Freshwater

Guadalupe bass

Lobina de Guadalupe

Micropterus treculii

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

½–1 lb.

Depth

1–10 ft.

Best time

Morning and evening.

Found in

1 area

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Small, green bass with dark diamond-shaped blotches along the side, rows of small spots on the lower sides and a jaw that ends below the eye. Texas's state fish.
Typical size: ½–1 lb.
Maximum size: About 17 in and close to 4 lb.
Diet: Insects, crayfish and small fish.
Behavior: A stream bass that loves current, riffles and rocky runs.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Texas & Oklahoma Lakes. Clear, spring-fed rivers of the Edwards Plateau (Hill Country) in central Texas: the Guadalupe, Llano, Pedernales, San Marcos, Colorado and others.
Habitat: Clear, spring-fed rivers of the Edwards Plateau (Hill Country) in central Texas: the Guadalupe, Llano, Pedernales, San Marcos, Colorado and others.
Depth: 1–10 ft.
Fishing depth: Riffles, runs and pools behind rocks.
Best season: Spring through fall.
Best time: Morning and evening.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Clear water and steady flows.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Small crayfish and minnows.
Best artificial lures: Small crankbaits, inline spinners, small soft plastics, poppers and flies.
Tackle setup: Light spinning rod or 4–6 weight fly rod.
Hook size: Size 4–1/0.
Line: 4–8 lb.
Leader: 6–8 lb fluorocarbon.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Clear, spring-fed rivers of the Edwards Plateau (Hill Country) in central Texas: the Guadalupe, Llano, Pedernales, San Marcos, Colorado and others.
Rig up: Light spinning rod or 4–6 weight fly rod. 6–8 lb fluorocarbon.
Pick your bait: Small crayfish and minnows. Lures: Small crankbaits, inline spinners, small soft plastics, poppers and flies.
Fish it: Wade or kayak and cast small lures into riffles, current seams and rocky pools.
Time it: Morning and evening. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Wade or kayak and cast small lures into riffles, current seams and rocky pools.
BigJoe's tip: A light fly rod and a small popper on a Hill Country river is Texas fishing at its best.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Slippery limestone and sudden floods after storms.
Regulations: Texas manages it as a native black bass; many anglers release it to protect the pure strains. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.
Conservation: Mixing with stocked smallmouth hurt pure populations; restoration work continues.

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Sources & photo credits