Fishing in San Antonio

Amid historic missions and urban parks, San Antonio surprises anglers with diverse freshwater angling—from stocked lakes perfect for catfish to restored creeks quietly welcoming state‑record bass—right in the heart of the city. Beyond its vibrant cultural scene and iconic River Walk, San Antonio quietly serves up exceptional freshwater fishing within minutes of downtown. The city is woven with rivers, creeks, and neighborhood lakes that offer surprisingly varied and accessible angling options—from stocked ponds ideal for families to stretches of clean urban creeks brimming with native Guadalupe bass.

San Antonio’s angling charm lies in its mix of waterscapes. Neighborhood lakes like Millers Pond and Southside Lions Park have been regularly stocked for community "Gone Fishin’" events, offering easy, family-friendly bank access with simple gear, and the San Antonio River (especially Mission Reach and Brackenridge Park areas) and San Pedro Creek now offer access to catfish, sunfish, and even the iconic native Guadalupe bass. Twenty to thirty minutes down the road, Calaveras Lake stands out as a power-plant reservoir featuring clear structure and deep ledges — home to largemouth bass, striped bass, catfish, and red drum. Braunig Lake, also nearby, offers stained but consistent freshwater conditions across its 1,350 acres, with depths up to 50 feet and manageable clarity for boat and bank anglers.

Whether you fish lakes, rivers, or creeks, San Antonio delivers. Many fishing carter focus on red drum, a.k.a. redfish that thrives in Calaveras and Brauing Lakes despite being essentially a saltwater species. Hybrid striped bass are caught alongside redfish. You can also catch crappie, catfish, and bass. An exclusive option for fishing around San Antonio is the Guadalupe bass. Endemic to Texas and Texas state fish, it is sometimes called “Texas brook trout”, which it resembles in behavior. Being mostly insectivorous, Guadalupe bass is fun to catch on the fly, and doesn’t give up without a strong fight. It is listed as endangered, and is strictly a catch-and-release fish, but has been successfully reintroduced in Restoration Zones like San Pedro Creek.

Fishing San Antonio fits every skill and style. In local ponds, light gear with live worms or bobbers is perfect for catfish and panfish. At Calaveras, anglers chase deeper bass with crankbaits, texas-rigged plastics, or trolling techniques. Braunig offers structure-based jigging or slip-bobber setups. On the rivers and creeks, a simple bottom rig with worms or cut bait does well for catfish, while stealth and light fly fishing tackle can yield Guadalupe bass in shaded river bends.