By Brad Durick

Catfishing on the Red River in and around the Grand Forks area has slowed a little over the past week. All this means is that the crazy numbers of fish we were seeing are a bit more normal. Water levels on the Red remain perfect, and water temperatures are still in the low-60s and the bigger catfish are continuing to move in.

There has been rain upstream near Fargo which is going to put the FM area into minor flooding. As this moves north (based on current projections) it will bring the river up a foot or two in the Grand Forks area, but should not cause many issues.

Patterns remain the same again this week. Look for catfish in the faster water right on the break line or smaller holes near that line. Sun still seems to be playing a factor and as it gets higher and puts some heat on things, they will move into the faster current.  Expect to sit on spots at least 20 minutes before getting bigger fish bites. I have been sitting on spots for 35-40 minutes if I get fish around that 20 minute mark.  You will know whether to move or not when the time comes.

Bait choice still doesn’t matter again this week. I have had great success on sucker and others have told me goldeye is working great too. The stars are still aligned so be sure to take advantage of the continued great spring catfishing on the Red!

Brad Durick is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and a licensed ND fishing guide specializing in trophy channel catfish on the Red River in and around Grand Forks.  Read more from him at: redrivercatfish.com

Featured Photo: Not Just for Show.  The author hoists up a big channel cat from the Red River while filming an episode of Jon Thelen’s Destination Fish for the Sportsman’s Channel.  DEO Photo by Brad Durick.