By Brad Durick

Flows on the Red River in Grand Forks are down more, even after the inch of rain a few days ago, and are currently sitting at 240 cfs. But if you’re patient, the catfish are biting.  Most of them are smaller with the occasional bigger fish mixed in. The key to catching cats now is to work the outer edges to the middle of smaller holes where the river is narrower. If you can find spots where the river gets very narrow and creates current you should find fish, but you have to try lots of spots. You can see fish on the depth finder but it doesn’t mean that they will bite, so you have to keep on the move. Goldeye seems to be the best bait this week. Day or two old dead suckers packed on ice have also been good.

With all of that I have made the decision to stop guiding for the remainder of 2021 or until we get some substantial rain to bring up flows. Even though I am putting fish in the boat I cannot provide the Red River experience that people hope to achieve when they come to me. I feel that it will be better for business in the long run to be honest with my customers and halt operation for better days and a better experience for all. I will continue to be out there and try to figure out a pattern to put fish in the boat consistently. Usually, negative things like this can be overcome and become great things and that has to be the goal now as we move forward in the short term.

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.

Featured Photo: Anglers are finding catfish in areas where current of any sort exists, including places where the ultra-low Red River narrows down, creating faster flow. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.