Offering Guided Trips on Lake Calaveras and Guadalupe River
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I choose Hill Country Fishin'?
At Hill Country Fishin' I simply believe that I offer the best valued trip for a reasonable rate so that anyone can enjoy a memorable fishing experience and learn how to become a better fisherman. I AM A FULL TIME GUIDE making my living from fishing, spending 200 plus days a year on the lakes.
How many fish are we going to catch and am I going to catch a limit?
I will do my absolute best using my knowledge and experience to put you on as many fish as possible, with limits of fish common but not guaranteed. Texas Parks and Wildlife allows for 25 catfish per day per person, 25 white bass per person per day and 5 hybrid stripers per person per day.
How many people can you take on a trip?
I can safely accomodate 4 guests on my boat, if you are interested in taking a large group or corporate trips we can arrange guide services to help accomodate larger groups.
How long is my gift certificate good for?
A gift certifcate is good for 6 months from the date of purchase and is non-refundable. Best thing to do is book your trip two weeks in advance once you have settled on a date.
How do you clean our catch?
I fillet all fish. If you would like them skinned or some other method of cleaning them; you are responsible for that method. Filleting offers the best boneless meat there is on the fish.
How do I arrange payment for my trip?
A $50.00 non- refundable deposit is required on all trips prior to trip date and can be made by mailing a check, money order or cash. This will reserve your date and times. Remaining balance of trip is expected in full the morning of the trip before departure with cash or money order only. Complete payment in full for your trip is also accepted prior to trip date. (email hillcountryfishin@yahoo.com for mailing address)
What if I need to change the date of my trip?
If you need to change your date, simply contact me at least 5 days prior to your trip as proper notification so we can re-book your trip.
What's the best time of year to book a trip with HCF?
Catfishing is great year round . I can successfully put you catfish through out the seasons with spring and early summer being the best for numbers and fall generally the best for size.
White Bass trips are offered from the end of February to the end of March. These trips are dependent on the migration of white bass up the river, however these are good times to reserve a date.
What about cancellations?
If you have a last minute cancellation or no show on your trip, then your deposit is forfeited; otherwise I can reschedule your trip. Again, contact me and we can come to an agreement or date that hopefully works for everyone.
Are Children allowed on Trips?
Yes, I encourage it! Children age 13 and younger are required by law to wear a PFD (life jacket) for the full duration of the trip and you are responsible for providing a proper fitting PFD for your child or young adult as they are different than adult sizes.
What baits will we use on our trip?
We will use fresh caught shad on many trips for Catfish, however we will use Big Marv's Cheesbait, Team Catfish Secret 7 Bait & Danny King's Punch Bait on our trips and jug line trips we use Rednecks Catfish Bait Soap as a proven bait for set line fishing.
White Bass Fishing Trips will be done primarily with artificial baits (lures) and minnows used upon your request.
Can I bring my own rod and reels or gear on a trip?
Yes you can, however I prefer for you to use our provided quality tackle as it's best for for the different styles of fishing you will encounter on each trip. If you want to bring your own rod and reels, please let us know prior to the trip. As far as gear (tackle) this is all included on your trip as part of my service.
You will need a cooler in your vehicle for transporting your fish home upon completion of the trip, other than this simply bring yourself, sunscreen, sunglasses, a valid Texas Fishing License, any food you may want, and anticipate a great day on the water!
Questions or Concerns? Contact us @ 830.822.7064 or hillcountryfishin@yahoo.com
Slip Bobber Set up
I recieve alot of questions on how to set up a slip bobber and hopefully this brief description and pictures will help you out.
Place Twine knot and tube thru mainline
Remove Twine from tube above the black tube.
Take tube off of mainline, leaving twine knot on line about 3 ft up. ( you can adjust the depth by moving this knot up or down until you find the depth you wish to fish at)
Thread bobber stop bead onto line
Next thread bobber onto line and tie a swivel on below the bobber so all of your attachments don't slide off.
Next attach a leader onto swivel (braided line works well) and tie on hook of choice.
Punch and dip bait use a #6 or #8 size treble hook
PunchBait
Here are some pictures of different flavors of Punchbait that we use at HCF.
This picture should give you an idea of what punchbait looks like and the texture. It has a better texture than dip bait and tends to stay on the hook better. Many methods to putting in on a treble hook. Simply push the hook into the canister at an angle , roll it around once or twice and remove out at an angle using one of the below mentioned devices.
Some are:
Stick
Paint Stick
Modified ScrewDrivers
Needle nose pliers work well
and lastly your hands but it will leave a distinct smell on them for a bit.
It's a good idea to have a towel handy to wipe off with when using punchbait in the event it gets on you.
