Fishing in Boerne City, TX: The Quaint Historical City of Texas Hill Country

Deep within Texas Hill Country is Boerne, a quaint city adorned with hills of limestone and granite, lush oak forests, and unspoiled rivers and lakes. The city was originally called Tusculum in 1849, but was renamed Boerne when the town was put on the map in 1852. The name Boerne, pronounced “BURN-ee”, was given to it by German Founders as a tribute to the German author Ludwig Börne. Much of Boerne City’s history is rooted in its German heritage, a byproduct of German emigration to the United States in the 1840s during the German Revolutions of 1848-49. Traces of this history remain in old stone buildings and Boerne’s historic district along the street of Haupstrausse - German for “main street” - that contribute to the city’s picturesque, old-fashioned charm.

Boerne is the seat of Kendall County and is sparsely populated, with a population of 18,232 in 2019. Texas Hill Country is known to comprise a remote and rural section of the state, but in recent years has also become the site of growing suburban neighborhoods and retirement communities of the well-to-do.

The city is home to Boerne Lake, a clear freshwater lake covering a sprawling 189 acres. Due to the city’s measures on maintenance, Boerne Lake’s natural beauty and biodiversity remain intact, and it continues to serve as a breathtaking location for recreational activities. 

Boerne City Fishing

The key to maintaining Boerne Lake’s pristine waters is no secret. To preserve the lake’s water quality and marine life, gas-powered motors are prohibited, however, electric motors are allowed. Boerne City Park has restrictions on fish length and quantity. For instance, the length limit for largemouth and smallmouth bass is at 14 inches. There are no minimum length limits placed on Alabama, Guadalupe, and spotted bass, and each angler is only allowed up to 5 catches of smallmouth bass. The park also has restrictions on certain fishing gear - trotlines, throwlines, and juglines are prohibited.

The most popular fish species at Boerne Lake include largemouth bass, white bass, yellow bass, striped bass, and different types of sunfish such as bluegill, smallmouth bass, redear, and warmouth.

Because Boerne Lake and Boerne City’s other water bodies are known to have clear waters, anglers may have difficulty finding fish if they search only the visible areas. In clear waters, fish tend to gravitate towards spots with obscurity thanks to structures, trees, logs, or aquatic vegetation that they can hide in.

The subtropical climate of Texas means that the weather is frequently warm and humid, with mild winters. On hot, sunny days, fish are going to gravitate towards deeper areas of the lake where the temperature is cooler. Boerne Lake has a maximum depth of 49 feet, so there’s plenty of space for them to go to. Use 6, 7, or 8 weight rods - they’re ideal for deeper waters, larger fish, and longer casts. The best time to fish from June through August is early in the morning or late in the evening. Pack wet flies to catch fish swimming in deeper parts of the lake.

Another place to fish is in Cibolo Creek, which has a section that runs through downtown Boerne. Schools of smaller fish frequent its waters, which is good news for micro-fishing enthusiasts and game fish anglers, as it means that large game fish are almost always lurking nearby. Fishing at Cibolo is strictly catch-and-release.

Boerne City has had a reputation for large catches. The largest recorded catch was a 17-inch-long white bass by angler Garner Graves on June 4, 2016, though the water body was not specified. Graves used a crankbait.

One thing that makes such catches impressive is that types of bass, white bass included, are known to be tough fighters. In fact, many of the game fish that frequent Boerne City’s waters - largemouth and smallmouth bass, white bass, redear sunfish, and yellow bass - can and will put up a fight. You’ll have better luck catching such fish with heavy gear. Apart from crankbait, other lures that work on white bass include spinners or spoons that you can glide along the surface of the water. Other artificial baits involved in the city’s record catches include rubber-legged dragons, rooster tail spinners, and green poppers. Poppers mimic topwater foods such as small frogs which are part of the largemouth bass’s diet.

