It's a ripple of change for river rats and reelers all over Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is casting wide nets of opportunity with the addition of three new public sites primed for fishing and paddling on Texas' beloved Brazos and Colorado rivers. As announced in a reel-y update, anglers and paddlers can now hook themselves onto some prime spots, a move celebrated by outdoor enthusiasts who've long been fishing for more access.
Caught in the flow of progress, the expansion through the River Access and Conservation Area (RACA) program has unfurled three additional access points, two hitched upstream of Lake Granbury in Parker County and one near Bastrop off FM 969. TPWD river access coordinator, John Botros, cast a line echoing the sentiment of many, asserting, "Historically in Texas, recreation on rivers has been limited by a lack of quality public access." He tipped his hat to the new RACA sites, asserting they are "an important step in expanding the public’s options for safe, legal, and high-quality fishing and paddling access on rivers," according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.
On the Brazos, consider Fuller’s Folly River Ranch your new port of call. Situated a mere 45-minute drive from Fort Worth, this spot provides more than just a picturesque backdrop for fish tales. It's the jumping-off point for a 4.1-mile journey downstream to the Sandy Bottoms River Company, and if you're planning to set off or reel in at this spot, be sure to drop a line either via email or on the horn to Fuller’s Folly at least 24 hours in advance. Down river, the Sandy Bottoms River Company rolls out two more access points, furnishing complementary parking and a small dock for the launching of paddle crafts or fishing expeditions at both 7026 River Trail and 173 Chavez Trail, as stated in Texas Parks and Wildlife.
