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Rio Grande Fishing Report: Bass Bonanza, White Bass Surge, and Catfish Prowl
Published 11 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
Howdy folks, Artificial Lure here with your Rio Grande fishing report for this fine Monday morning, May 12, 2025.
The sun's just peeking over the horizon at about 6:45 AM, and we're looking at a warm day ahead with temperatures climbing into the mid-80s by afternoon. Sunset will be around 8:15 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to haul in some catches.
Water conditions on the Rio Grande are looking mighty favorable today. The river flow has come down slightly from last week, sitting around 290 cubic feet per second in the upper sections. Water's got a bit of stain to it, but visibility is decent at about 2-3 feet in most areas.
Let me tell y'all, the bass fishing has been downright exciting! Those feisty largemouth are hitting hard, especially in the morning hours. Folks have been having great success flipping soft plastic creature baits into trees and brush with heavy line. Don't be shy with your hook size – these bass mean business.
White bass action continues to be strong this spring. Some of you might've heard that a water body record was broken just two weeks ago! They're hitting quarter-ounce jigs and slabs in 25-30 feet of water, though some anglers are having luck with topwater baits early in the day.
Catfish are on the prowl in the shallows. Channel cats have been particularly active, with most being caught on stink and dough baits. If you're after the bigger flatheads, try live sunfish or shad in deeper creek channels.
For you trout enthusiasts, there was a recent stocking of rainbow trout in the Rio Grande at Pilar – about 2,000 of 'em on April 9th. There are also some wild brown trout, northern pike, and smallmouth bass in those waters. Keep an eye out for Rio Grande cutthroat trout too, as they're showing up from earlier stockings.
Hot spots to try today: The section below the dam has been producing nice white bass, and the timber along main channels in 14-17 feet of water is holding some quality crappie. For bass, target points and coves with structure.
Best lures right now are crankbaits in shad patterns, Alabama rigs near deeper structure, and don't forget those plastic worms – watermelon red and junebug colors have been getting strikes. For live bait, minnows are working well for crappie, while cut bait is your best bet for cats.
That's the report for today, May 12th. Remember, the fish are biting, but they ain't jumping in the boat! Get out there and wet a line. This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, y'all!
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
The sun's just peeking over the horizon at about 6:45 AM, and we're looking at a warm day ahead with temperatures climbing into the mid-80s by afternoon. Sunset will be around 8:15 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to haul in some catches.
Water conditions on the Rio Grande are looking mighty favorable today. The river flow has come down slightly from last week, sitting around 290 cubic feet per second in the upper sections. Water's got a bit of stain to it, but visibility is decent at about 2-3 feet in most areas.
Let me tell y'all, the bass fishing has been downright exciting! Those feisty largemouth are hitting hard, especially in the morning hours. Folks have been having great success flipping soft plastic creature baits into trees and brush with heavy line. Don't be shy with your hook size – these bass mean business.
White bass action continues to be strong this spring. Some of you might've heard that a water body record was broken just two weeks ago! They're hitting quarter-ounce jigs and slabs in 25-30 feet of water, though some anglers are having luck with topwater baits early in the day.
Catfish are on the prowl in the shallows. Channel cats have been particularly active, with most being caught on stink and dough baits. If you're after the bigger flatheads, try live sunfish or shad in deeper creek channels.
For you trout enthusiasts, there was a recent stocking of rainbow trout in the Rio Grande at Pilar – about 2,000 of 'em on April 9th. There are also some wild brown trout, northern pike, and smallmouth bass in those waters. Keep an eye out for Rio Grande cutthroat trout too, as they're showing up from earlier stockings.
Hot spots to try today: The section below the dam has been producing nice white bass, and the timber along main channels in 14-17 feet of water is holding some quality crappie. For bass, target points and coves with structure.
Best lures right now are crankbaits in shad patterns, Alabama rigs near deeper structure, and don't forget those plastic worms – watermelon red and junebug colors have been getting strikes. For live bait, minnows are working well for crappie, while cut bait is your best bet for cats.
That's the report for today, May 12th. Remember, the fish are biting, but they ain't jumping in the boat! Get out there and wet a line. This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines, y'all!
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.