A Sucker for Big Cats.  Catfish have been coming on dead sucker, and heavier weights are still required to catch them as the Red River continues to be quite full and fast; post spawn feeding activity is starting to tick up for channel cats.

By Brad Durick

Catfishing on the Red River is picking up with the spawn mostly over on the flow. Water temperatures are now in the low 80s, and as far as I know all ramps except Drayton are open as of this week. 

Fishing has been best tight to the submerged tree stumps and root balls and inside bends with deeper drop offs. That said, I recently have seen more fish moving into the outside seams and faster water. This is not uncommon to see as the flows level out and the post spawn feeding binge takes hold. I am still using five ounces of sinker as the minimum to put a bait where you want it, but I will probably be shifting down to fours over the next few days. Give a spot 20 to 30 minutes so the fish have time to find the bait, as water is still moving fast. 

Dead sucker is the only bait I have tried. As long as it works, I will stick with it. Don’t be afraid to try goldeye or frog if you have some.

Don’t forget the upcoming tournaments on the Red River celebrating all things catfish and catfishing! On July 20 there is a catfish tournament up in Pembina.  On July 21, Oslo will be hosting its catfish tourney as well. The Cats Incredible event will be held in East Grand Forks on July 26 and 27. Finally, the Catfish Capital Challenge will be in Drayton with a $10,000 guaranteed prize for the winner of the season-capping event on Aug. 9 and 10.

Brad Durick is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and a licensed fishing guide specializing in trophy catfish on the Red River in and around Grand Forks, N.D.