Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) Fishing Map & Spots (TX)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · in ~6 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

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Fishing Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater): what the data says

The southernmost year-round trout fishery in America. The river tops out around 8 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.

Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) maps at 277 acres behind 36.1 miles of shoreline. That shoreline is heavily fingered (development index 15.5) — bays, points and pockets everywhere, which multiplies the fishable edge. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. Tip to tip the water measures near 9.7 mi with a 2.5-mi widest point. Comal County claims this one. If the bite dies, Canyon Lake is 9 mi to the northwest.

Rainbow Trout fishing at Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)

Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 5.6): a current seam around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 5.6) (4 ft)	Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon
Summer	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 5.6) (4 ft)	Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon
Fall	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 5.6) (4 ft)	Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals
Winter	2 to 8 ft	dawn	Current seam (mile 5.6) (4 ft)	Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white)

Largemouth Bass fishing at Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)

Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 8 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 8 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 6 ft that grades prime for fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Dam tailrace (7 ft)	Spinnerbait, Chatterbait
Summer	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 5.6) (4 ft)	Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait
Fall	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)	Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)	Blade bait, Jigging spoon

Bluegill fishing at Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)

Spring bluegill on Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. They move out to 2 to 8 ft in summer and finish the year down in 2 to 8 ft. Put Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — an eddy pocket near 4 ft that grades prime for winter. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	midday & dusk	open water	1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings)
Summer	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	open water	Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig
Fall	2 to 8 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 5.6) (4 ft)	Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (4 ft)	Tiny spoon

Channel Catfish fishing at Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)

Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 2 to 8 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 8 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 8 ft. Put Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) first on the milk run — a creek channel near 6 ft that grades prime for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dusk	Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (4 ft)
Summer	2 to 8 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)
Fall	2 to 8 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)

Common Carp fishing at Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)

Come spring, look for common carp tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Tailout eddy (mile 0.6): an eddy pocket around 4 ft that scores prime in winter. Best bite is early morning and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Dam tailrace (7 ft)
Summer	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Dam tailrace (7 ft)
Fall	2 to 8 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Tailout eddy (mile 0.6) (4 ft)

Brown Trout fishing at Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)

Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 2 to 8 ft covers summer, 1 to 8 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 5.6), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and early morning. Throw a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Dam tailrace (7 ft)	Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines
Summer	2 to 8 ft	night & dawn	Current seam (mile 5.6) (4 ft)	Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night)
Fall	1 to 8 ft	dusk & dawn	Dam tailrace (7 ft)	Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon
Winter	1 to 8 ft	dawn	Dam tailrace (7 ft)	Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow)

Notable structure

Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) carries 10 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Dam tailrace, about 7 ft down.

Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
Canyon Lake Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 7.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 11.5): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 13.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
Tailout eddy (mile 0.6): eddy pocket, around 4 ft
Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 4 ft
Current seam (mile 5.6): current seam, around 4 ft
Current seam (mile 16.2): current seam, around 4 ft

Public access & boat ramps

Guadalupe River — ramp
Guadalupe River — ramp
Guadalupe River — ramp

Access data: Texas Parks & Wildlife — Public Boat Ramps. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.

Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Texas waters are set by the Texas Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Texas fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)?

Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) is about 8 ft (2 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)?

Anglers target rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, brown trout on Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater).

Where is the best fishing spot on Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)?

Current seam (mile 5.6) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)?

For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater)?

Fishing on Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) is regulated by the Texas Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Texas regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Canyon Lake 9 mi · Lake Dunlap 11 mi · Lake Placid 19 mi · San Marcos River 29 mi · Calaveras Lake 36 mi · Lady Bird Lake 40 mi · Victor Braunig Lake 40 mi · Lake Austin 41 mi · Lake Travis 46 mi · Colorado River (Austin) 46 mi · Walter E. Long Lake 48 mi · Medina Lake 50 mi

See how Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Texas · best bluegill lakes in Texas · best channel catfish lakes in Texas · best common carp lakes in Texas

Browse all Texas fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.