24 NOV 2024 · For those planning to hit the Rio Grande in Texas today, here’s what you need to know:
**Weather and Tidal Conditions:**
As of November 24, the weather is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of around 75 degrees and a low of 55 degrees. The water temperature is about 71 degrees, which is still relatively warm but cooling down with the season. The Rio Grande's water level is currently 65.80 feet below pool, which is a bit lower than usual but still manageable for fishing.
**Sunrise and Sunset:**
Sunrise is at 6:57 AM, and sunset is at 5:14 PM, giving you a good window for both morning and afternoon fishing.
**Fish Activity:**
Fishing on the Rio Grande has been fair lately. Black bass are active, particularly in the main lake points and secondary points, where they can be caught using flukes, chatterbaits, rattle traps, and soft plastics in 15-20 feet of water. White bass are good in 25-35 feet on the main river channels, especially around bait balls. Follow the birds to locate these schools. Stripers are also present, fair in 20-25 feet around the dam and buoys.
**Recent Catches:**
Yesterday saw some decent catches. Black bass up to 4 pounds were caught on main lake points with wood, ledges, and steep chunk rock banks. White bass were plentiful in the deeper parts of the river channels, and stripers were caught around the deep channel ledges using large flutter spoons, big swimbaits, and bucktail jigs.
**Best Lures and Bait:**
For black bass, use topwater poppers, frogs, soft plastic jerkbaits, senkos, Texas rigged worms, and Ned rigs. For white bass, spoons, white grubs, blade baits, and crankbaits in shad patterns are effective. Stripers are best targeted with large flutter spoons, big swimbaits, and bucktail jigs around bait balls.
**Hot Spots:**
One of the best spots is around buoys 20-23, where white bass and stripers are schooling under shad bait balls. Another good area is the main river channels, especially where the Devils River meets the Rio Grande, known for its sheer ledges that hold stripers.
Overall, it's a good day to get out on the water, especially if you can time your fishing around the bait balls and bird activity. Happy fishing