1629 Hunter Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Gruene Outfitters is the marquee fly shop of the Texas Hill Country, headquartered in the historic riverside district of Gruene — a Victorian-era cotton settlement now celebrated as one of Texas's most charming destination towns. Situated steps from the Guadalupe River and the legendary Gruene Hall dance hall, the shop has built its identity around the Guadalupe River tailwater, a genuinely world-class cold-water fishery sustained by cold hypolimnetic releases from Canyon Lake that supports a thriving population of stocked and holdover rainbow and brown trout in an otherwise subtropical Texas landscape. The Guadalupe is the only trout stream in Texas, and Gruene Outfitters is its dedicated steward.
The shop provides guided wade fishing on the Guadalupe from Canyon Lake Dam downstream through the Guadalupe River State Park sections, as well as access to private leased stretches that offer relief from the pressure on public water. Staff are specialists in the specific tactics that work on the Guadalupe — small San Juan worms, midge larvae, egg patterns, and the occasional dry fly opportunity during the river's rare hatch windows. Beyond trout, the shop covers the full spectrum of Texas freshwater fly fishing: largemouth and smallmouth bass on the Llano and Pedernales, Rio Grande cichlids in the warmer spring-fed rivers, and the alligator gar and carp opportunities that make Texas a uniquely diverse fly fishing destination. The Hill Country location and Gruene's Victorian streetscape make every trip here feel like a proper excursion.
“Best fly fishing experience I've had in Texas, period. Our guide knew the Guadalupe below Canyon Lake Dam better than I know my own neighborhood — he had us wading the best lies within minutes and we were into fish constantly from 8 AM through the afternoon. Landed 14 rainbows and a chunky brown that had clearly been in the river for a couple of seasons. The shop is beautiful, well-stocked, and staffed by people who genuinely love this river.”
“I live in Austin and Gruene Outfitters has become my annual winter tradition. The Guadalupe tailwater is legitimately surprising for a Texas river — cold, clear water, rising trout, and gorgeous Hill Country scenery. The shop's guided trips are perfectly organized and our guide taught me more about reading water in a single day than I'd learned in years of solo fishing. The Gruene Historic District location makes the whole experience special.”
“Took my son for his first fly fishing experience and the team at Gruene Outfitters were perfect hosts. Patient guide, exactly the right amount of instruction, and he had my 12-year-old landing his first trout within an hour. The Guadalupe is an accessible river for beginners with enough technical character to keep experienced anglers engaged. We're already planning to come back. Top-tier Texas fly shop.”
