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Cooler weather does not have to mean the end of fishing in Texas.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be stocking thousands of rainbow trout in ponds and lakes around the state beginning November 25.

These fish are easy to catch and make for a delicious meal.

“TPWD stocks catchable sized fish during winter months to create angling opportunities throughout Texas,” said TPWD’s rainbow trout Program Director, Carl Kittel. “Rainbow trout love cold water, can be caught on a variety of baits and lures (worms, power bait, corn, spinners, spoons, flies and more), and are great to take home and eat. Our winter rainbow trout program has been a favorite with anglers for over forty years.”

The department will stock a total of 332,188 trout throughout the state from Nov. 25-March 5.

This fish will not survive in Texas waters after the winter, so anglers are encouraged to keep their daily bag limit of five trout.

Due to COVID-19, anglers are encouraged to maintain a safe physical distance from others in accordance with public health guidelines and to follow local ordinances related to the public health situation.

Texas’ 18 Neighborhood Fishin’ program lakes throughout the state will be stocked with the trout, bringing great fishing opportunities to urban centers like Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

In Wichita Falls, the South Weeks Pond off Southwest Parkway is part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program.

The rainbow trout make for great tailrace fishing and will be stocked at Canyon Tailrace on the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake and at the Possum Kingdom Tailrace on the Brazos River below Possum Kingdom Lake.

Along with the dozens of managed park ponds in cities and counties, the trout will be in the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center casting pond and several rivers including the Frio, South Llano and Guadalupe and Clear Fork of the Trinity River.

Anglers can fish for free in any Texas State Park without a fishing license. Parks are operating at a limited capacity due to COVID-19, so visitors are encouraged to reserve a day pass in advance.

Day passes can be reserved online though the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website or over the phone by calling (512) 389-8900.

Children under 17 can fish for free in Texas, however a fishing license with freshwater fishing endorsement is required for adults.

An angler fishing in a community fishing lake or from a dock, pier or jetty within a Texas State Park is limited to no more than two poles.

Statewide bag limits for trout is five fish, expect for parts of the Guadalupe River where special limits are in effect.

Check the 2020-2021 trout stocking schedule to confirm stocking dates and check current fishing regulations. Dates and locations are subject to change to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

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