Live bait is also a big hit at the Boerne City fishing scene - yellow bass, in particular, have an affinity for them - with many of its record catches done with nightcrawlers, mealworms, and crayfish. Some anglers have even scored when using chicken liver.

Warmouth are among the easiest to catch, so they’re a favorite among anglers. Their preferred live bait will vary per season - minnows in the spring, and nightcrawlers in the summer. Cane poles are a top choice for anglers looking to catch these fish, and are often used in conjunction with spinning tackle and small spinners and lures. Known to dwell in swamps, warmouth have a fondness for swimming in obscure areas, such as patches of vegetation and muddy bottoms. The best time to catch them is in the morning as they sleep at night.

Every year, Boerne City hosts a Family Fishing Tournament at Cibolo Creek. To qualify, a team or a family must have at least one child and one adult.

Top 10 Fish Species in Boerne City, TX

The top species in Boerne City, TX are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, yellow bass, striped bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, crappie, and common carp.

Seasonal Fishing in Boerne City

Boerne City’s subtropical climate and mild winters ensure great year-round fishing as compared to other regions. The best times of the day to fish from June to August are early in the morning and late in the evening. The warmer water temperatures at the surface during these months will lead fish to seek cooler temperatures in deeper areas. Fishing at midday and afternoon during these months can be uncomfortable due to the Texas heat, so many anglers decide to forgo it altogether and fish from November to March. Apart from having more tolerable temperatures, this time of the year is also less crowded than the summer months, so it’s ideal for anglers that prefer to fish in silence and solitude.

A great hack for seasonal fishing - in Boerne City or anywhere - is to familiarize yourself with the area’s seasonal insect hatches and matching your live bait or artificial flies accordingly. From mid-January to late April, sucker spawn are briefly in season, and their best matches are the identically named sucker spawn flies, whose most common colors include green, yellow, and pink. Blue winged olives are in season from December to May; matching fly patterns include bullet olive perdigon and blue winged olive hi-vis spinner. From March to October, hexagenia, caddis, and slate drake are in season, and their best matches include hare’s ear nymph, prince nymph, and elk hair caddis. Finally, midges hatch all year and some of their best imitators are tailwater emergers, brassies, and zebra midges.

Discover the Old-Fashioned Beauty of Boerne City, TX

Boerne City’s parks, caverns, hiking trails, and bustling nightlife will ensure that you’ll never run out of things to do while you’re there. 

1.Book a Fishing Charter

The key to having a better fishing experience at Boerne City is to book a fishing charter. Guides will help you navigate the city’s waters and give you inside knowledge of where to go for the best catches.

2. Make the Most of Boerne City’s Clear, Sparkling Waters

There’s even more fun to be had in the water when you’re not fishing. Paddle or kayak your way across the lake or rent a tube and hang on for the ride of your life. On hot summer days, you can go for a swim in any of the designated areas to beat the heat and splash about.

3. Explore Nature’s Mysteries at Boerne City’s Landmark Caves

Boerne City is home to two historically and geologically significant limestone solutional caves, Cascade Caverns and the Cave Without a Name, the latter of which is a National Natural Landmark. Both caves are available for tours, but make sure to inquire about reservations ahead of time, as the caves may be periodically closed. Cascade Caverns, in particular, may be closed during May, August, and September due to flooding.

4. Experience Outdoor Fun and Wellness

Visit the city’s main recreational centers, Boerne City Park and Cibolo Nature Center. Boerne City Park is the city’s largest park and boasts an assortment of facilities for outdoor fun, including tennis courts, picnic areas, swimming pools, and soccer fields. You can even take your appreciation of Boerne City’s formidable beauty by painting it at the AgriCultural Museum and Arts Center.

Cibolo Nature Center is geared towards conservation and offers educational opportunities as well as recreational ones. Many of these activities take place at Herff Farm, which serves as a gathering place for public events such as workshops, classes, and Farmers Markets. Two of Herff Farm’s educational offerings are composting workshops and yoga classes.