The Local Angler Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas

by Aaron Reed

It may be a “best-kept secret,” but central Texas has some of the best fly fishing in America. With Texas native and fly fishing expert Aaron Reed as your guide, enjoy dozens of wades and paddles, all within easy reach of Austin. Discover secluded spring creeks braced by soaring limestone cliffs. Wade in broad pools dotted with lily pads and stands of water willow. Paddle deep, slow rivers. Easy-to-follow narrative, detailed maps, and gorgeous color photographs make it easy to “Go fishing now!” even if you have only a few hours to spare.

There’s something for every angler in central Texas. Visit the nation’s southernmost trout fishery on the Canyon Lake tailwaters. Find seven species in a single day, including the native Guadalupe bass and the only cichlid native to the United States. Fly Fishing Austin and Central Texas is your passport to the challenges and rewards of angling in this unique and beautiful region.

A look inside:
* Directions to more than 100 legal access points
* 49 detailed on-the-water route descriptions to 19 featured streams
* Full-color maps showing stream access points
* More than 300 full-color photographs
* Dozens of local angler-friendly hangouts
* Successful local fly patterns – and how to tie them
* Local and natural history: Conquistadors, alligators, jaguars, and at least one dinosaur
* Descriptions of common flora and fauna found along central Texas streams
* Comprehensive Texas river law primer
* Tips for taking kids fishing.
* Advice for selecting rods, reels, and line for local conditions and species
* Local fly shops and guide services
* The mysterious story of Round Rock’s “Hairy Man”
* Where to find and how to catch trophy rainbow trout
…..And much, much more!

384 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2020

About the author

Aaron Reed is an award-winning outdoor writer and Army veteran. He currently splits his time between his native Texas Gulf coast, where he drives a tugboat, and his home near the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, Texas. When he is not working, chances are you can find him knee-deep in a stream somewhere around Austin, often with his wife and one or more of his three boys, trying like heck to become a better fly fisherman. His stories and photos have appeared in Southwest Fly Fishing, This is Fly, Kayak Angler, Texas Outdoors Journal, Texas Sporting Journal, Texas Fish & Game, Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, Lone Star Outdoor News, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Business Journal, the Taylor Press, Soldiers magazine, Leatherneck magazine, Liguorian magazine, The Washington Times, RoadTrip America and elsewhere.

Reviews

[robert gieringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For starters, when I took this book into my hands, I felt that it was the finest quality 'paperback' book I'd ever seen. The overall finish, the firm binding, and the fold-in flaps make it an excellent useful design and durable. Reading the introduction is a fly fisherman's joy. Aaron's use of quotes from other fly fishing writers, his general narrative style, and his inclusion of appropriate pictures make it entertaining and informative for novices to the experienced angler. The pictures of various flies are beautiful, as are scenes on locations. Then to follow the introduction are wonderful, readable and explanatory maps of suitable locations with easy access directions. Also there are more enticing pictures. I can only imagine that a day on a river with this author would be filled with fun and character seldom experienced before. Let me say that I have read other books on MT, ID, AK, and New England--this one tops them all!

[Daniel M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radically radical guide to central Texas fly fishing.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas, Aaron Reed takes a location-specific book and makes it useful to a wide audience. Despite the fact that I have never fished in Texas (although I did spend a good deal of time in his area as a kid), I found both the concept of the book and the content to my liking. The book is divided into many sections, with some being general information and others a guide to specific fishing areas in Texas. The river-specific sections are probably best saved for your next trip to Texas, but the other sections of the book are great for everyone. These cover everything from general fly fishing information like lingo, gear, and ethics, to fish identification and tips for getting children out on the water. There is also an abundance of high-quality photos. Possibly my favorite aspect of the book is how Reed structured the guide sections to be more about the overall experience than just a list of places to go. For a given area, he ranks the best ways to access the water, includes info on the best local brewery to hit after fishing, suggests a good song for that particular stretch, and other fun tidbits. This is a great read to have on your shelf, regardless of whether you've had a chance to fish near Austin before.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas is a Fly Fishing lover’s need to see book. This how to book is a direct, clear, and comprehensive, account of fly-fishing in the Austin Texas area. The author, Aaron Reed, is an award winning outdoor writer.

Reed starts his book with the many reason he fishes, where he fishes and the supportive community he fishes with. The organization of the book is outlined and his rating criteria are described. He moves on to a discussion of ethical fishing and then before getting into the water descriptions he discusses gear and lures suitable to the Central Texas area. Locations and entry points are described for North, Urban and Southern areas around Austin, Texas. He breaks up the book with a fish guide for Central Texas, a discussion about taking children fishing, and then a discussion about the legalities of fishing rights in Texas.

I am a fly fisherman who has never been fishing Texas, but because of this book, my first impression is that it is beautiful. The waterways are highly variable and there are a tremendous variety of fish to catch. This is all represented in the book using beautiful photography, which makes the book attractive to all users. Although limited in its geographic scope the book is comprehensive. You get a list of local shops, clubs guides in Central Texas to get you started.

In my opinion, one should not go fly fishing in Central Texas without this book in hand. Even if you don’t fish but are a naturalist looking for beautiful areas to sit, walk or wade this is still the book for you. I highly recommend this book and I give it a 4 on 5 only because if its limited geographic scope which may limit its audience.

[Jonathan Crites · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this in pieces since I got it last fall - this must be the go-to guide for fly fishing central Texas. Well written by a local avid fisherman, this book has very detailed wading guides on most of the major streams and rivers from the Lampasas in the north down to the Guadalupe in the south. Technique, gear, places to eat and drink, shop recommendations and even a chapter on the legal nature of river usage in Texas - this book has it all. This will be a resource for weekend fishing trips for me and my family for a long time and I am really excited for the upcoming volume for the Houston/East Texas area. Highly recommended.

[James Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic overview of central Texas waters around Austin!

Aaron does a wonderful job speaking to everyone regardless of the skill set through this book.

[William Dinwiddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide to the rivers of Austin and Central Texas. The maps and access points are shown in great detail and the fishing tips are on par.