Houston Fly Fishing Report 10/14/18

Fall fishing is kicking off! Top water Bass, big streamer fishing, White Bass and Crappie coming back into the shallows and more aggressive carp fishing with a little more surface action thrown in the mix.

Lake Houston- has been touch and go with rain. But in between periods of clearer water have been productive with some aggressive sunfish action on small poppers and most of the bass picking up crawfish patterns and zonkers in olive.

Lake Conroe- Bowfin fishings been decent and getting better with a lot more cruisers shallow. Watch for shad getting blown up Bass have been working them and i had a few Bowfin give themselves away chasing small schools in shallow structure and grass. Topwater fishing for bass has been great early.

Bayous- are turning on a little better and getting more comfortable. More aggressive Grassers on the flats and im seeing several more Commons a trip than i had been, so watch for more to show up with this cooler weather. Theres been some great dry fly fishing on dropping flows.

Lake Somerville- Topwater bass early and late off shallow structure. White Bass and Hybrids busting shad early off of points and humps. Plenty of happy Commons shallow just gotta find them in clear enough water.

Front fishing is here. Some tips for this time of year follow the shad. Fish right up until the front(dont put yourself in danger of course) but the pressure change usually turns the fish on. Then consider sleeping in, go hunt, hike or whatever on those High pressure blue sky days. Also typically the third to forth day after a front can be really good depending on when the pressure changes after the front. This time of year can be touch and go because of weather but also produce big fish on the right days.

Houston Area Fly Report 3/16/2018

Lake Houston- White bass, yellow bass and crappie spawn are in full swing and if you wait much longer you may miss it. Largemouth and Spotted bass are staging to spawn though and the topwater bite has started to turn on.

Lake Conroe- Bass are on beds and the spawn is kicking off. Bowfin are shallow and water clarity is finally getting sight fishable. Grass carp are of course shallow and gorging most days. Watch for more Lake conroe stuff over the next month as my focus on white bass changes to bass and bowfin. Gar are also getting shallow and the spotted gar have been entertaining.

Urban bayous- Carping has been awesome with the carp spawn in full swing, low flows and clear water making for a great time to be carping. Grassers have been surface sipping for at least a month now and im not complaining!

Texas Racks and Quacks Lake- Bass are starting to make beds and bluegill have been shallow and super aggressive. Top water bite is just getting off and streamers have been fooling the skeptics. 

Houston area fly fishing 11-7-17

Lake Conroe- Bass have been shallow taking poppers and baitfish patterns. Bowfin are in similar areas but don't be surprised if you see one backing or close to it either. Crawfish patterns and small poppers have been working for Bowfin. Grass carp have been a little more frisky and willing to take a well placed fly.

Lake Houston- Bass are still taking poppers but the streamer bite has been more consistent. Watch for bass busting shad to especially in lagoons and coves. Whitebass and crappie have started showing up to not in crazy spring numbers but enough to have fun. 

Urban bayous- Grass carp have been decent and taking plopped flies. Commons mostly scattered but willing to eat if you find em. Tilapia have been taking most small buggy flies similar to your carp bugs. Just keep their attention! 

Racks and quacks ranch- top water bite has been solid along with a slightly better streamer bite. Pick your poison here fish are feeding. 

Houston area fly fishing report 5/25/17

Lake Houston- Sunfish are bedding, Bass bite has been best early in the morning or late in the evening. Poppers are producing with a decent streamer bite in between. Watch for carp they have been around and willing.

Lake Conroe- Bowfin have been busting topwaters and wolfing around the flats taking crawfish patterns. Grass carp are everywhere as always and eating

Urban bayous- Grass carp have been super aggresive along with the Smallmouth Buffalo. Commons are around but mostly scattered lately. Tilapia and Gar have been all over to.

Texas, Racks and Quacks- Bass on topwaters or streamers early in the morning and late in the evening. Strip heavier streamers around during the day. Giant Bluegill on poppers or streamers all day.  Alligator gar have been cruising and taking decievers. 

Houston Area fishing report 3/28/17

Lake Houston- White bass and Yellow bass are still in the creeks and taking clousers. Largemouth bass are bedding and the topwater bite has turned on. Crappie are being caught shallow off structure.

Urban carping- Has been just awesome. Grass carp are eating dries and taking nymphs on the plop. Common carp have been all over the concrete flats and some big schools have been found lately. Alligator gar have started showing up and the Tilapia are all over so keep an eye out.

Lake Conroe- Has been showing what it can produce lately. Bass are shallow and bedding. topwater bite has been great in the morning and evenings with a decent streamer bite in-between. Bowfin have been back and forth but up shallow and eating. Its just hard to work through the dang bass. Grass carp have been shallow eating and taking flies on the plop.

Texas Racks and Quacks Lake- Bass are bedding and taking poppers early in the morning and late in the evening. Mid day streamer bite has been decent and producing some big girls. Bluegill are eating poppers, clousers and almost anything buggy.

