Back in March of 2008, I visited my friend Bryant out in Texas. With original plans to check out…read moreSXSW, we ended up camping, hiking, and fishing in the area. On one of the days, we decided to go fishing along lake Travis. Bryant had heard that Allen was pretty familiar with the lake. It was a day of firsts. First time fishing, first time with kettle chips. With a six-pack of beer, thai-flavored kettle chips, and a light tackle rod, I felt instantly like an old chinese man. Loved it. With my beginners luck, I started to catch fish left and right which left Bryant a bit miffed. But suddenly I realized that my line had snagged on something big. My line was meant to catch 3-5 pound bass. This was a lot bigger. 5 minutes pass by, I'm trying to reel in the fish but at times my line looks like its going to snap. 11 minutes pass by, like spotting the loch ness, we shout as we see a flicker of the fish. It's huge. My arms are screaming in pain; after 15 minutes the fish gets close enough to the boat for Allen to shovel the fish on board. Turns out it was a 36 pound buffalo carp. The stretched line fell back into the water, whereby we felt another tug. By hand, we reeled it in to discover that I caught a bass in the process. Let me tell you, when we got back to the campsite, we had too much fish with us. Good thing we found people to share in on the food. Allen could probably navigate the lake blindfolded. A high recommendation for handling a city-slicker like me.

I got a charter with Allen Christenson's Fishing Guide service as a birthday present and it's was…read moreone of the best I have ever had which include flying a helicopter and driving a Ferrari. Luckily, we live in Texas so we got a 80 degree day in the middle of December, but with the water temps the fish have gone deeper for warmer water and it was extremely windy which did not make the fishing any easier. Yet Allen was able to take us around Lake Travis using his fish finder and got us on the fish. We caught 30 fish and had 18 keepers. Allen is a great captain as he has fished the lake since he was a kid and spent several years as a tournament fisherman. He even holds the Texas and World Records for the largest Guadalupe Bass; caught in one of his secret spots on Lake Travis! He happily told has some secrets about how to fish Lake Travis and gave us tips on the correct techniques for different fishing styles including using worms and jigging. If you want a fun day that you will remember for years, give Allen a call and schedule a trip.

"Lake" Austin is actually PART of the Colorado River. Other than rain, it gets its water from Lake…read moreTravis, beginning at the Mansfield Dam and extending all the way past the iconic Pennybacker Bridge down to the Tom Miller Dam. A constant flow from LT ensures that LA maintains the same constant water levels year-round. Because of the vastness of Lake Austin, essentially meandering down the Colorado River (something like 20 miles long!), there are several different areas, with different landscapes with some areas better suited for certain lake activities than others - while all are great. The "top"of Lake Austin, right by the Mansfield Dam, is a fantastic spot for paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming. Boats are not allowed in this particular area, so the water is not choppy at all and is extra cool in temperature from the direct LT flow - so refreshing on the 100+ degree Texas scorchers.. It is also very clear - you can see all the way to the bottom on most days! Other parts of Lake Austin are also conducive to personal water sports; however, are better for larger watercraft and great for fishing enthusiasts. The lake has been stocked with catfish, largemouth bass, and a few other varieties. Don't have a boat? No problem. Have actually had decent success while doing some shore fishing (catch & release; that's just me). And water-skiing - weeeeeeeeh! Lake Austin also backs up against several great parks for playing with the D.O.G., friends, kiddos, and maybe even a little picnicking or grilling (e.g., Mary Quinlan Park, Fritz Hughes Park, etc.). So, whatever area you choose to visit, or whatever you choose to do, just remember to bring drinking water, sunblock, and maybe some bug spray...and just have fun! ;) [155 in 2015]

I absolutely love this hidden little park near me! It has so many little things to explore and do…read morewith or without kids! There's a pond to walk around, a playground, cool rocks to sit or jump upon! They have a little bridge and a whole trail to explore. There is a gazebo with plenty of benches for a number of people, there's even grills set up throughout the park to spend a whole day here, it has a ton of trees for a lot of shaded play which is a plus when you live in Texas! Overall very secluded and all day fun type of park!

