Catfish are coming from mid-river holes and are often biting shortly after setup as summer takes hold on the Red River. DEO Photo by Brad Durick

By Brad Durick

Catfishing is getting better every day now on the Red River of the North. Fish are being caught most places on the flow around Grand Forks with mid-river holes being the best areas. One area that has NOT worked over the past week, however, are those stretches of shallow or fast water. Sit times have come back to the old reliable 20-25 minute timeframe with the first strike coming about 10 minutes in. 

All baits seem to be performing well. However, I have noticed that frozen suckers and goldeye have been much better. Other anglers are saying they are doing much better on goldeye as well. The 1-to-3-day dead sucker also remains solid.   Reports are that frogs have been difficult to come by which would tell me that they probably are not the bait of choice, but should you find some give them a shot.

The Catfish Capital Challenge Tournament is set for Aug. 15 & 16 in Drayton. For more information or to register, log on to catfishdrayton.com

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. See more from him at redrivercatfish.com