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San Antonio has a river running through its tourist district. Not next to it. Through it. The San Antonio River winds under bridges, past restaurants and shops, through the Alamo grounds, and south through the historic Spanish missions, and the entire time, it holds fish. Largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass (the state fish of Texas, found almost nowhere else), channel catfish, flathead catfish, sunfish, and Rio Grande cichlids swim under the feet of 15 million tourists a year who have no idea they are there.
Beyond the river, San Antonio has city park lakes stocked with rainbow trout in winter and channel catfish year-round through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Neighborhood Fishin' program. And just 15 to 20 minutes south of downtown, two power plant reservoirs, Braunig Lake and Calaveras Lake, hold red drum, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish in warm water that produces year-round action.
This is fishing with the Alamo in your rearview mirror. No boat. No long drive. Just a rod and the knowledge of where to go.
The San Antonio River: Mission Reach and Beyond
The San Antonio River runs 240 miles from the springs north of downtown to its confluence with the Guadalupe River, but the best urban fishing is in the 8-mile Mission Reach section, a restored riparian corridor running from downtown south through four 18th-century Spanish missions (Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, Mission Espada). The San Antonio River Authority invested $380 million in restoring the Mission Reach, recreating natural meanders, planting native vegetation, and installing habitat features. The fish responded.
Where on the San Antonio River
Mission Reach (King William to Mission Espada): The premier urban fishing stretch. Walk-on and bike access from the Mission Reach Hike and Bike Trail, which runs the full 8 miles alongside the river. Access points at every mission. The restored sections with natural banks, riffles, and pools hold the best fish. Guadalupe bass and largemouth bass hold in the current seams and structure. Catfish in the deeper pools.
Espada Dam: A low-head dam near Mission Espada that concentrates fish in the pool below. Largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, catfish, and sunfish. Walk-on from the trail. One of the most productive spots on the river.
Brackenridge Park (North of downtown): A historic 343-acre park with 2.2 miles of the San Antonio River. The river here is slower and deeper, holding catfish, bass, and sunfish. Walk-on from the park's multiple entrances. Near the San Antonio Zoo and Japanese Tea Garden.
The River Walk (Downtown): You can technically fish the River Walk. People do. There are bass, catfish, and the distinctive suckermouth catfish (a tropical armored catfish that has established in the warm water). The logistics are awkward, tourist foot traffic, narrow walkways, restaurant patios, but the fish are real. Fish early morning before the crowds or in the quieter sections upstream of the commercial stretch.
San Antonio River Techniques
Guadalupe bass: The prize. Texas's state fish is a stream bass endemic to the Edwards Plateau, and the Mission Reach is one of the best places to catch them on foot. A 6-foot light spinning rod, 1000-size reel, 6-pound fluorocarbon. Small crankbaits (Rapala Ultra Light Minnow, Rebel Crawfish) cast to current seams, riffles, and bridge pilings. Or Ned rigs and small soft plastics bounced along the rocky bottom. Guadalupe bass are typically 8 to 14 inches, small but aggressive.
Largemouth bass: Texas-rigged soft plastics (creature baits, Senko worms) pitched to the deeper pools and overhanging vegetation. The largemouths in the Mission Reach are 1 to 4 pounds. Also respond well to topwater frogs and buzzbaits in the slower sections.
Channel catfish: Cut bait or nightcrawlers on a bottom rig in the deeper pools. Every section of the river holds channel cats. The deeper pools below dams and bridge pilings concentrate them.
Rio Grande cichlids: These colorful panfish are native to the river and aggressively hit small lures, flies, and bait. Fun on ultralight tackle.
Fishing the San Antonio Riverwalk, Urban Bass Fishing Texas Catching Solid Bass Sight Fishing Urban San Antonio River, Espada Dam ParkCity Park Lakes: Stocked Trout and Catfish
San Antonio's city parks include several fishable lakes, two of which are part of the TPWD Neighborhood Fishin' program, stocked monthly with channel catfish and seasonally with rainbow trout for easy, accessible urban fishing.
Top Park Lakes
Woodlawn Lake Park: A 30-acre lake in a 62-acre park just north of downtown. The lake holds largemouth bass, channel catfish, and is stocked with rainbow trout in winter (December-March). Walk-on with paved paths around the lake, a pier, and park facilities. One of the best urban fishing spots in the city.
South Side Lions Park Lake: Part of the Neighborhood Fishin' program. Monthly catfish stockings May through October, rainbow trout stockings December through March. Walk-on with parking, piers, and picnic areas. Family-friendly.
Millers Pond Park: The second Neighborhood Fishin' lake in San Antonio. Same stocking schedule, monthly catfish and seasonal trout. Walk-on with a fishing pier. Located on the east side.
Elmendorf Lake: A neighborhood lake in front of Our Lady of the Lake University on the west side. Holds bass, catfish, and panfish year-round. Walk-on from the park. Less crowded than the Neighborhood Fishin' lakes.
