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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
  • spring creek
  • Year-round (spring-fed
  • Texas
  • 4 key hatches
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The best time to fly fish the San Marcos River is Year-round (spring-fed. Key hatches include Caddis and small mayflies, Dragonfly / damselfly patterns, Terrestrials, Woolly Buggers / crayfish patterns. 5 fly shops near the San Marcos River can outfit your trip.

Fly shops near the San Marcos River

Shops and guides that fish the San Marcos River. See all 36 Texas shops →

Hatches & seasons

When & what to fish on the San Marcos River

River typespring creek
Best seasonYear-round (spring-fed; best bass/Guadalupe bass April–October)
AccessRio 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.
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)
From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the San Marcos River

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

Browse all 880+ patterns at The Fly Bench
Gear up

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.

Find your flies

Updated June 2026