Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Rio Grande Cichlid - US Native

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/

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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.

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

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

Puts a coppernose bluegill's forehead to shame.

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.

Have fun, and post some good pics!