How to Fish Stocked Park Lakes
Rainbow trout (December-March): PowerBait on a bottom rig or small spinners (Panther Martin, Rooster Tail 1/16-ounce) retrieved slowly. Fish within 48 hours of stocking for the best action, check the TPWD Neighborhood Fishin' stocking schedule.
Channel catfish (May-October stocking, bite year-round): Nightcrawlers, chicken liver, or stink bait on a bottom rig. Cast to the deeper sections and wait. Catfish run 1 to 4 pounds in these lakes.
Largemouth bass (year-round): Senko worms (wacky rig), small Beetle Spins, or Texas-rigged soft plastics. Fish the shoreline structure, docks, fallen branches, any shade.
Elmendorf Lake, An Urban Fishing Gem in the Heart of San AntonioPower Plant Reservoirs: Redfish and Hybrids
Two coal-fired power plant cooling reservoirs sit just 15 to 20 minutes south of downtown San Antonio, and they hold fish species you would not expect to find 150 miles from the coast.
Braunig Lake
A 1,350-acre reservoir 17 miles south of downtown. CPS Energy uses it as a cooling pond, which keeps the water warm year-round, and that warm water supports an unlikely mix of species.
Red drum (redfish): Yes, redfish in a freshwater lake near San Antonio. Stocked by TPWD, they thrive in the warm water and grow to 30 inches. The most popular sport fish in the lake. Catch them on cut bait (shrimp, mullet) or artificial lures (gold spoons, soft plastics). Daily limit: 3, minimum 20 inches, only one over 28 inches.
Hybrid striped bass: Active fighters that school in the open water. Cast white or chartreuse swimbaits or trolling spoons. Best in cooler months.
Largemouth bass and catfish: Also present and catchable year-round.
Access: Shore fishing from the park areas. $5 per person entry fee. Boat access available but not required, the shore fishing for redfish is productive.
Calaveras Lake
A 3,624-acre power plant reservoir 20 minutes southeast of downtown. Similar warm-water fishery.
Red drum: Same stocking program as Braunig. Redfish are the primary draw.
Largemouth bass: Healthy population. The warm water keeps bass active year-round.
Channel and blue catfish: Abundant. Cut bait on bottom rigs.
Access: Shore fishing from the park. Entry fee applies. Both lakes are run by CPS Energy with park amenities (piers, restrooms, parking).
San Antonio's Hidden Bass Fishing Sweet Spots, Urban Fishing GoldFishing Licence and Regulations
Texas fishing licence: Required for anyone 17+. Resident freshwater annual $30. Nonresident freshwater annual $58. One-day all-water $16. Buy at txfgsales.com, Walmart, Academy Sports, or any licence vendor.
Red drum (Braunig/Calaveras): Daily limit 3, slot size 20 to 28 inches, only one over 28 inches. Same regulations as coastal redfish.
Largemouth bass: Daily limit 5, minimum 14 inches.
Guadalupe bass: Part of the black bass daily limit (5 combined). Minimum 12 inches. Catch and release encouraged, they are a conservation-priority species.
Channel catfish: Daily limit 25, no minimum size.
San Antonio River: Open to fishing year-round. Standard TPWD inland regulations apply.
When to Fish
March-May (Spring): The best season. Bass spawn on the Mission Reach. Catfish become aggressive. Redfish active at Braunig and Calaveras. Comfortable weather before the summer heat.
June-September (Summer): Fish early morning or late evening, San Antonio summers hit 100°F+. River fishing for catfish peaks at dawn and dusk. Redfish still active in the warm reservoir water. Catfish stocking at park lakes.
October-November (Fall): Excellent all-around fishing. Bass feed aggressively. Redfish schooling. Cooling temperatures make all-day fishing possible.
December-February (Winter): Trout stocking at park lakes. River fishing slower but catfish still bite on warm days. Redfish still active at the power plant reservoirs, warm water means year-round fishing.
Practical Details
Getting there: San Antonio is a car city. Most fishing spots have free parking. The Mission Reach trail is bikeable from downtown (VIA Metropolitan Transit has bike racks on buses). The River Walk is walkable from any downtown hotel. Braunig and Calaveras Lakes require a car, 15 to 20 minutes on I-37 South.
Gear that travels: A two-piece 6'6" medium spinning rod covers everything, river bass, park lake catfish, and reservoir redfish. For Guadalupe bass on the Mission Reach, a light or ultralight rod is more fun. For Braunig/Calaveras redfish, a medium-heavy rod handles the bigger fish.
Tackle shops: Bass Pro Shops (The Rim, northwest SA), Academy Sports + Outdoors (multiple locations), Tackletarts (local shop with river and reservoir intel).
For more Texas urban fishing, see urban fishing in Houston (Buffalo Bayou alligator gar), urban fishing in Austin (Lady Bird Lake record largemouth), or urban fishing in Dallas (White Rock Lake and Trinity River).
Heat safety: Same as Houston, brutal summers. Fish early or late. Bring water. Sunscreen and hat mandatory. The Mission Reach trail has minimal shade in some sections.
Urban Fishing Downtown San Antonio TX Riverwalk