Houston area fly fishing report February 21st

February 21st Houston Fly Fishing Report

Lake Houston

White bass, Crappie and Yellow bass are all starting their spring spawning rituals up the creeks and rivers of Lake Houston and across Texas. Just before the rain we were catching some solid male Whitebass along with the occasional female. Once the creeks and rivers start to clear in the next week expect for even more Whitebass and yellow bass to be further up river. We also are catching double digits of crappie most days. A lot of 9 inchers but some decent 12” to 15” fish also. Spotted bass and channel catfish have been making appearances also.

Urban carping

Grass carp have been surface sipping consistently. Making it a great time for urban dry fly action! Common Carp have also been roaming the flats and seem very willing to eat almost any well placed bean chain nymph. Tilapia have also started showing up on the flats gearing up for their spawn. Buffalo have been scattered occasionally finding one that'll eat.

Lake Conroe

Reports of buck bass bedding and Bowfin being caught. It's almost time for Bowfin trips! Grass carp are shallow in warmer days and grumpy but will eat.

Houston area fly-fishing report January 17th

January 17th Houston Fly Fishing Report

Lake Houston

Since it hasn't been very cold this month so far we're already seeing Whitebass caught up the creeks and rivers of Lake Houston along with Yellow Bass, Crappie, Catfish and Bass. All eating small minnows patterns.

Urban carping

Also the Grass carp have been surface sipping consistently. Making it a great time to try and land a 10lb carp on things like elk hair caddis! Smallmouth Buffalo are still around and eating but not to many Commons on the flats.

December 5th Houston Fly Fishing Report

Well as everyone's noticed, the temperature has dropped and we've been getting a bit of rain. This doesn't mean all hope is lost though! Fish are still biting, you may just have to change your tactics and check flows and water temperature. If you've been waiting to break out your sink-tip line, now's not a bad time. Hint hint, get those flies down!

This time of year, I tend to gravitate towards the feeder creeks and rivers looking for White Bass or walking the bayou's looking for rising Grass carp. Don't get me wrong though: Bass are still biting, and if you can get a couple days of consistent weather, you may be able to pull out some big girls. Plus that prefrontal bite can surprise you!

A Look Into What's To Come

Rainbow and Brown trout stockings are starting on the Guadalupe River and can be a great way to get through those cooler, crappy weather days. Dust off your 4wts and nymph boxes and make a weekend out of it! I plan to spend a month or so in the hill country this trout season so look for paddle, wade, and possibly raft trips to be offered very soon until the end of January. Lodging may also be available so please feel free to ask about that.

The Guadalupe river is also known for its Striper, so don't be afraid to sneak that 8wt out and bang some streamers!

As soon as I get back from the hill country, the White Bass run should be on and dates are already booking up. I still have some weekends open so you may want to book them sooner rather than later. Available dates will be from February to April and this year paddle trips will be offered along with the usual wade trips.

Contact Houstonflyfishing@gmail.com for more information. I look forward to fishing with y'all!

Houston area fishing report October 19th, 2016

Fishing Report October 19th

Urban Fly Fishing - has been good with nice flows bringing out all the fish. Common carp have been showing up usually as the day warms up. Smallmouth Buffalo are still scattered around. Grass carp have turned on big time and are super aggressive loving the plop. Fall is a good time for urban carping!

Lake Houston - The Bass bite has been on along with huge Grass carp!  A fantastic popper bite early and late in the evening with some streamer fishing the rest of the time. Olive woolly buggers, various colors of clousers, baitfish patterns, and leggy crawfish patterns. The upper creeks have been awesome with decent clarity and cooler temps making a wade or paddle that much better. Streamer fishing is the way to go if you want to catch multiple species LM Bass, Spotted bass, crappie, channel catfish, Whitebass,  various sunfish have been making appearances daily.

   Grass carp have been found in big groups tailing and backing and even better taking a fly plop in front of them! When I say big I mean 10-20lbers easy! Perfect for sightfishing out of the Diablo’s!

Lake Conroe - Bowfin fishing has been on all day. With plenty in the 3-5lb range eating. Mostly pitching streamers to active fish. Grass carp have been more aggressive here also sucking of flies on the plop!

Fishing Report Sep. 28th

Fishing Report September 28th

Urban Fly Fishing - has been good with mostly low flows. Big Common carp have been showing up along with Smallmouth Buffalo and if you happen to be on the water during a minor spike in flows look for aggressive rising Grass carp. Fall is a good time for urban carping!

Lake Houston - The Bass bite has been really turning on! A fantastic popper bite early and late in the evening with some streamer fishing the rest of the time. Chartreuse seems to be the ticket for the most part. The upper creeks have been awesome with decent clarity and cooler temps making a wade that much better. Bigger Spotted bass have been tight to structure so expect to lose flies!

Lake Conroe - Bowfin fishing has been on mostly during most of the day. Mostly pitching streamers to active fish. Grass carp have been a little more aggressive. Look for the grassers that look for the plop and don't waste time with spooky fish.