Idyllic waterway venues welcome surplus of fish and families

  • Lee Payne of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released trout into Hamilton Creek Dec. 28. Photos by Grace Gates/Luedecke Photography
    Lee Payne of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released trout into Hamilton Creek Dec. 28. Photos by Grace Gates/Luedecke Photography
  • Maddie Surasky, 11, patiently waited for her first bite Dec. 28, beside Hamilton Creek at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department rainbow trout release.
    Maddie Surasky, 11, patiently waited for her first bite Dec. 28, beside Hamilton Creek at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department rainbow trout release.
  • Thursday, Dec. 28, Mary Jane Partain, 4; Jesse Seissom, 8; Faith Seissom, 12; and Madison Montes, 14, arrived at Hamilton Creek Park with poles in hand for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Rainbow Trout release. Photos by Grace Gates/Luedecke Photography
    Thursday, Dec. 28, Mary Jane Partain, 4; Jesse Seissom, 8; Faith Seissom, 12; and Madison Montes, 14, arrived at Hamilton Creek Park with poles in hand for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Rainbow Trout release. Photos by Grace Gates/Luedecke Photography
  • Steven Garcia held the rainbow trout he caught after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released 750 Rainbow Trout at Hamilton Creek Park Thursday, Dec. 28.
    Steven Garcia held the rainbow trout he caught after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department released 750 Rainbow Trout at Hamilton Creek Park Thursday, Dec. 28.
  • The banks of Hamilton Creek were lined with anglers Thursday, Dec. 28, for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department rainbow trout release. Find more photos on Page 7.
    The banks of Hamilton Creek were lined with anglers Thursday, Dec. 28, for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department rainbow trout release. Find more photos on Page 7.

Visitors from all over can enjoy fishing for rainbow trout this winter after Texas Parks and Wildlife makes its stop at several locations throughout the state this winter.

The agency made its annual stop at Hamilton Creek Park on Thursday morning, Dec. 28.

Parks personnel were met by eager anglers as approximately 750 trout were released into the waterway park venue in Burnet.

Nicci Pack, a TPWD representative, invited children to hold fish be- fore they were cast into the water. Once the trout were released, kids and adults alike took the opportunity to practice both their skills and their patience.

Rainbow trout are popular fish that thrive in cold water. According to TPWD’s website, they are attracted to a variety of baits and lures and do not require elaborate equipment to catch.

The department does recommend bringing along a bucket of ice to keep the tasty fish fresh. There is not a minimum length requirement to keep a rainbow trout, and anglers can take home up to five per day.

Texas Parks and Wildlife announced on Nov. 16 that it is delivering over 340,000 trout across the state through March 1. Locations include dozens of local and county park ponds, portions of the Guadalupe, Brazos, Trinity and South Llano rivers, and 18 urban lakes, courtesy of TPWD’s Neighborhood Fishin’ Program. This year’s stocking started on Nov. 22.

Since rainbow trout are usually unable to survive the summer months in Texas, TPWD is encouraging anglers to keep up to their daily bag limit. If Hamilton Creek happens to run dry, W.M. Brook park in Lampasas recently received a stocking, and Llano’s Grenweldge park will receive 2,000 trout on Feb. 4. Also, the stocking program took the agency crew to Castell on Dec. 5 in Llano County with 2,400 trout.

Texas Parks and Wildlife’s winter tradition provides a great opportunity forfamilies to spend quality time outdoors. For more information, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov.

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