Deep holes can be highly productive areas for catching the Red River’s behemoth channel cats, as are mid-river channels and sandbars. (Shutterstock image)
August 31, 2024
By Brad Durick
At first glance, the Red River of the North doesn’t necessarily look like much. It’s a decently long river at around 545 miles in length, with about 300 of those lying within the United States and the remainder extending into Canada. In most places, it spans 50 to 150 yards wide and appears to be a typical Midwestern river. It’s forms much of the border between North Dakota and Minnesota, and to the average person, it’s perhaps as famous for its flooding as its fishing. However, among those in the know, it is legendary for the giant channel catfish that call it home. In fact, it’s one of the few places in the U.S. where an angler can expect to catch channel cats in the mid-teens to mid-20-pound range with regularity.
This reputation draws anglers from all over the country who want to see if the rumors about this little river are true. As a professional guide on the river for the past 17 years, I hear a few clients each season say a trip to fish the Red has long been on their wish list—some for as many as 30 or 40 years. Following our time on the water, many put it back on the list and become regular visitors to this great fishery.
“We always look forward to the following year the day we leave,” says Larry Barrow, of Lincoln, Neb., who has fished the Red River annually since 1994 and has been a client of mine over the past few years. “It’s the drive for quality fish.”
I can identify with this. My former boss and lifelong East Grand Forks, Minn., resident Rob Horken first introduced me to fishing the Red River in August of 2001. Almost immediately after, I wanted to know everything I could about this great river and the giant channel cats that inhabit it. I couldn’t spend enough time fishing it and trying to learn its secrets and history. Doing exactly this has been my real job for more than a decade and a half.
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It’s safe to say that I probably spend more time on this pristine body of water than anyone else. Still, every day seems new, and the river provides both beauty and excitement each time out. I see eagles, vultures, deer, foxes and the occasional otter on the river. However, it’s always the huge channel cats that keep me—and other anglers—coming back for more.
A PRIME CATFISH WINDOW My favorite time to fish the Red River is from August through early September. The catfish have had a month or so to recuperate from the rigors of the spawn, and they’ve fattened back up. Catfish are now spread out into what many would call “traditional summer catfish habitat.” These are areas of the river that have deep holes, fast water, slow water or some sort of structure, such as a logjam or sandbar.
Catfish love to inhabit these spots now because they can feed and live wherever they want and be comfortable until the seasonal progression pushes them to start migrating to wintering holes. The best part about the Red River is that nearly every bend provides this same type of habitat, meaning there are literally hundreds of places to look.
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When catfish are occupying these traditional haunts, anglers often must hunt for them a bit more than at other times of the year. As a guide, I love this mostly predictable hunt. I enjoy matching weather patterns to specific areas of river and figuring out how fish are reacting.
For example, toward the end of August and moving into September, a hard front will often slow the fish down and they’ll move away from locations with more aggressive current and into more protected areas.
Conversely, when there’s a longer period of stable weather, they’ll come out and feed in more traditional areas, like the heads of holes and mid-river channels. Figuring out the pattern and copying it throughout the day can lead to solid numbers of great fish at the end of a trip.
The challenge of this hunt brings me back day after day. And, if that’s not enough, the changing weather makes for comfortable fishing and stunning views. Mornings grow cooler as days get shorter. The leaves in 100-plus-year-old cottonwoods turn from green to yellow. Bald eagles soar overhead looking for their next meal. What’s not to love?
Bring a sturdy rod and reel when chasing the Red River’s formidable catfish, as they can quickly overpower substandard equipment. (Photo by Brad Durick) CATFISH BATTLE PLANS If you’re preparing to fish the Red River on your own, bring medium or medium-heavy catfish rods, a stout reel that holds at least 100 yards of 30-pound monofilament line, 5/0 to 7/0 hooks and—most years—2- or 3-ounce sinkers.
When you find an area that looks like an attractive hangout for a channel catfish, start fishing on the outside bend. This is usually where the faster water and the hole are located. Give that area 15 to 20 minutes before moving to the inside of the hole or the structure within the area. Always give any new area fished an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Once you figure out which of these areas fish prefer on a given day, simply move from spot to spot and copy that pattern.
The best baits for this time of year are simple: cut white suckers, goldeyes and leopard frogs. Use those baits in the aforementioned areas, and you’ll generally find success on the Red River. One tip of special significance: Frogs migrate during the night, so catfish move shallow to catch them as they enter the river. In the early morning, fish shallow with frogs. As the sun gets higher and you get closer to mid-morning, move or cast suckers or goldeyes more toward the deeper water in the middle of the river. The catfish know the frogs are not as plentiful during the day.
Shore anglers get a great advantage with the shallow frog bite at night. The fish come to you during this time. Just find a flat or area near the bend, set the lines not too far from the shore, have lots of bug spray on hand, and have fun.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Key things to consider when planning a trip to fish the Red River. Grand Forks is a great base camp for any Red River fishing trip. It has plenty of hotels and restaurants, and there is quite a bit of public access for shore anglers. (Shutterstock image) Larger cities like Fargo, N.D./Moorhead, Minn., and Grand Forks, N.D./East Grand Forks, Minn., border the Red River’s shores, as do several other smaller towns. If planning to visit or bring the family, the bigger towns have all the amenities you could ever want beyond trophy catfishing, from hotels to dining to shopping.
In North Dakota, boat ramps can be found in Wahpeton, Fargo, Grand Forks, Drayton and Pembina. On the Minnesota side, you’ll find access at Moorhead, Halstad, East Grand Forks, Oslo and west of Hallock. Some years the Red River can be quite shallow, so do a little research and planning if bringing a boat. If water is too shallow, there are areas above many of the river’s dams that can accommodate just about any boat.
If searching for a place to camp, consider the Red River State Recreation Area in East Grand Forks. This is a campground built along the Red River that was once a neighborhood before the great flood of 1997 wiped it out. It provides modern camping that’s sectioned off from the city by a flood protection levee, but it’s still downtown. A short walk will bring you to an array of restaurants and shops in the downtown area. It’s also about a two-minute drive from the LaFave Park boat landing in East Grand Forks (a brand new LaFave Park boat landing will open in late 2024 or early 2025).
In addition to flood reclamation, there are many great spots in the cities along the river if you wish to fish from shore. One great public access found in Grand Forks, N.D./East Grand Forks, Minn., is the Greenway. After the flood of 1997, many neighborhoods were bought out to make room for flood protection, which created miles of greenway. This maintained park runs along 8 miles of river, and it’s all open to shore anglers.
This article was featured in the Midwest edition of the August 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
