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Fishing San Marcos River: what the data says
Spring-fed clear water from Aquarena to Staples. The river tops out around 6 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Largemouth Bass fishing at San Marcos River
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for fall largemouth bass. 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 | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Bluegill fishing at San Marcos River
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 0.6), a eddy pocket in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for bluegill in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at San Marcos River
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 2 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8), a creek channel in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday |
Common Carp fishing at San Marcos River
Spring common carp on San Marcos River hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Tailout eddy (mile 0.6), a eddy pocket in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for common carp in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | |
| Summer | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday | |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday |
Longnose Gar fishing at San Marcos River
Start shallow in spring: longnose gar sit in 1 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for fall longnose gar. Best bite is midday and the evening. Summer baits: a rope lure or a small white spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday |
Notable structure
- Aquarena Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.2): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.7): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 19.3): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 24.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.6): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 31.8): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 34.2): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 40.8): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 44.2): creek channel, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is San Marcos River?
San Marcos River is about 6 ft 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 San Marcos River?
Anglers target largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, longnose gar on San Marcos River.
Where is the best fishing spot on San Marcos River?
Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish San Marcos River?
For largemouth bass, 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.
Nearby waters
Guadalupe River (Canyon Tailwater) · Colorado River (Austin) · Canyon Lake · Lake Travis · Lake LBJ · Stillhouse Hollow Lake
See how San Marcos River 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 every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.