Still Spawning.  The spawn is nearing its end for channel catfish on the Red River, but has not wrapped completely. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.

By Brad Durick

I hate short bites! It seems like the Red River’s big catfish are nearing the end of the spawn but they are not quite there yet.  This week, the trend has been that they will hit the baits but not take the whole hook. The solution has been to get a bigger hook and thread the bait up onto the shank to make them take it. 

I am seeing post spawn female fish and the occasional post spawn male, so the end of the spawn is in sight. Numbers seem to be decent this week thanks to smaller fish. Fish are coming in mid-river holes with some faster water on them. Traditional spawn areas such as snags and cut banks continue to be slow. A 20-25 minute sit seems to be the best. Goldeye is the bait of choice, but sucker also works if you can find it.

Overall, river conditions are good. This Friday and Saturday is the 9th Scheels Boundary Battle Catfish Tournament in Grand Forks/East Grand Forks. 50 teams will be competing for over $8,000 in prizes and to get their name on the Scheels Catfish Cup.

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.