Brad Durick
By Brad Durick
Things are warming up for catfish on the Red River. Currently, the water temperature is at 70 degrees, when normally the best fishing of the year should be commencing and there is nothing but heat in the forecast. This may mean that catfish will be going to the nest early this year, a whole two weeks ahead of normal. At this point it has to just stay hot and make the process short so the bite can kick back up afterward.
Catfishing has been average over the past week. Water levels have stabilized and the heat has the channel cats a little slow but there are fish to be caught for sure. They seem to be moving around some. They should be right of the fast drop and running hard but it seems they are hanging out just out of the current rather than in it. You have to sort through some smaller fish to get to the bigger ones. Giving each spot a good 20 minute sit, but then keeping on the move from spot to spot is the best bet this week.
Fish have been wanting stinkier baits. Goldeye and sucker are working, but a couple days dead seems to work better for the catfish right now. If you can catch them, cut stonecat has been a good bait option too.
Brad Durick is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and a licensed ND fishing guide specializing in trophy catfish on the Red River in and around Grand Forks, N.D.
Featured Photo: Brawn Before the Spawn. Big catfish require some work right now on the Red River as waters warm and the spawn approaches. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.
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