By Brad Durick

Catfishing has been a little spotty on the Red River over the past week, but the fish and the flow are showing signs that the spawn is wrapping up.  Water levels are back to where they were at this time last week; up five feet and down five feet, but the river is starting to level off at around 20 feet in Grand Forks.  Ramps river wide should be opening soon if they are not already.

Putting your baits tight to the submerged tree stumps and root balls seems to be the best in terms of location, but as fish come back from spawn and water levels become more stable, I think they will be moving more to the middle of the flow very soon. You still must use five-ounce sinkers at a minimum to stick a bait where you want it as the current remains fast. Give a spot a good 30 minutes so the fish have time to find the bait, although sometimes fish are picking it up much quicker than that. Feel it out to find what works for you.

Dead sucker remains my bait of choice. Shrimp is still working for smaller fish.

The back half of the month is a busy stretch for tournaments celebrating all things catfish on the Red River.  On July 20 there is a catfish tournament in Pembina.  On July 21, Oslo will be hosting a catfish tourney as well. The Cats Incredible event in East Grand Forks is July 26 and 27. Finally, the Catfish Capital Challenge will be in Drayton with a  $10,000 guaranteed prize for the winner of the season-capping event running Aug. 9 and 10.

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

Featured Photo: Swift Whiskers.  Catfish can be caught in the currently-faster water of the Red River as they come off the spawn.  Give baits a half-hour sit to account for the current, but don’t be surprised if big fish bite early. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.