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Rio Grande Fishing Report - Clear Skies, Reds, Trout & More!
Published 7 months, 1 week ago
Description
Artificial Lure checking in with your Rio Grande, Texas fishing report for Saturday, September 20th, 2025.
This morning along the Rio Grande and out toward South Padre, we’re starting the day with clear, muggy skies and a light breeze—classic early fall border weather. A slight humidity break has rolled in, but expect highs up near 90 by mid-afternoon. Sunrise was at 7:17 a.m. and we’ll see sunset about 7:23 p.m.
On the tide front, South Padre is your closest major gauge. We had an early high tide around 3:22 a.m. with that water dropping out for a low tide at 10:10 a.m., then it’s swinging back up for a solid high at 5:58 p.m., which lines up beautifully for a prime evening bite. Fish are likely to move up onto the flats and edges as the tide pushes in after 4 p.m., so have your gear ready around dusk.
Angler chatter this week out of the Valley says redfish are schooling in the lower Laguna Madre, with kayak and wade fishermen reporting generous slots in the 22–26 inch range near Adolph Thomae Park and along Gas Well Flats. Most catches are coming on gold spoons and white paddle-tail plastics, especially right as tidal water begins moving over the grass. There’s still some trout hanging in deeper potholes—look for slicks, especially on the evening incoming. MirrOlure soft-dines in natural and chartreuse shades are producing, along with live shrimp under popping corks if you’re anchored up.
Catfish and common carp have been popping up in the freshwater stretches of the Rio Grande just outside town. Just last week, a local landed a 7.5-pound common carp using corn about two miles downstream of Mission, and blue catfish in the 4–6 pound range have been steady—nightcrawlers or cut shad are your go-to baits for those[Texas Parks and Wildlife freshwater records]. For panfish, the cichlids are still active, biting well on small jigs and worms. Early mornings near overhanging brush or any shaded bank should give you a mixed bag of sunfish, redbreast and warmouth.
Reports from Harlingen and Bayview suggest solid white bass action right at sunrise, especially where incoming freshwater mingles at the reservoirs—small crankbaits and silver spoons are drawing strikes. If you want a little variety, some anglers have been hitting tilapia and hybrid stripers with surprising luck using small, flashy spinners and dough bait.
For lure selection, locals recommend gold and copper spoons, white/glow paddle tails, and topwaters in mullet pattern for those first hour and last hour windows. Live shrimp remain king if you can get ‘em, otherwise Gulp! swimming mullet in new penny or chartreuse is almost as good. For carp and catfish, nothing beats fresh cut bait, chicken liver, or even a wad of cheese bait.
Two can’t-miss hotspots right now:
- **Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park**: Consistent redfish on incoming tide, with the occasional fat trout. Easy kayak launch, lots of structure and bait activity.
- **Gas Well Flats (Laguna Madre side)**: Great action on reds and drum, especially afternoons as the tide rises. Wade out, throw gold spoons or drift mullet imitations.
Birders and hunters are also lighting up the Valley—white-wing and mourning dove are thick across the region, especially around Donna and Los Fresnos, so expect activity in the evenings along the brush lines as wingshooters limit out.
Remember, the tides are right for a great evening bite, so keep that in mind if you’re headed out late. Rig light, stay cool, and don’t be afraid to chase those slicks.
Thanks for tuning in to your Rio Grande fishing report with Artificial Lure! Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily conditions, tips, and hot bite updates.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Th
This morning along the Rio Grande and out toward South Padre, we’re starting the day with clear, muggy skies and a light breeze—classic early fall border weather. A slight humidity break has rolled in, but expect highs up near 90 by mid-afternoon. Sunrise was at 7:17 a.m. and we’ll see sunset about 7:23 p.m.
On the tide front, South Padre is your closest major gauge. We had an early high tide around 3:22 a.m. with that water dropping out for a low tide at 10:10 a.m., then it’s swinging back up for a solid high at 5:58 p.m., which lines up beautifully for a prime evening bite. Fish are likely to move up onto the flats and edges as the tide pushes in after 4 p.m., so have your gear ready around dusk.
Angler chatter this week out of the Valley says redfish are schooling in the lower Laguna Madre, with kayak and wade fishermen reporting generous slots in the 22–26 inch range near Adolph Thomae Park and along Gas Well Flats. Most catches are coming on gold spoons and white paddle-tail plastics, especially right as tidal water begins moving over the grass. There’s still some trout hanging in deeper potholes—look for slicks, especially on the evening incoming. MirrOlure soft-dines in natural and chartreuse shades are producing, along with live shrimp under popping corks if you’re anchored up.
Catfish and common carp have been popping up in the freshwater stretches of the Rio Grande just outside town. Just last week, a local landed a 7.5-pound common carp using corn about two miles downstream of Mission, and blue catfish in the 4–6 pound range have been steady—nightcrawlers or cut shad are your go-to baits for those[Texas Parks and Wildlife freshwater records]. For panfish, the cichlids are still active, biting well on small jigs and worms. Early mornings near overhanging brush or any shaded bank should give you a mixed bag of sunfish, redbreast and warmouth.
Reports from Harlingen and Bayview suggest solid white bass action right at sunrise, especially where incoming freshwater mingles at the reservoirs—small crankbaits and silver spoons are drawing strikes. If you want a little variety, some anglers have been hitting tilapia and hybrid stripers with surprising luck using small, flashy spinners and dough bait.
For lure selection, locals recommend gold and copper spoons, white/glow paddle tails, and topwaters in mullet pattern for those first hour and last hour windows. Live shrimp remain king if you can get ‘em, otherwise Gulp! swimming mullet in new penny or chartreuse is almost as good. For carp and catfish, nothing beats fresh cut bait, chicken liver, or even a wad of cheese bait.
Two can’t-miss hotspots right now:
- **Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park**: Consistent redfish on incoming tide, with the occasional fat trout. Easy kayak launch, lots of structure and bait activity.
- **Gas Well Flats (Laguna Madre side)**: Great action on reds and drum, especially afternoons as the tide rises. Wade out, throw gold spoons or drift mullet imitations.
Birders and hunters are also lighting up the Valley—white-wing and mourning dove are thick across the region, especially around Donna and Los Fresnos, so expect activity in the evenings along the brush lines as wingshooters limit out.
Remember, the tides are right for a great evening bite, so keep that in mind if you’re headed out late. Rig light, stay cool, and don’t be afraid to chase those slicks.
Thanks for tuning in to your Rio Grande fishing report with Artificial Lure! Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily conditions, tips, and hot bite updates.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
Th