Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
CarJitsuBlueBelt, OldGreg, Vermilion1218, SteveinSC, williams111
18,917 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics41,668
Posts566,469
Members18,917
Most Online6,374
Jun 17th, 2025
Top Posters
esshup 29,166
ewest 21,754
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,574
Who's Online Now
9 members (Theo Gallus, shooterlurespond, Knobber, Sunil, catscratch, Tinylake, Dudley Landry, Dergib, cb100), 1,045 guests, and 41 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 53
Likes: 10
D
OP Offline
D
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/

Attached Images
IMG_5259.jpeg IMG_5258.jpeg IMG_5257.jpeg
Last edited by DeerTexas; 07/08/24 05:03 AM.
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 225
P
Offline
P
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 225
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
OP Offline
D
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: 4,843
Likes: 23
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,843
Likes: 23
Puts a coppernose bluegill's forehead to shame.

1 member likes this: DeerTexas
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 225
P
Offline
P
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,092
Likes: 225
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: 5,477
Likes: 373
Moderator
Offline
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 373
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: 4,380
Likes: 824
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,380
Likes: 824
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
OP Offline
D
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: 4,380
Likes: 824
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,380
Likes: 824
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
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
Recent Posts
Rock pile?
by shooterlurespond - 06/24/25 07:10 PM
Just found Pond Boss
by Dudley Landry - 06/24/25 07:03 PM
Endurance Performance Bass Blend 22 mm Pellet
by cb100 - 06/24/25 06:22 PM
Not sure where else to put this.
by Quixotic - 06/24/25 06:06 PM
Lilly Pad Sabateur
by RAH - 06/24/25 11:23 AM
Cognitive Testing of Fish
by Dave Davidson1 - 06/24/25 09:29 AM
Another fish growth thread
by Dave Davidson1 - 06/24/25 09:27 AM
Shallow pond aeration
by CampCobb - 06/24/25 07:47 AM
Georgia shallow bass pond heating up
by CampCobb - 06/24/25 07:34 AM
Drain Stand pipe broke. Help please.
by RossC - 06/23/25 02:41 PM
What did you do at your pond today?
by Benchedthatpiece - 06/22/25 10:29 PM
Question about feeding / size of feed/etc.
by Theo Gallus - 06/22/25 07:36 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
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
Couple of bream on poppers
Couple of bream on poppers
by lafarmpondguy, March 31
Koi
Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
2 1/4 pound BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, October 12
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
What you can do with an inch of nightcrawler
by Theo Gallus, September 21

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

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5