Check with Living Waters Fly shop in Round Rock. I know they have several guides that will do trips on the Llano and I suspect they would be more than willing to do trips with conventional tackle.

http://livingwatersflyfishing.com/llano/

South Llano River State Park in Junction?

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/south-llano-river

Put in at Castell and go to Schneider slab. Usually a 3 hour trip. I have a place in Castell. Go to the general store in Castell and grab lunch. They release trout at Castell bridge in November and you can catch a few between November and February or so.

The float from Burt Ranch Road to state park is a great float that you can do easily with a canoe - no guide needed. With a place closer to London as your base, that would fit easily in your travel window.

Did this float with my boys when they were a similar age. Get long shank jig heads and zoom fat Albert grubs and you will be set for a good day of fishing.

I don't have his name any longer but there was a writer in Mason who also provided canoe services on the Llano. He would drop you off and pick up after either half or a full day. My kid and I used him over 20 years ago during one summer. We had a great time doing so.

apylant said:

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Put in at James River Rd. crossing is a good spot. But check water flows, need to be 100 CFS or higher for a good float. Living Water or All Water Guides are great options, but focus would be Fly Fishing, which I would highly encourage.

If the flows are not good. Stick closer to the South Llano State Park. Being closer to the main spring keeps water levels relatively consistent.

I run a 3 person raft on the Llano a fair amount and would be happy to take you and your son this spring. Not a guide, but a fair amount of experience on the river. Shot me a message if you're interested.

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Just as an FYI regarding the fly fishing, Living Waters does a free beginner fly fishing class every month that will help get you started that is well worth the time. Getting your son into it early will give him something to enjoy for a lifetime.

My son and his friend kayaked and camped from the 87 bridge to the slab in Castell this past summer. He hauled a 7 pound bass out of there just upstream from Castell. Be careful on the float from Schneider Slab to Robinson park if the flow is down you will drag your kayak a lot and through some rough terrain. My son and his buddies did that one day and was supposed to take the 3 hours. It took 12. They were dehydrated and sunburned all to hell.

Hemphill. He moved east to go to seminary last I heard. Good guy.

oldarmy76 said:

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Hemphill. He moved east to go to seminary last I heard. Good guy.

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Yep, Kendal Hemphill. My kid and I caught Guadalupe bass and bluegills the entire stretch. Put in just south of town and ate lunch on a big, flat rock where a creek entered the river and took a left bend. Ultralite rigs and diving crawdad lures. Never saw another soul on the river.

This guy knows stuff - will you take me duck hunting ?

I have fished the South Llano R. for almost 25 years. So, come to Junction and head toward Rocksprings. In about 15 miles from Junction you will come to a river crossing. Launch here and you can float/fish to the CR 150 bridge (nice TPWD constructed parking area to leave a vehicle). This float is mostly a half day float. Lots of Guadalupe Bass. If you want a longer float launch at the CR 150 site and float all the way to State Park, 9-10 miles and all day. The fishing and scenery is much better above the State Park than the float from the State Park to the town of Junction (getting out at FM 2169 or Flatrock Road as locals call it). Fishing right now is great with cooler weather setting in. Use small plastics i.e. crawfish, small finesse worms etc., some small flashing type baits. Top-waters also good, little poppers, tiny torpedoes etc. This would be a good weekend as everyone will be deer hunting and nobody on the river.

TBass IV said:

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This guy knows stuff - will you take me duck hunting ?

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Only if you bring waders.

Academy took back my waders