After a certain point, a trend can wind up so common it becomes a mainstay. In the deep-rooted traditions of Texas fishing, one that has finally made that transition is fly fishing. Far less favored in generations past, its prominence is no longer a surprise to Kevin Stubbs. He runs Expedition Outfitters, a New Braunfels fly fishing guide service that offers some unique experiences to those anglers keen on standing in a river and waving a stick, as the writer John Gierach liked to put it.
“Fly fishing is becoming more popular in Texas,” Stubbs said. “And the ranks are growing.”
That growth was steady for the last few decades, but the more recent pandemic led to an even bigger boom.
Stubbs has seen it evolve first-hand since his early days as a contract hunting and fishing guide on the King Ranch and several other large South Texas properties. After spending time in Colorado training to be a fly fishing guide on the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers, as well as stints in Seattle and the Twin Cities of Minnesota, Stubbs made his return to Texas and started Expedition Outfitters in 2001.
Though it’s tough to compare to the trout streams, cooler climate and mountainous terrain of other U.S. regions, Texas is staking its claim as a spot where fly anglers can have just as much fun and fulfill just as many of the same aspirations. You just have to have an open mind and know where to look.
“Many people from out of state do not realize we have the spring-fed streams and rivers in the Texas Hill Country,” Stubbs said. “The clarity of the spring-fed waters tends to play well with fly presentation and the cool waters are refreshing during the summer months.”
Maybe they aren’t catching native trout, but the species available to fly anglers in Texas are special in their own way.
Perhaps the best thing Texas fly fishing has going for it, and what Stubbs says is his personal favorite, is the offshore saltwater opportunities.
“I love fly fishing in many different places in Texas, but the Gulf of Mexico offshore of Port Aransas is one of my favorite places in August, September and early October,” Stubbs said. “You never know what you will encounter: king mackerel, cobia, mahi, tarpon, jack crevalle, or sharks. And we’ve had some great action on false albacore, too.”
With all of these experiences available, Expedition Outfitters has taken things a few steps further. Not only do they offer fully guided trips on Canyon Lake, the Guadalupe, Devils, San Marcos, Llano, and Pecos Rivers, and several saltwater hotspots, but they also conduct a series of Fly Fishing Academy courses, meant to sharpen skills and teach foundational fly fishing principles. On top of that, their Guide School course, one of just a few like it in the state, helps prepare those fishermen looking to make a career out of their passion.
“The school offers whitewater rowing and rafting skills, business organization strategy, people handling skills, first aid basics, and detailed instruction for teaching new fly fishers while on the water,” Stubbs explained. “We also share insider secrets on technical fishing techniques, including private access points.”
Anyone who’s considering capitalizing on the increasingly common culture of Texas fly fishing would benefit from the course.
“Guiding has always been about a particular lifestyle,” Stubbs said. “I have had many ‘real’ jobs along the way, but always returned to fly fishing because of the fun and challenges inherent in the profession.”
