Story by LSON

Michael Tucker, of Huntsville, caught a tagged Guadalupe bass on March 22 from the San Gabriel River.

Tucker had seen a video on Facebook about Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Guadalupe bass stocking on the river, as part of its 10-year conservation goal to restore and conserve populations of the fish in creeks and rivers of Central Texas. Having never caught a Guadalupe bass, he decided to drive two and a half hours to try to catch one.

“I was planning on fishing that day anyway so thought might as well give it a shot,” Tucker said.

Tucker tried a few different spots with no luck until he moved down the bank past the 1660 bridge.

“I was getting ready to turn back, and sure enough as soon as I threw it I had one,” he said.

He threw a weightless Bandito Bug, and as soon as the bug hit the water, the bass was hooked.

Tucker released the fish and submitted photos of the bass and tag to TPWD.

A total of 40 tagged Guadalupe bass were released, and 16 have been caught in the San Gabriel and its tributaries.

“The San Gabriel River is a prime example of the tremendous stream fishing opportunities available in central Texas within or just a short drive from major urban centers,” said Marcos De Jesus, Inland Fisheries district supervisor.

A recent economic impact study by TPWD and Texas Tech University found that stream fishing in Central Texas generated an annual economic value of $71 million over a sixteen-month period. Forty-two percent of anglers surveyed specifically targeted Guadalupe bass.

“The Guadalupe bass is one of the most exciting species in our area to target with a fly rod and it is iconic to the Lone Star State,” said Chris Johnson, Owner of Living Waters Fly Fishing in Round Rock.

Beginning March 21 and continuing until March 31, 2020, any angler who catches a tagged Guadalupe bass from the San Gabriel River or its tributaries will be entered into a monthly prize drawing.