June 18, 2026
Rio Grande Summer Heat: Bass at Dawn, Catfish All Day Long
Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Rio Grande, Texas fishing report.
We’ve got a muggy early summer pattern along the lower Rio Grande and nearby backwaters. Expect morning temps in the low to mid 70s, climbing into the 90s by afternoon with high humidity, light to moderate southeast winds, and a mix of sun and clouds. A passing Gulf breeze most afternoons will chop the water a bit but also cool things down just enough to keep the bite from totally dying.
Tides on this stretch of river are more about water releases and wind than true coastal swings, but the nearby Laguna Madre and Lower Coast forecast is calling for a modest incoming push through the morning, then a slow fall after lunch. That slight rise early tends to nudge baitfish into the mouths of resacas and along deeper bends of the river, which is when you want to be on your best structure.
Sunrise is right around early breakfast, with sunset near eight-thirty in the evening, so your prime windows are first light to mid‑morning, and then the last two hours before dark. Midday is hot and slow unless you tuck into shade lines, bridges, or deeper holes.
Recent action on the Rio Grande itself has been classic mixed‑bag summer. Locals are reporting good numbers of **blue and channel catfish** on cut shad, chicken liver, and punch baits fished on the bottom along outside bends and deeper holes. Flatheads have been rarer but a few solid fish have come on live sunfish tight to timber at night. Carp and buffalo are cruising the slower stretches; dough baits and sweet corn are putting plenty in the net for those targeting them.
In the connected resacas and sloughs, anglers have been picking off **largemouth bass** in the 1–3 pound range with the occasional bigger girl. Topwaters at first light—small walking baits, poppers, and hollow‑body frogs—have been hot over grass edges. As the sun gets higher, the bite shifts to Texas‑rigged worms in watermelon red, green pumpkin creatures, and weightless flukes skipped under overhanging trees.
For multi‑species fun, small in‑line spinners, 1/8–1/4 oz roostertails, and tiny crankbaits are drawing strikes from bass, white bass where you find a little current, plus the odd gar swipe. If you like soaking bait, worms and small pieces of shrimp under a slip float will keep kids busy with sunfish and smaller cats along the rocks and brush.
Best lures right now:
- For bass: **topwater frogs, walking baits, and small poppers at dawn**, then 4–6 inch soft plastics in natural colors, fished slow around wood and grass.
- For cats: not lures but **stink bait, cut shad, and live sunfish** for the bigger flatheads.
- For general action: **inline spinners, beetle spins, and small swimbaits** in shad or tilapia patterns.
A couple of hot spots to circle on your mental map:
- **Under and around the bridge crossings near Rio Grande City and downstream bends**: deeper scour holes there are holding good catfish, especially on the downstream side where the current slows and drops off. Fish your bait right on the break from shallow to deep.
- **Old resacas and backwater cuts just off the main river near town**: these quiet pockets with submerged brush and light current are producing steady bass early and late. Work the shaded banks first, then pick apart laydowns and any visible grass lines.
Fish activity today should start decent at first light, slow down late morning once the heat settles in, then pick back up toward sunset as the wind eases and the river slicks off. If you’re stuck fishing mid‑day, go deep, go slow, and tuck into the shade.
That’s your Rio Grande fishing rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.
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