernales River today.
The best Pedernales sessions come when the river has enough push to define seams across the limestone without turning the crossings into a flash-flood problem. If the gauge is spiking, the water is muddy, or park traffic is high, shorten the session and move to a simpler Texas backup.
Stable moderate flow
The best fit for wading selected runs, fishing seams off the limestone shelves, and covering enough water without forcing long hikes.
Slight rise
Often better than dead-low water because more channels connect and the current becomes easier to read, but only when the river still looks safe and clear.
Very low water
Shorten the day, target the strongest shade and slots, and accept that some broad famous-looking runs are just too thin to fish well.
Storm rise or muddy water
A strong skip signal because the park itself warns that the river can rise quickly and become dangerous within minutes.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Access choicesNo single best option
Wading and Bank fishing have the same top score. Use current access, footing, weather, and local rules to choose.
Wading63/100
Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
Bank fishing63/100
Bank and edge fishing remains a practical low-commitment option if access is legal and footing is safe.
FloatingNot recommended
This report does not recommend floating this reach.
Full river report
Is Pedernales River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Texas before you go.
The Pedernales is strongest when RiverReports and USGS 08153500 show stable or gently rising water, the state-park area is open, and you are willing to keep the day centered on a few defensible public entries. Use this page for short wades and selective walk-in fishing first, respect the hazards around the falls and slick slabs, and skip the day when flash-flood risk or very thin water removes the river's main advantage.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Limestone stream
- A limestone stream runs through mineral-rich rock and often has clear, cool water.
- Riffle
- A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
- Seam
- A seam is the line where fast and slow water meet.
- Streamer
- A streamer is a fly that looks like a small fish, leech, or other swimming food.
- Terrestrial
- Terrestrials are land insects, such as ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 4 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1939-2025, 87 readings) show a median near 23 cfs and the lower quartile near 5 cfs; today's flow is below normal for the date. This is below normal, so edge depth, temperature, and pressure matter.
HeatUse caution
The current NWS air forecast is about 83F, and the next 24-hour high reaches about 99F. This is an air forecast, not a water-temperature reading. Fish early and check the river with a stream thermometer.
Best mode nowUse caution
Wade: Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Often the cleanest combination of stable weather, lower crowd pressure, and readable water.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the Johnson City trend with clarity. Stable or slowly falling clear water is the best signal.
Skip when the river is rising, muddy from storms, too low and hot, the falls area is closed or unsafe, or public access cannot be confirmed.
Start with the Johnson City gauge, then choose Pedernales Falls State Park or a verified crossing before picking flies.
Compare Llano River, Guadalupe River, or Bull Creek when Pedernales is muddy, too low, crowded, or access-limited.
Pedernales River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Check TPWD freshwater rules and any park-specific access or safety notices before fishing because this page relies on statewide warmwater rules plus state-park access conditions.
Where to access the river
Pedernales Falls State Park
The main public-access anchor on this page, with fishing, paddling, and park-managed entry into the river area away from the closed falls zone.
US 281 crossing near Johnson City
TPWD lists limited shoreline on the highway right-of-way, making it a quick public look rather than an all-day wandering entry.
Hammett's Crossing
A downstream public crossing worth keeping as a backup, but TPWD says access here is poor and should be treated conservatively.
- Stay inside state-park rules and obvious road rights-of-way. Large private stretches separate the named entries.
- Do not plan on swimming, wading, or launching in the Pedernales Falls area itself because the park explicitly restricts that zone for safety.
- Reservations can matter on busy days because Pedernales Falls State Park can reach capacity and close to day visitors without permits.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 8 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report starts with official regulation, access, flow, weather, and public-water sources, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What flow should I trust for the Pedernales River?
Use the RiverReports chart for a quick read and keep USGS 08153500 open as the official backstop before committing to the state-park area.
Can I fish right at Pedernales Falls?
Plan around the broader river area inside the park, not the falls zone itself. The park says swimming, wading, and put-ins or take-outs are not allowed in the falls area for safety.
When should I skip the Pedernales River?
Skip it when storms are nearby, the gauge is jumping, the water is muddy, or the public-access points are too crowded to make the limited legal water worth it.