Devils River Fly Fishing Report

Spring time in Texas brings an abundance of new life - the Ocotillo, Desert Sage, Cacti and Mountain Laurel are in full bloom along the river, migratory birds are making their annual passage through (40-50 species spotted each week), aquatic insects are hatching in large numbers and various small mammals have been spotted raising their offspring along the banks. 

Multiple cold, rainy fronts have provided a welcome relief from overly hot days and have varied flows from 2.5 to 3.0 ft making for some high adrenaline runs through Indian Creek and Dandridge Springs Rapids. 

With varying water clarity and levels, the fish have displayed different feeding behaviors each week. The early season had spooky, cold fish laying up shallow and needed a stealthy approach, light fly presentation and minimal movement. Further into April, fish are sitting in deeper, murky channels and looking for subtle bubbles or mud clouds has been the move. The smallmouth and largemouth bass have been holding to the tried and true flies, but carp have become significantly more wary of traditional fly patterns. After experimenting with different combinations of weight, color and profile, I handed off some new flies to my clients this past week and they got the river stamp of approval. 

While it has been an incredible spring season on the Devils, the overall health of the fishery is impacted by a delicate balance of the ecology and human presence. A friendly reminder to anyone who is considering a private, downriver trip:

•  We have seen an increase in the invasive aquatic plant species, please make sure to clean your boats before putting in! 

• Pack all trash and human waste out - no one likes a surface shitter.

• Please do your best to retrieve stuck flies and line!

We have officially started booking for a fall season! Because of the permitting system, spots are typically filled 3-5 months in advance. Come hop in the boat and lets get after it! 

Book a fly fishing trip with Far West Texas Outfitters

Check out Devils River flow gauge here