Anglers are finding both fresh and frozen cut bait to be working on larger catfish coming out of the spawn on a very low Red River. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.

By Brad Durick

Water levels on the northern Red River are beginning to get really scary now. Below the Grand Forks and Drayton dams it is getting very close to the lowest I have ever seen. If you go in these sections of river EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION!

The catfish are showing signs of the spawn ending. There are some post spawn fish showing up this week as expected with the hot temperatures. There are still some fish on the nest that will be coming out soon. Find any current you can and work the current seams. Fish near snags and cut banks where fish might still be on the nest. One tip is don’t be afraid to look shallow, like 1-2 feet shallow.

Best baits right now remain sucker and goldeyes. Fresh cut or even ones that have been frozen for a few days are doing very well. There is no real need to change baits often, just keep it in the zone once you find where the fish are.

Remember the river is extremely low and caution should be exercised when boating (especially below dams) to ensure the safety of you and your equipment.

Brad Durick is a Dakota Edge Outdoors Contributing Writer and a licensed ND fishing guide specializing in trophy catfish on the northern Red River.