Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Kirk78, Rgv, Kalispel, TokyoTim, Mustelid
19,113 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics42,112
Posts571,657
Members19,114
Most Online13,012
Jun 7th, 2026
Top Posters
esshup 29,788
ewest 22,032
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,993
Who's Online Now
3 members (e_stallman, WindowRock, LeighAnn), 3,217 guests, and 54 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
D
D Offline
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
The Rio Grande Cichlid is the only cichlid native to the USA. I just learned of this cool little fish and may go fly fishing for them soon. I heard they’re in the South Llano River which is only about an hour and a half from me. Anybody ever hear of them or know anything about them?

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/cichlid/
Attachments
IMG_5259.jpeg IMG_5258.jpeg IMG_5257.jpeg

Last edited by DeerTexas; 07/08/24 05:03 AM.
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 236
P
P Offline
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 236
They are in the Frio river also. I used to sell them when I was in the pet shop business years ago. They are best kept with other aggressive fish if in a tank

1 member likes this: DeerTexas
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
D
D Offline
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
I was surprised to learn about them. I’ve lived in Texas all my life and until I started building my pond, I’d never heard of them. Or grass shrimp! Makes me wonder what else I don’t know! 🤓

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,856
Likes: 23
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,856
Likes: 23
Puts a coppernose bluegill's forehead to shame.

1 member likes this: DeerTexas
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 236
P
P Offline
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 236
Originally Posted by DeerTexas
I was surprised to learn about them. I’ve lived in Texas all my life and until I started building my pond, I’d never heard of them. Or grass shrimp! Makes me wonder what else I don’t know! 🤓

lol I wouldn’t put them in a pond with bg…. They would kick bgs a..

1 member likes this: DeerTexas
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,574
Likes: 402
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,574
Likes: 402
The Rio Grande Cichlid is on my list next year. I finally got a Guadalupe bass a couple of years ago, and they're a blast on light fly rods.


AL

2 members like this: DeerTexas, esshup
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,914
Likes: 1002
F
Lunker
Lunker
F Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,914
Likes: 1002
I have caught those Cichlids in Mexico, where the locals called them Rio Grande "Perch" (of course).

We were fishing large crankbaits on medium equipment trying to entice large LMB out of the weed beds. Sometimes you would catch a cichlid on the trailing treble hook that would barely fit in their mouths. We also missed numerous "hits" on our lures that I assume were cichlids hitting the body of the lure but missing the hooks.

In my limited experience, they were pretty aggressive and good fighters. I think they would probably be a blast to catch on a fly rod or ultralight tackle.

I failed to ask if they were good eating. The large ones we caught were broad but a little skinny (kind of like a 12-13" crappie). However, I think we were fishing just after they spawned so both the males and females might have been at their annual low RW.

1 member likes this: DeerTexas
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
D
D Offline
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
Originally Posted by FishinRod
I failed to ask if they were good eating. The large ones we caught were broad but a little skinny (kind of like a 12-13" crappie). However, I think we were fishing just after they spawned so both the males and females might have been at their annual low RW.

The info gathered says they’re are very good eating. I’m looking forward to finding out for myself. A buddy and I are planning a fly fishing trip soon.

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,914
Likes: 1002
F
Lunker
Lunker
F Offline
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,914
Likes: 1002
Originally Posted by DeerTexas
The info gathered says they’re are very good eating. I’m looking forward to finding out for myself. A buddy and I are planning a fly fishing trip soon.

Have fun, and post some good pics!

1 member likes this: DeerTexas

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Chint77, MDHendon, Ponds.org
Recent Posts
Gravel Pit Lake - Aeration ?
by WindowRock - 09/15/26 09:49 AM
Field and Stream Feeds?
by Bill Cody - 09/14/26 07:37 PM
Newbie from Colorado
by ewest - 09/14/26 03:34 PM
New Pond Update...
by ewest - 09/14/26 03:27 PM
Too much forage?
by Jst4Fun - 09/14/26 01:09 PM
Lotus variety of nice color
by gehajake - 09/13/26 02:07 PM
Billboard Tarp Pond
by jason7858 - 09/11/26 05:21 PM
LMB in 1 ac pond
by Terry Battisti - 09/11/26 04:10 PM
Previous lurker from Dayton, Ohio!
by ewest - 09/10/26 10:03 AM
Chestnut other trees for wildlife
by Scooter_Trash - 09/09/26 09:54 PM
Introduction
by Terry Battisti - 09/09/26 09:52 PM
New Pond Boss Member and Advertisor
by Terry Battisti - 09/09/26 11:51 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Uninvited crappie pictures
Uninvited crappie pictures
by fishwife, June 16
Chestnuts this afternoon
Chestnuts this afternoon
by Rangersedge, May 21
Trackhoe
Trackhoe
by Rangersedge, January 24
Thanksgiving RES
Thanksgiving RES
by Shorty, November 27
Nice 12 Inch BGxRES
Nice 12 Inch BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, June 1
F1 Bass stocked 6/24 caught 3/30/25
F1 Bass stocked 6/24 caught 3/30/25
by lafarmpondguy, March 31

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.1