By Brad Durick

The spawn is on when it comes to the channel catfish on the Red River in and around the Grand Forks area, and likely much of the flow in North Dakota. As predicted, the hot temperatures we have had have pushed the catfish to the nest and they are spawning.

Water temperature is holding steady at 75-76 degrees.  Numbers remain good with lots of smaller fish being very aggressive. The best spots to look for are areas of a flat near the bank with a drop off. Fish have been hitting either right away or at around minute ten. There really has been no need to sit on a spot for more than ten minutes before moving along. Sucker has remained my best bait and goldeye did catch fish but not as consistently. 

This week’s report is very accurate as I personally fished both north and south of Grand Forks and also north of Drayton. I interviewed a tournament angler who fished the Oslo area very hard over the weekend, and I spoke to Ethan Tallackson from Tallys Trophy Fishing Charter in Fargo. All of the reports are exactly the same.

This spawn should start to wrap up in a week or so and maybe things will pick up on bigger fish after that. Until then, keep hammering away.

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: Spawn Central.  Catfish on the Red River have entered the spawning phase of the openwater season, with warm temperatures pushing them to nest in recent days. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.