Friday, March 29, 2024

It’s trout stocking time in Texas

Posted

HOOD OUTDOORS

 

It’s trout stocking time in Texas

 

MICHAEL ACOSTA

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. A Granbury resident of more than 35 years, he has been fishing all of his life, and has been a licensed guide since 1998.

 

 

This is the time of the year that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department starts stocking trout in many locations throughout the state. Many of these locations are called “neighborhood fishing ponds,” some of which are likely close to you.

Consult the TPWD website for all locations and scheduled stocking dates. Scheduled stocking dates may change.

Stocking will occur several times during the winter season. I’m including herein a few local areas relatively close with the scheduled stocking dates. Put it on your calendar!

There are no minimum length limits for these trout and you are allowed to keep five trout per day, per person. An angler fishing in a Community Fishing Lake or from a dock, pier or jetty within a state park can use no more than two poles. Trout anglers will need a valid fishing license with the freshwater fishing endorsement. Youth under age 17 do not require a license.

These trout are typically taken on salmon eggs, corn and a variety of small spinner baits and flies. I would recommend light line.

NAME

LOCATION

AMOUNT

SCHEDULED DATES

Joshua city Park Pond

Joshua

1,900

12/7/2022, 1/15/2023

Glen Rose Town Lake

Glen Rose

2,000

11/29/2022, 1/4/2023

Hurst Chisholm Park

Hurst

1,896

11/23/2022, 12/22/2022, 1/20/2023, 2/17/2023

Meridian State Park

Meridian

1,500

1/12/2023

Possum Kingdom Tailrace

Graford

9,000

12/1/2022, 12/15/2022, 12/29/2022, 1/12/2023, 1/26/2023, 2/23/2023

Trinity Park (Clear Fork Trinity River)

Fort Worth

3,003

1/3/2023, 2/7/2023

FISHING REPORT

Lake Granbury water temperatures are in the upper 60s, and the action has picked up for striped bass and blue catfish. Striped bass are good on Alabama rigs and live shad on the lower ends. Blue cats are good on cut bait fished on shallow flats adjacent to channels. Crappie fishing continues to be good to excellent on small jigs/minnows. Largemouth bass are good to excellent on soft plastics fished near main lake points with submerged brush. White bass are fair on slabs on humps and ridges. Some birds have returned to our reservoirs and they can point out active fish. Keep your binoculars handy.

Comanche Creek reservoir continues to be excellent for tilapia, channel catfish and largemouth bass. Anglers continue to catch numerous fish. Largemouth catches are good on most any kind of presentation of soft plastics, crankbaits and topwater at times. Channel cats are good on prepared/cut bait. Tilapia are abundant and many are using cast nets to fill their ice chests. Tilapia are an invasive species and there is no limit.

On other area reservoirs, limits of striped bass continue to be taken on Possum Kingdom Lake, and Lake Whitney on live shad or trolled Alabama rigs. Look for bird action.

michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855