bluecordfishermen 
Lost Maples State Natural Area, Vanderpool TX
Lat / Long: 29.808763 -99.572541
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lost-maples
9 MAR 2019:
The Background
After a long week at work, the weekend looked like nothing but storms. Spring in Texas means predictions are just a guess. Saturday afternoon was full Spring. I decided to take advantage of the weather and took off for Garner State Park. The Frio River runs through the Park making it a popular destination as soon as the weather warms enough to wear shorts and tank tops. I also forgot that this week is Spring Break for Texas Schools. I got the Garner at about 3:15pm. The entrance closes at 4:00pm. There had to be 150 people waiting to get in and grab a camp site for Spring Break. I had number 20, but the now serving number was 60. Having the sharp mind of a Pennsylvania Dutchman, I considered developing plan B. Lost Maples was the new objective.
Change on the Move
Lost Maples gets trout stocked in FEB so it made sense to drive 40 minutes before it was too late. I called ahead to make sure the Spring Break hoards were not ahead of me. The Park Management staff answered with only the kind of charm found in the Hill Country. I let her know I would arrive after 4:30 and she said, “just fill out the pass and slip it in the box with my Texas Park Pass Number.” No line. No cash. No problems. Typical Hill Country common sense.
Texas Route 337 between Leakey and Vanderpool has to be driven to be appreciated. 337 is one of the best drives outside of the Big Bend National Park. That drive alone was worth the afternoon.
After signing in, I did a quick recon and decide to work the Sabinal and not take the short hike to the pond. After my waders were on, a Park Ranger appeared. She let me know the trout are in the pond but the Sabinal River is catch and release for the pan fish and bass.
The bass in the Hill Country spawn in early March. The mama bass were on their nest and not responding to anything. The male bass were patrolling all over but not taking. These bass were Guadalupe Bass. Smaller than large mouth but they have the red eyes like their cousin small mouths.
The pool by the low water crossing appears as shallow. The clear water is deceptive and the holes were around the four foot mark. One large bass circled me like a menancing predator. He stopped 3 feet from me and just stared. I stared back at his red eyes. We both got bored with this and he moved on and ignored everything I chucked at him. Dry flies got little attention.
Results
Other than some colorful small pan fish (Green or Warmouth Sunfish), I had no luck. I did have a few follows by young bass over the late afternoon. Around 30 minutes before dark, everything changed. The bass started patrolling the shallows and I switched from a small streamer to a Woolly Buggar that I tied myself. It became one of those evenings to remember. Caught some small bass but had the big guy that eyeballed me. Of course he got off the hook after his first run but it was worth just having a bass that size on a 4 weight fly rod. Unfortunately, my phone died from attempting to find a signal and I have no pictures. Perfect excuse for the fisherman in all of us.
It all ended badly. My woolly Buggar got caught in a tree and in my rush to get it out, I bent my rod beyond its point and it snapped just above the last section connection. I think I can repair it with some resin and carbon fiber (report to follow), but I could not fully exploit the evening feeding frenzy. It was a great way to say good-bye to winter.
Later this Spring, I’ll camp out by the pond and work the morning hatch or try my luck hiking further up the Sabinal.
Description:
Lost Maples is a Texas State Natural Area near Vanderpool TX along Highway (Farm Road) 187. The Sabinal River runs through the park but at this point you are very close to the head waters of this river in the Hill Country. (Translation: its a medium size creek and in some places just a babbling brook) The park gets packed in the fall when the leaves start changing
The low areas of the park have a large number of maples. Hiking is great but be prepared for steep climbs and rugged paths. These are paths not designed for strollers and the elderly. Several places will require using all fours. There is a large day use area for picnics and a separate area for primitive camping. Also available are a limited number of trailer sites (30).
The article below is from the Texas Park Guide:
Access: How to get to Lost Maples
From Bandera take Highway 16 north to Medina. West end of Medina, head west (left) onto Highway FM 337 toward Vanderpool. At Vanderpool, take Ranch Road (hwy) 187 North 4.9 miles to the Park entrance. Other routes will work but its 39 miles and the shortest option.
Permits to enter are just $6 dollars. Annual pass for all Texas State Parks is $75 a year. With a pass or permit, you do not need a Texas fishing license
Launch Site: N/A
Kayak launch point at the low water crossing. The Sabinal up stream to the next low water crossing is limited in depth.
Bank Fishing:
Easy bank fishing from the low water crossings are good options. Many parts of the Sabinal are tough to access due to bogs. WATCH FOR SNAKES.
Boat Fishing:
A kayak would be useful. Launch from the low water crossing and head up stream. A kayak could get you to spots that are protected by a very boggy bank. Boats our out of the question for what on the east coast would be called a creek.
Hot Spots:
Low water crossing pool is the only spot I tried. I will try the pond in the future. I did not go up stream towards the Day Use area. Hiking north of the day use is next on my list of places to try. My guess is that the fish get very little pressure.
Editor’s Opinion:
Lost Maples in the Fall should be on every Texan’s bucket list. Outside of the Fall, it’s a great kept secret. Creek fishing for the Small Mouth Bass in the Sabinal or trout in the pond deeper in the park are on my list. Camping out and fishing early and late make the most sense logistically. Hiking during the day gives lots of opportunities. This park is a gem in the Hill Country. This could be a back country fishing trip. Watch for future post.
SAFETY
- For any Natural area in Texas, keep an eye out for snakes.
- For any hikes, take plenty of water since the trails do not have access to potable water.
- Cell phone coverage is spotty at best. Lack of coverage will result in a rapid loss of battery power. If you need to rely on your phone for maps, I recommend switching to airplane mode. Better yet get paper maps.
- The hills in this part of Texas are steep and often include cliffs. The views are spectacular and worth the hike but watch the edges.
LOGISTICs:
Lodging: Local to the park are some guest cabins and ranches. Leaky has a lot of places to stay. The best bet is to camp at Lost Maples either in a RV or tent (30 sites)
Food: Vanderpool has a few places but limited. Leakey has plenty but that includes the scenic part of FM 337. Bandera has the most selection.
Tackle: For fly fishing if you don’t bring it, San Antonio Bass Pro shop is the closest place to purchase fly tackle. Local general stores and gas stations have a limited selection of general purpose fishing tackle. Closest place for a wide selection (non-fly fishing) is Kerrville. Bandera has Boyles Hardware at the intersection of HWY 173 and HWY 16.