Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country starts in Austin and climbs into a scenic sportsman’s shargla heading up and to the west. The Colorado River winds down the canyon filled area, with 6 major dams starting from downtown Austin, and ending with Lake Buchanan in the North. Golf course resorts, world class hunting, hiking, and 6 beautiful lakes are just the tip of the ice burg. It’s the great outdoors, Texas style. This Winter we are headed out the the great outdoors for a few hunting and fishing expenditions.
Guadalupe River Trout Fishing
About 50 miles south of Austin, the Guadalupe River in Texas is the southernmost Trout fishery in the United States. It is also listed as one of the top 100 trout streems in the US on many publications. Just below the Canyon Lake Dam, the water for the first twelve miles can typically sustain trout year-round. Texas Parks and Wildlife stocks around 15,000 rainbow trout every winter (Dec - Feb). Guadalupe River trout range from 10 - 18", with the majority in the 14-16" range. There are a few access points for free fishing on the river, but a good part of the river is private access. Several lodges and outfitters offer access for about $15.
The equipment needed is as follows:
- Fly Rod. Reel, and flys $50-$200
- Waiters $40 - $100
- Knife, Net, Needlenose plyers,
and other basic fishing stuff $30- $75We are planning on heading out soon the check it out, check back in February for the full article.
For more information visit:
- Review of River Click Here
- Fly Gude Click Here
- Google Access Points - Click Here
- Great Camping Resort - Click Here
- Catfish Pond near Canyon lake - Click Here
- Upper Hunt River Map Click Here
Barton Creek
Barton Creek is right on the edge of Austin City Limits. I have had the pleasure of playing 2 of the awesome courses at this first class resort\club. They are still in the city so there isn’t a lake or “Outdoor experience”. But the hotel and spa are excellent, and you a 20 minute cab ride from downtown Austin.
Falcon Head
This is a nice public course located in the Lower Lake Travis\ Mansfield dam \ Lakeview area. Green fees range from $29 for super twilight to $79 on the weekend.
http://www.falconheadaustin.com/
Horseshoe Bay
Horseshoe Bay is the 4th lake on the stop; the resort has several great golf courses and a really cool par 72 natural grass miniature golf course. The tennis courts are very nice including some red clay. The resort is located on the water of Lake LBJ. You can rent boats and watercraft. One of two pool areas looks over the lake. The hotel and restaurants put in a nice effort to be 5 star, but its 5 star pricing at 4 and ½ star quality. It is still one of the nicest lake resort I’ve seen. They also have many condos with kitchens you can rent.
The Austin “Muni Circuit “
There are a handful of muni courses in the Austin Area, Lions aka “Old Muni” is located near the 15 street dam. The course is nice but short. It might not be around for long, the land is just way too valuable and they are considering shutting it down. Henry Clay has two courses where you can test out your links golf. The also have a large nice practice facility that old muni doesn’t have the room for. Both are about $30 with the cart fee; less during twilight. For something different there is putt put and a par 3 course near Barton Spring. The Par 3 can be a bit of a zoo during the weekends,. But if you go there when it’s not crowded you can play all you want for $20. It’s a great way to sharpen up your short game.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/kizer.htm
http://butlerparkpitchandputt.com/default.aspx
Town Lake
Located in downtown Austin, Town lake is for canoes and kiakas only. It runs from 15 street threw the downtown area. You can rent canoes and at Zigler Park. Other’s have told me there are bass in the lake and you can fish from the banks. There are a whole lot of people out there. Most of the lake is surrounded by jogging trails. Ziegler Park offers a swimming hole and a playground and train for the kids.
Lake Austin
Right in the heart of Austin is Lake Austin. Power boats are permitted here, and there are many of them. During the major summer holiday Jet Ski’s are banned from the lake because it’s too crowded. This is one of the narrowest sections of the Colorado River System; there are houses with boat dock up and down almost the entire 15 mile stretch. You can launch at the dam on 15 streets; there is also a couple cool bars right there. The second major launch is under the bridge at Capital of Texas highway. There is a part near the north end of the lake where you can camp. Finally the journey ends at the bottom of Mansfield dam, where the fishing is OK.
Lake Travis
Lake Travis is a Monster Reservoir. Mansfield damn towers 170’ some odd feet in the air. The lake runs 130-170 feet deep for many miles. It snakes 70 miles or so up river before it hits Marble Falls. Little towns line the lake on both the north and south side. There are no bridges that cross it. The City of Lakeway and Hudson bend surround the bottom of the lake, and they are located just 25 mils from downtown Austin. They have a Carols and Charles, several nice restaurants, shopping centers, and boat rentals. Falcon Head is the closest, non-private, serious golf course. I have not had a chance to play yet, but the locals love it. The other major areas of the lake are Pace Bend and Spicewood.
http://www.falconheadaustin.com/
Lake LBJ is a big lake located about 50 miles from Austin. There is a large Golf resort and many luxurious lake homes and condos near the Golf Resort of Horsehoe bay. The town of marble falls is abut 10 miles away from the resort.
Lake Marble FallsMarble Falls is a small lake in-between Travis and Lake LBJ. Power boats are allowed and you can fish, but its just down the road from Lake LBJ and we have no idea about the fishing. It’s not all that in either lake.
Lake Buchanan
Lake Buchanan is a large wide lake located on the top of the Texas Colorado River systems. It’s considered the best fishing lake of the bunch, Striper are stocked every year, and the bass fishing on the northern end of the lake is great too. There are many guide services available, and all sorts of attractions. Like Lake Travis, Buchanan was closed most of the year last year with low lake levels, so we have not made it up there to check it out.
Ocean Fishing
Our Rig needs some work before we take it back into the ocean, but we are going to try to take a few trips before the summer is over. Maybe an offshore red snapper trip out of Corpus Christi is in order. The fishing is tough this time of year is South Texas. Especially with the hot dry conditions we have had. We have not been up to Buchanan, but this will change soon. Probably around the time the weather does.
Longhorn Cavern
Longhorn Caver is located between Marble Falls and Burnett. It’s about 6 miles off the highway. It’s a pretty nice cave. There are others around as well, but this is the only one we have visited.
The Texas Hills TO-Do list
- Float the River
- Climb the Mountain
- Ride The Big Train
- Hunting Season
