By Brad Durick

Since last week’s Red River report, the catfish bite has done a full 360. Storms and unsettled weather combined with rising water all but shut the bite off last weekend, but as everything has stabilized it has come full circle and the bite is back to being really great.

Just like last week, the catfish are holding in the mid-river holes near either break line of the flow. That seems to change throughout the day so don’t be afraid to change from the on- to off-current areas from time to time.

The best bait is back to being suckers but I did hear from some tournament anglers last week that frogs were working. Frogs have been hard to come by so far, so I would not rely on them as they probably are not a go-to food source at this time.

Sit times are still in that 20-to-25-minute range. It does seem that if you sit a little longer after catching a fish or two that a big one might come along but I would not waste to much time on that as there will probably be active fish in the next hole.

Once again, as a reminder the Catfish Capital Challenge Tournament is set for Aug. 15 & 16 in Drayton.  Entry is $300 for a team of up to four people and can be completed online at 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.

Featured Photo: Circled Up.  Changes in the weather and water conditions had the catfish spinning on the Red River this past week, but things have settled in and angling for them is back to being more consistent. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.