Hot Minute. Catfish have been moving about, providing strong bites one day and inconsistency the next.  Keep moving to match their locations as things change throughout the Red River. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.

By Brad Durick

Things have been changing every day on the Red River. This week it seems that the Fargo area has great catfishing because their water is stable and Grand Forks is a little up and down because the levels are falling fast again, especially below the dams.  North of Grand Forks is still waiting on the water to fall. 

We went from lots of picking and pecking to some very solid hits earlier in the week, followed by a quick drop in the action and catfishing has become sort of a grind. Fish have moved off the shelves of the bank and into the mid river and fast water. Fish areas for 20 to 30 minutes and keep moving to find the active catfish. Things are about to bust loose any day and it will be fun.

The best baits have been of the fresh cut variety and both goldeye and sucker are working. Finding suckers is an issue, so be creative in bait selection and do the best you can.

Water temperatures on the Red River in and around Grand Forks are above 65 degrees and the extended forecast is for mid to high 80s for air temperatures over the next week. This might push us into an early spawn so get out and take advantage now.

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.