Anglers utilizing frozen bait in areas where current remains are finding nice-sized catfish on the Red River. DEO Photo by Brad Durick

By Brad Durick

The water continues to fall on the northern Red River. Everywhere is now flowing lower than I have ever seen. The catfish are in search of any current they can find, which in above dam areas is getting more and more difficult to locate. When you do find it, you generally get rewarded with fish. If you don’t find current, you are throwing bait out and hoping a fish swims by. This may be a good time to learn how to drift or troll for catfish.

One big development over the past week is that bait preference has changed from fresh bait to frozen bait. The key here is to make sure it is not old and freezer burned. Keep offerings as frozen as you can until use. Frozen bait in hot water takes a little more time to disperse the scent so fish have more time to find it.

Water levels in Grand Forks have fallen even more and are just over 700 cfs, Drayton is down to just over 1,000 and Fargo is just above 200 cfs. Areas above the dams still have ample water but very little flow. Caution should be exercised when boating (especially below dams) to ensure the safety of you and your equipment.

Due to safety concerns, this will be my last weekend of fishing below Drayton Dam. There will be tournaments moving forward in Pembina on July 17, East Grand Forks on July 30 and 31 and Drayton August 6 and 7. All these events are still accepting participants.

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 the Grand Forks area.