By Brad Durick

Flows on the Red River in Grand Forks as of this writing are at 204 cfs. I figure it’s a matter of days before they go below the lows observed 1988.  Despite the conditions catfish are biting if you are patient, while most of them are smaller with the occasional bigger fish mixed in. In these conditions, the fish appear to look kind of sick.

The one noticeable difference this week over last, is that the fish are lined up on inside corners near beaver houses. Generally, if you run side imaging in these areas you will see cats lined up on the third of the river near the bank. But just because you see fish on the depth finder doesn’t mean that they will bite, so you have to keep on the move about every 30 minutes or so to connect. Goldeye and frogs were the best baits last week, hands down.

One other thing I discovered last week is that if you are able to use kayaks or waders and get below the dams where boats can’t go, there is current and the fish do seem healthier there. If you do that, be safe.

Brad Durick is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and licensed ND fishing guide specializing in trophy catfish on the Red River in and around Grand Forks.

Featured Photo: Kayakers venturing near current areas around dams on the extremely low Red River are still finding catfish, despite the conditions. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.