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River guide · Texas

Fly Fishing the San Marcos River

Fed by 250 million gallons daily from the Edwards Aquifer, the San Marcos runs a crystal-clear 70°F year-round, one of Texas's finest spring creeks for Guadalupe bass and a rare chance to throw dry flies in January.

5 shops nearby

See fly shops ↓

When to fish

Year-round

Best months: year-round

Best

Caddis and small mayflies: March–April. Terrestrials — hoppers, ants, beetles: June–September.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the San Marcos River

Canyon Lake1 shopSattler2 shops

Wimberley1 shopSan Antonio1 shop

Rio Vista Park and City Park in San Marcos provide wading and kayak launch access near the Spring Lake headwaters; Martindale Park and Pecan Park offer the best mid-river wading; Highway 80 crossings provide additional wade-in points downstream.

The water

Spring creek

Key hatches

Caddis and small mayflies
Dragonfly / damselfly patterns
Terrestrials
Woolly Buggers / crayfish patterns

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

Caddis and small mayflies (March–April)
Dragonfly / damselfly patterns (May–August)
Terrestrials — hoppers, ants, beetles (June–September)
Woolly Buggers / crayfish patterns (fall–winter)

Fly shops near the San Marcos River

Shops and guides that fish the San Marcos River. See all 33 Texas shops →

5 fly shops shownSan Marcos River

Species on this water

Trout Bass Carp Panfish Redfish Salmon Steelhead Striper

Nearby towns

Wimberley Sattler Canyon Lake

Rivers nearby

Guadalupe River Devils River Lower Mountain Fork River White River

From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the San Marcos River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse patterns at The Fly Bench

Gear up on the San Marcos River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the San Marcos River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

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