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Words and images by Spot's copywriter, Alison Munshower
I’m a total novice when it comes to fly fishing. However, after being introduced to it last spring, I quickly fell in love with the peacefulness of being on the water surrounded by nature while waiting for a fish to follow or swipe at my fly.
That being said, I was looking to squeeze in one last float before the end of the year—it was November 2023 and I was feeling particularly adventurous during a stretch of unseasonably warm weather. I ventured onto AnyCreek—a new platform that connects outdoor enthusiasts with fishing and hunting guides—to book a guided float for myself here in Austin.
The Process: From Booking to Boat Launch
A quick search on AnyCreek based on my location produced a list of guides and outfitters in the Austin area, along with their qualifications, customer reviews and a link to where I could request to book. Once I found a guide that seemed like a good fit, I entered a few details about myself, my credit card info (a deposit was required) and requested a date (the following Tuesday). Shortly after, I received an email from AnyCreek confirming that my trip had been accepted. The whole process, from researching guides to booking, took about 45 minutes.
That afternoon I received a text from my guide, Andrew Milliorn from Angler's Choice Fly Fishing, coordinating the details of our trip and to let me know we’d be floating the San Marcos, a spring-fed river located between Austin and San Antonio. We planned to meet at 9:30 the following Tuesday morning—he dropped a pin to our exact meetup spot in Martindale, TX, approximately 40 minutes south of where I live in Austin—and advised me to bring polarized sunglasses (he had extras just in case), layers that I could shed as the day warmed up and directed me to a website where I could purchase a day fishing license for $16. Everything else—the rods, reels, flies, snacks and water—were provided by Andrew. And while I felt a bit nervous (this was only my third time fly fishing), I also felt fully prepared and reassured knowing that I could easily contact Andrew via text or phone call in the event something came up.
The Float
It was a brisk 40-something degrees on the morning of the float, with highs forecast to reach the 70s. Before heading to our meetup spot, I stopped at my local café to warm up with a large coffee and a breakfast taco... always give yourself extra time to fuel up before a long day on the water.
Forty minutes later, I pulled up to meet Andrew at the take-out spot where we’d disembark from the river after our float. After quick introductions, we shuttled about five minutes to the launch point, saving me an extra trip back to my car after we wrapped up for the day. When we arrived at the launch point, we went over a few casting basics and set out on our half-day float (about four hours) down the river.
As we launched, I noticed the first sign of fall in the vibrant orange leaves hanging from the massive cypress trees lining the riverbank. Reaching heights of at least 100 feet, the cypress tree is one of the longest-lived trees in Texas and a welcoming source of shade for anglers during the sweltering summer months. The aftermath of severe storms that hit the area a few days prior was also evident—we had to maneuver around wayward branches, low-hanging limbs and several small rapids. At one point, we came across a fallen tree blocking our path down the river, which required some skillful boat maneuvering from Andrew… all part of the adventure.
It was smooth sailing once we rowed past the initial rapids and Andrew gave me a refresher on proper casting techniques. He quickly got me up to speed and I soon fell into a rhythm, gaining confidence with each cast. I caught a few different species of fish during our trip down the San Marcos, including sunfish, Guadalupe bass and largemouth bass. After each catch, Andrew took the time to teach me about each fish and point out their distinguished features before quickly releasing them back into the water. He also made sure to switch out my fly every so often, allowing me to take a different approach to fooling the fish.
During the final stretch of water, I landed my biggest catch of the day—the white bass. Andrew informed me that the white bass is considered somewhat of a rare catch in the San Marcos, where it’s more common to find the smaller species I caught earlier. I was stoked to end the day on a high note.
Parting Words
The beauty of fly fishing is that it broadens your scope of knowledge about your surroundings. It also exposes you to people who are doing cool things and gives you the chance to interact with and learn from them. By the end, you realize you’ve bonded with a complete stranger through a shared experience in the outdoors. And while Andrew and I chatted at length about the aquatic life in the San Marcos, we also chatted about our favorite local restaurants and wine bars. I ultimately learned that Andrew parted ways with a 10+ year career in hospitality as a sommelier to pursue his passion for fly fishing and teaching.
A year ago, I doubt I would have considered embarking on a fly fishing excursion. I was intimidated—I didn’t think I had any business sharing a boat with a professional guide for fear that they’d judge my lack of experience or, worse, be irritated by it. Looking back, I’m glad I took the leap because my fears never came to fruition… even after the fifth or sixth time my fly snagged a low-hanging branch. Huge thanks to you, Andrew, for your patience!
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