Freshwater · Spring and fall; summer at dawn in the creek runs

Guadalupe Bass

Micropterus treculii

The Texas state fish — a jewel of a black bass found nowhere else on Earth but the limestone creeks of the Hill Country, where it fights the current and crayfish-plucks the rock gardens.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

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Aug

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Oct

Nov

Dec

Guadalupe Bass — Photo: iNaturalist contributor (CC0 release, via Wikimedia Commons), CC0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Texas's state fish — a small black bass found ONLY in the Edwards Plateau streams of central Texas
Jaw does NOT reach past the eye; the lateral line is broken by a series of dark diamond-shaped blotches
Rows of dark spots below the lateral line, like a spotted bass, but on a stream fish with a Guadalupe address
Bronze-green back, pale belly, and faint vertical bars on juveniles
Look-alike: spotted bass share the spotted belly rows but live in lakes and big rivers; a spotted bass in a Hill Country creek is likely a Guadalupe or a hybrid

Habits

A creature of current: the only black bass evolved for life in rocky, spring-fed streams
Territorial around rock piles and ledges; males guard nests in spring in quiet pockets
Feeds on crayfish, hellgrammites and small sunfish picked off the rocks
Hybridizes readily with introduced smallmouth bass — a real conservation concern in its home creeks

Distribution

Austin, TX · Texas — Inland Lakes★ Primary

Where to find them

The Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake — its namesake water
The Llano, Pedernales and San Marcos rivers in the Texas Hill Country
Blanco River and Cibolo Creek limestone runs

Where they live

Spring-fed limestone creeksRocky runs and poolsEdwards Plateau rivers

How to catch them

Creek casting around rock

Rig: Light casting or spinning gear, small jig or ned rig

Bait/lure: Crawfish-pattern crankbaits and small creature baits

Key tip: Cast tight to ledges and let the current sweep the bait past — river bass face upstream.

Fly fishing the runs

Rig: 5-6 wt fly rod, weighted crawfish and baitfish patterns

Bait/lure: Small streamers and crawfish flies

Key tip: Guadalupe bass crush a crawfish fly dead-drifted through a pool tail-out — sight-fishing at its best.

Best baits & lures

Small crawfish-pattern crankbaits and jigsSoft-plastic creature baits in green pumpkinSmall swimbaits and ned rigs in clear water

Techniques Academy →

Baseline setup

Rod: 6'6"-7' medium spinning or casting rod
Line: 8-12 lb fluorocarbon
Terminal: Small jigs, ned rigs, crawfish crankbaits, drop shots

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

7'3" medium-heavy casting rod

≈ US$100-150

One rod for jigs, Texas rigs and frogs — the bass workhorse.

Reel · Budget

7.1:1 baitcasting reel

≈ US$80-120

Fast retrieve for pitching and quickly taking up slack on hooksets.

Line · Budget

15 lb fluorocarbon (200 yd)

≈ US$18-25

Invisible in clear water, sensitive on rock, abrasion resistant.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 1/2-1 1/2 lb; large specimens 3-4 lb

On the table

Mostly catch-and-release — it is the Texas state fish and a treasured native; check local rules before keeping one.

Similar species

Spotted BassSpotted bass live in reservoirs and big rivers and grow larger; Guadalupe bass are stream-only, Texas-only, and marked with diamond blotches along the lateral line

Largemouth BassLargemouth have an unspotted lower body and a jaw reaching past the eye; Guadalupe bass carry spotted rows below the lateral line and a shorter jaw

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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