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Our namesake Round Rock is hardly the only thing that brings notoriety to Brushy Creek. Our creek is home to an impressive population of sunfish including Trout, Carp, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, as well as famous Texas natives such as the Rio Grande Cichlid, and the state fish, the Guadalupe Bass. And you’re invited to fish it all! Whether you’re a seasoned fisherman or just learning how to reel in a fish, Living Waters Fly Fishing is here for you. The fly shop offers guided trips for fishermen of all levels as well as a large selection of fishing-specific retail to outfit you for your next creek adventure!
Keeping It Reel
It all began 18 years ago with a one-man guide service, operated by owner Chris Johnson. Johnson grew up in Central Texas and has fished the local creeks and rivers, such as Lake Creek and Brushy Creek, since he picked up his first fishing rod as a child. Everything Living Waters does is to spread the love of the sport of fly fishing; Johnson tells us, “whether you’re brand new to it or whether you’ve done it all your life, we want you to feel like family when you come here, and we want it to be approachable, and we want your questions to get answered as accurately as possible so you’re empowered to go do whatever it is you’re preparing to do.” The inspiration behind the Living Waters is to be the shop Johnson never had growing up, and it’s done just that and so much more.
Education, Community, and Conservation
The goal that now drives Living Waters is to show people the joy of fly fishing and to educate them about the importance of conservation. Over the years, Johnson has seen the sport flourish here in Round Rock and remarks, “when I started the shop 16 years ago, I knew maybe a half dozen people that fish the creek with a fly rod on a regular basis. And the thing that’s so funny about it is now there’s hundreds, if not thousands that call Brushy Creek one of their destination fisheries in Texas.”
To preserve the the natural beauty of our creek, Johnson has seen this community grow passionate about sustaining the sport by sustaining the fish. Living Waters is a proud catch and release shop and has partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife, “so Brushy Creek is now regulated to protect our state fish, our fishery, the prey base, and ensure that Round Rock and downstream communities will see better fishing in the years to come than even what we had when we started the shop.”
Teach Them How To Fish, and You Will Give Them A Passion For a Lifetime
So what is it that makes fly fishing special? Johnson explains that “it becomes something that tugs on your heart. You’re closer to nature, you’re in the river, you’re around birds and trees and plants and fish that you wouldn’t see otherwise. You’re going to find yourself very quickly becoming a naturalist.” It’s easy to see how so many people fall in love with this sport, especially in the beauty of Brushy Creek!
One of the best things about all the places that Living Waters guides will take you is that they’re all on public Texas land, meaning you can always go back yourself and do it all again. The guides at Living Waters “gear their trips from an education standpoint, not just to get you a bunch of big fish. It really is learning the fishery, learning how to do it and that’s what’s so special about it is you’ve learned it and you pull things away from that trip that last forever.”
Living Waters Will Take You There
It is rare to find fisheries that have such species diversity and availability as what Brushy Creek has to offer. Johnson expresses his love for Brushy Creek and the Central Texas region, saying “there’s some amazing, amazing fishing that I think I would put up against anything I’ve ever done in my life. And I’ve traveled the world to fish at this point.” People from all over the world come here, to Round Rock, to be surprised and delighted by the diversity of this fishery.
When you book a guide trip with Living Waters, you’ll be set up with a guide that is an employee of the store, unlike a lot of guide services. Johnson says, “the guides are part of our fly shop family and you’re dealing with somebody that this is all they do. For us, it’s really important because we want that family element and cohesion among the team.” Every Living Waters guide is an expert on Brushy Creek and will show you all of their best kept secrets!
The Finest Flies in Fishing
Not only can Living Waters educate and guide through one of the best fisheries in Central Texas, they are also home to the largest fly tying material selection in the state. With such a large variety, you can “touch, feel, see, and ask questions,” unlike other retailers who only offer such variety online. This is important as there’s a finesse in fly fishing that places a greater emphasis on the fly and the art of fly tying itself.
Johnson explains, “the main difference between fly fishing and conventional fishing is that our flies are made of feathers, fur foams, stuff like that. It weighs nothing. You can’t throw it anywhere physically, so you’re actually casting the weight of the line. So the line is actually unfurling, laying out, and casting the fly to land feather soft on top of the water.” By doing so, the fly lands atop the water similarly to the insects which it emulates.
The Fisherman’s Outfitter
Not only is Living Waters there to educate you for any fishing trip you have, the shop is there to outfit you too so you’re truly ready to “fly fish anywhere from your backyard to across the planet.” It is no surprise then that Living Waters carries some of the best equipment on the market from some of the most well known brands in the industry. The shop also proudly supports smaller businesses and brands on the rise, so you’re sure to discover something new when exploring the store.
So when you want to prepare for a quick trip or long journey to Brushy Creek, Living Waters is your one-stop-shop, with a truly full package deal as the shop is just seconds away from the water. This unique proximity allows you to “shop the fly, shop the equipment, get advice, get fishing reports, and then go hit the river.”
One Big Fly Fishing Family
At Living Waters, fly fishing is all they do. Johnson reflects on the shop saying, “when I think about it, you know, it’s more than just a retail store, it’s more than just a guide service. It’s kind of a community hub for new fly anglers, for accomplished fly anglers, and for people that are even just curious.”
The next time you’re seeking a fishing adventure, a new way to take in Round Rock’s nature, or just need some cool new gear, Living Waters Fly Fishing looks forward to seeing you.