A pretty new park on the Onion Creek Greenbelt that has a large pond as well as a playground and…read moresome picnic tables, with numerous concrete trails for walking and biking. This area got hit hard by the recent flooding (2013, 2015), but unlike Richard Moya, has not stayed closed for extended periods. Some feedback here: -Very spartan restroom facilities (I hope you don't mind hopping into a Port-a-John) and if you're not near the parking lot, you're hosed. -Many of the trails seem incomplete and dead end in strange locations -- perhaps washouts of previously existing facilities? That being said, for park aficionados of a certain breed (generally, birders), this is a pretty good bet on the SE side, and with a bit more clean-up and polish, can be a showpiece.

I don't know if Greg Smith can catch fish or not. I didn't fish with him...and never will…read more I know he is not a man of his word. After our scheduled outing got rained out, he agreed to refund my deposit. (I have the text messages to prove it.). I didn't hear from him for 2 weeks and still had not received my $100. I called, I texted repeatedly. When he finally called back he said he needed a couple of weeks to pay me back. I agreed. Yep, you guessed it. Didn't hear from him! Like I said, I don't know if he can catch fish but I do know that if you have a business and need a two week loan that you can't pay back...you sure as hell can't manage money. If you can't manage money, it means you are not responsible. Do yourself a favor, just pick someone else. This guy's a flake.

Greg was awesome, enthusiastic and very patient. My wife and I had a fantastic time, and we are…read morealready planning our next outing!

Randall was my team mate for Fishing for freedom. One of the best fishing experiences I have had so…read morefar. He not only help me get into a fish quick, but hook me in around 25. There hasn't been as an active fishing trip as I have had with him before. Totally recommended. Also, since in a rookie angler he Hoon me up with a baitcaster set. Props to this man's and his good vibes for his desire to teach others.

From the owner: Central Texas Fishing Guide provides guided freshwater fishing trips on Lake Travis, Lake Austin,…read moreLadybird Lake (LBL), Lake Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), Walter E. Long Lake (Decker), Lake Bastrop and Fayette County Reservoir. Central Texas Fishing Guide offers a unique experience for anglers of all skill levels from beginners to weekend anglers. Most of our clients just want to get out on the water, catch a bunch of fish, and enjoy fishing with family and friends! However, a growing number of our clients have specific goals in mind, and the trip is customized and tailored to the meet the goals which are discussed prior to booking. It's not uncommon for the fishing guide to coach a beginner angler for several hours on how to cast a spinning reel or the proper technique and presentation of a topwater lure. Some anglers book a full day trip where the guide fished out of the client's boat, so the guide can provide on-the-water training on the client's new electronics like Lowrance HDS with StructureScan or Humminbird linked to I-Pilot. A select few want a better understanding of seasonal patterns and underwater topology to prepare for a tournament. Most importantly, we understand that our clients are looking for a fun trip, want to catch some fish, and learn something new in the process! Our mission is to make sure your personalized trip is a great success on the water!!

My sons and I had a great trip with Tyler yesterday. We have a lot of experience fishing and have…read morebeen on dozens of guided trips and from start to finish Tyler's service is in the top 1%, impressive and professional. His boat and fishing equipment is top notch from tackle to state of the art fishfinding electronics. Tyler is extremely knowledgeable and was helpful giving us tips to optimize our fishing success but we also had a great time on the lake hanging out with him because he is such a great guy to spend a day with. He would be perfect for novice anglers or expert fishermen. I bet he is great with kids too! And yes, Tyler put us on the fish! When one spot started to become unproductive he moved us to a new spot. We can't recommend Tyler more highly for a fun time and tight lines!

Having been on many guide trips throughout my life, Tyler is one of the most professional guides…read moreand one of the more helpful ones out there! Not only does he put you on fish, he teaches you new things in the process. Whether you fishing for the first time or fish regularly like me, you won't regret booking a trip with him!