Chris Smith

Published 9:45 pm Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Every year around this time of year the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department elves travel all over the state releasing Rainbow Trout.

Lakes, Rivers and community parks all receive stockings and many locations get multiple releases. Plans this year are to release nearly 350,000 trout at approximately 100 locations.

Some lakes started getting releases last week and the releases will continue from now into early March. The trout release is an extremely popular event and continues to be a successful program.

Newcomers and trout purists alike will be out putting their best effort in getting some holiday trout.

The trout can’t survive in the majority of Texas after water temperatures rise above 70 degrees. The exception is the Guadalupe River, below the Canyon Dam. The water released from the depths is cool enough to support the trout and their chilly water lifestyle year round.

In this section of the Guadalupe, larger Rainbows and even the occasional Brown Trout will show up to wreck some ultralight gear. These fish have spent a few seasons in the river and are much larger and more powerful so landing one is not an easy job.

Five of the new releases is the perfect amount for a Trout Dinner.

East Texas will once again receive numerous releases throughout the late fall and winter months.

Longview, Marshall, Kilgore and Tyler will receive stockings as well as many State Parks in our area. Lake Bob Sandlin State Park has releases scheduled in December, January and February. Bob Sandlin State Park is also hosting a “Christmas in The Park” on December 13-14.

Park visitors can cruise through the campground to see all the lights and decorations. They will even have a “live walk through Bethlehem” and Santa will be on hand on the 14th. Tyler State Park has stockings in December and January.

The December 16 stocking will insure success at the always popular “Fishing with a Ranger” on December 20. If you have your own gear, certainly bring it but the TP&WD will have plenty of loaners on hand for those without.

Most recommended tackle will be light or ultralight gear with no more than 6 pound test fluorocarbon. For the beginners, the bait of choice will be surprising to some.

Canned corn and marshmallow bits are common but the Berkeley trout baits are hard to beat. Leave the artificials to the veterans and fly rod experts. On the contrary, now is would be a great time to start learning how to use the gear. I put a link below that will take you straight to the release schedule.

If you plan to be traveling around our great state during the holidays, check the schedule and see if there’s a release near you.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/management/stocking/trout_stocking.phtml