Texas will stock public waters — including the Trinity River and several locations in Dallas-Fort Worth ― with hundreds of thousands of rainbow trout over the next few months.
Between Nov. 26 and March 6, state officials plan to release 335,048 rainbow trout across the state’s water bodies. Fishing in Texas rivers and streams is an annual winter tradition for many, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The agency has stocked that variety of fish during the cooler months for more than 40 years.
However, this type of fishing doesn’t require sophisticated equipment, with anglers being able to use simple, light tackle or hand-tied flights on a fly rod.
Breaking News
In a statement, Neil Pugliese, TPWD rainbow trout program director, said the annual program “is designed to make fishing accessible and enjoyable for everyone from seasoned anglers to families casting a line for the very first time.
He added: “It’s about more than fishing; it’s about creating opportunities to connect with nature and build lasting memories.”
The Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake is Texas’ best public water for catching quality rainbow trout.
Digital File_UPLOAD
Rainbow trout are unable to survive in most areas of Texas after the winter because of the warm water temperatures.
The fish will be stocked in the Clear Fork of the Trinity River, on the Guadalupe River downstream of Canyon Lake, in the Brazos River downstream of Possum Kingdom Lake and portions of the Frio and South Llano rivers.
Other stocking locations include dozens of local city- and county-managed park ponds, including multiple locations Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis and Tarrant counties.
TPWD also has a Neighborhood Fishin’ program that helps provide experiences for families and new anglers to reel in fish in and around major cities, including in Dallas-Fort Worth.
More information on the rainbow trout stocking and a schedule can be found at https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/management/stocking/trout_stocking.phtml.
This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.