The Guadalupe River: Post-October 31st, 2013 Flood

   New Braunfels happens to sit on a dormant faultline, the Balcones Fault, which forms the Balcones Escarpment, a geological formation that rides the western edge of Interstate 35 from just south of New Braunfels, up north past Austin. The Balcones Escarpment is a ridge line that is the beginnings of the Texas Hill Country (to the west) and all along this fault line, from San Antonio to Salado, natural artesian springs pop up where the positive hydrostatic pressure from the hill country forces water out of the limestone cracks below the escarpment.

    Considering a ridge line to be a drop in elevation, we can see why, as the river flows from west, eastwards to the coast, as the water passes over the Balcones Escarpment it gains a great deal of flow, simply due to gravity. Now consider that limestone is not very permeable, and when rainfall inundates a river drainage, flooding is bound to happen.

    Understanding the hydrologic flow during a flooding event would be beyond the scope of this blog but we can all understand the powerful forces of water pressure. With major floods in the 50s, 1972, 1998, 2002 and 2010, locals have learned to respect the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers. With heavy rains and a flow peaking at 33,500 cfs (early in the morning Oct 31st), I knew it had the potential to seriously rearrange the river bed. Understanding how this may affect the fishing is where I will focus...

A few tips after a flood:

1. Fish with a friend. With downed trees, rearranged rapids and hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface, you can't be too careful.

2. Respect the flow. It's pretty hard to wade in a fast current, and even harder to fish from a kayak that is constantly being pushed every which way by the current. Wait until it slows down some. It usually doesn't take too long. Hit the lakes until the rivers peter out.

3. The holes you've spent the past few years learning and perfecting are probably all rearranged. Fish may still accumulate in those areas, but undoubtedly the area has changed. Some holes completely disappear, and some new ones form. Enjoy this aspect.

Finding the holes...
   
   Use your knowledge of what fish like to find new holes. Remember what has been successful for you in the past and work around similar areas with those characteristics.

   Obviously, the edges of downed tree canopies are a hotbed. As baitfish seek shelter in the tree sport fish (like bass and crappie) lurk just on the edge waiting for an opportune bait to strike.

   Don't hesitate to approach a set of rapids from below. Throw your lure into the current and allow it to drift past structures and rocks. Try spotting eddies beyond rocks or along the edge of the cypress banks. Guadalupe bass hunker down in these areas, especially during times of high flow.

    

As unsightly as it may be, debris jammed along trees, rocks or the bank, also offers artificial cover for bass. This Largemouth bass was lurking near a submerged city trashcan around Cypress Bend Park. The trashcan offered a haven and he plucked my brush hog out of the current on the fall of the cast. He's a plump bass for just 16".










Work it...

    Work a spot once you find it. Don't think that you caught the one bass that was hanging out in that tree.

    As I made my first post-flood trip on the Guadalupe, I came to the confluence with the Comal River and noticed that the previous structure had been removed and a beautiful submerged cypress, root ball and all, had setlled right in the center of the confluence. It's like the gift that keeps on giving... bass. I floated around that tree and pulled out 7 bass from one structure. Take turns casting just at the edge of the canopy and pulling towards the river. Then cast parallel to the canopy and retrieve parallel to the trunk. Lastly, cast over the tree (if you can), and pull the lure from the river towards the edge of the canopy. These simulate a baitfish leaving the tree for the river, a baitfish swimming along the tree and lastly, a baitfish entering the tree.

The Largemouth above was caught along the submerged tree at the confluence using a green baby brush hog, weedless. I casted past the tree canopy and pulled it back parallel to the trunk. I watched this bass work from the center of the canopy to the edge as my bait approached. Once my line crossed his path, he quickly darted out to the lure and swallowed it whole. Then the fight was on.

    The same goes for new structure in the rapids. Though usually 7 fish can't hide behind one rock, a new eddy or series of rocks strung out will create a new haven for Guadalupes and Smallmouths. Approaching the first set of rapids below Cypress Bend Park is a flat stretch of river that has many newly placed submerged rocks. Work for Guads along the sides of the rocks and see what you can pull up. 

   

This Guadalupe Bass was lurking behind a new rock just below CBP. 




   After a flood you can't just assume that a spot that worked for you in the past will still work. I'm not saying it won't because it might... but go find the new spots, I guarantee you the fish have.