Fishing the Comal River

   Fishing the pristine waters of the Comal River can be extremely fun, offering a chance for inexperienced anglers to target aggressive sunfish or experienced anglers to pursue tight-lipped bass. Fed by springs bubbling up in Landa Park, the Comal River is the shortest navigable river in Texas and lies solely within the jurisdictional boundaries of New Braunfels. The river is home to many species of freshwater fish, vegetation and some endangered plants and animals.

   I'll save the biology and ecology lessons for later, but be aware of a few things...

1. The Fountain Darter is an endangered fish, and while you want catch any on your hook, try no to wade in areas that would destroy their habitat.

2. Most the other endangered species are subterranean or in such skinny water you won't target fish near them (Endangered Species of the Edwards Aquifer).

3. There are several invasive plant and animal species which you should be aware of. TPWD lists them here. Personally I do anything I can to remove these species from our habitat. Your help is greatly appreciated in not only removing invasive species but protecting the habitats of our native species as well.

The Water:

   The water is almost constantly 72˚F and, excepting any recent rain, the clarity can be easily > 15' near the source and generally > 10' where it terminates in to the Guadalupe. Besides the upper reaches of Landa Park and Landa Lake, recreational activities are allowed throughout and during the summer, this pressures fish away from some areas altogether.

   The river actually splits for about a mile, having two exits from Landa Lake, dubbed the "old" and "new" cuts (or channels, view the flow rates here as Comal River (oc) and Comal River (nc)). From the Landa Park train station down to the LCRA building, through the old Hydro plant and down past Lone Star tubes is a hand dug mill race for the Landa industries of yore. The original Landa Lake emptied through the spring-fed pool and behind the tee box of hole #2, meandering through the golf course, behind Schlitterbahn (and the old Landa Resort) and dumps in to the "Comal" under the bridge between Prince Solms and Hinman Island Parks. Access to the old cut can be managed but most people just use the new cut and the rest of the river to the Guadalupe. 

   There are a few bridges that cross the Comal (below the Wurstfest grounds); a Union Pacific bridge by Wurstfest, the San Antonio St. bridge and the Lincoln St. bridge. The banks are typically shallow mud banks, lined with Cypress trees, elephant ears and various bushes.

The Fish:

   The Comal is home to many native species like the Largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, various Sunfish, the Rio Grande Cichlid, Blue catfish and Smallmouth Bass. There are also invasive and exotic species like Grass carp, Mozambique tilapia and Armored catfish (plecostomus). 

    Targeting fish from the banks is difficult, but if you can find an area without much dense vegetation lining the banks to cast, it can be fruitful. Kayak fishing is much more convenient (as are float tubes and canoes). Below I'll list a fish and briefly describe where I target them and what method I use.

Largemouth Bass- usually in slower water along the banks or near cover/structure; consistently catching them on a Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hog in watermelon/red flake.

Guadalupe Bass- usually found in eddies or edges of current; consistently catching them on Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hog in watermelon/red flake or a pumpkin/black flake Ultra Vibe Speed Craw Texas-rigged.

*To my knowledge a Guadalupe Bass hasn't been caught above the city tube chute. I have literally caught hundreds of LMB above the tube chute without one Guad or hybrid. I have caught hundreds of Guads below the tube chute though.*

Smallmouth Bass- usually found in shallower moving water and eddies; catching them on pumpkin/black flake Ultra Vibe Speed Craws and olive/red flake Grass Pig Jrs. both Texas-rigged.

Sunfish and Rio Grande Cichlids- found in shallow water near banks and near underwater cover; frequently caught on a live worm pinched in half on a long shank crappie hook. I don't use a weight or bobber but cast and let it sink to the bottom.

Blue Catfish- found hiding near the bottom and around structure during the day, usually they rise in the column at night to feed; consistently catch on small cut bait or live worms, both near the surface.

Get out there and catch them folks and I encourage you to release them back so your grandchildren and mine can enjoy them.