The Local Angler Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas

Winner of the 2020 National Outdoor Book Award

It may be a “best-kept secret,” but central Texas has some of the best fly fishing in America. With Texas native and fly fishing expert Aaron Reed as your guide, enjoy dozens of wades and paddles, all within easy reach of Austin. Discover secluded spring creeks braced by soaring limestone cliffs. Wade in broad pools dotted with lily pads and stands of water willow. Paddle deep, slow rivers. Easy-to-follow narrative, detailed maps, and gorgeous color photographs make it easy to “Go fishing now!” even if you have only a few hours to spare. There’s something for every angler in central Texas. Visit the nation’s southernmost trout fishery on the Canyon Lake tailwaters. Catch more than half a dozen species in a single day, including native Guadalupe bass and the only cichlid native to the United States. Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas is your passport to the challenges and rewards of angling in this unique and beautiful region.

A look inside:

49 detailed on-the-water route descriptions to 12 featured streams

More than 100 legal access points on 19 creeks and rivers

Full-color maps showing stream access points

More than 300 full-color photographs

Dozens of local angler-friendly hangouts

Local and natural history from dinosaurs to current events

Descriptions of common flora and fauna found in the area

Comprehensive Texas river law primer

Tips for taking kids fishing.

Advice for selecting rods, reels, and line for local conditions and species

Local fly shops and guide services

The mysterious story of Round Rock’s “Hairy Man”

Where to find and how to catch trophy rainbow trout

Winner of the 2020 National Outdoor Book Award

And much, much more!

Aaron Reed is an award-winning outdoor writer and Army veteran. He currently splits his time between the New York City Harbor, where he drives a tugboat, and his home near the banks of the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, Texas. He is a founding member of the Texas Streams Coalition and has worked for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. In 2020, he was awarded the prestigious FFI Roderick Haig-Brown Award.  His first book, Fly Fishing Austin & Central Texas won the National Outdoor Book Award. When he is not working, chances are you can find him knee-deep in a stream somewhere around Austin, often with one or more of his three boys, trying like heck to become a better fly fisherman.