Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
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The nights have been cold over the past week, and we are losing just about a degree per night in water temperature on the Red River. Right now, we are just under 60 degrees, meaning there really isn't much time left for the good catfish bite of 2022. Not much has changed in pattern over the past week, however. The fish are hanging out in the deeper off-current holes. Fish off the drop off of the inside bends where the current is pushing away from you. In the morning plan on at least a 30-minute sit and that can be shortened some later in the...
What a difference few cool nights can make in the catfish bite on the Red River. It is that time of year, and when things change like this, the fish can get moody. The cold fronts bring the water temperatures down and that can shock the fish in the short term. A few days ago, the pattern took a major turn because of the change in the weather, and we have had to move off current and sit on the fish to get them to bite. "Off current" means finding the same holes as we were but setting up on the softer side of the current where the main current...
If you can believe it catfishing got better that it already has been on the Red River. The pattern has remained mostly the same from the past two weeks and fish can be found right in the middle of the river at the heads of holes. They are in the areas that are three to six feet deeper than the flat running into them. Faster current has been the key to bigger fish. Sit times must be at the very least a continued honest 20 minutes and don't be afraid to stick around longer if you feel you need to. When fishing faster water, you may be able to...
It has been a good week for channel catfish on the Red River once again. There are lots of fish that are willing to play. Fish right in the middle of the river at the heads of holes or back in the middle of them. The catfish seem to not be liking the biggest deepest holes but more the ones that are three to six feet deeper than the flat running into them. Sit times must be at the very least an honest 20 minutes, even 30 to be safe. We have seen many spots that there are no bites at all until just about the 20-minute mark before the biggest...
Not much has changed with catfishing on the Red River since last week's reports. Water temperatures remain in the mid-70s and catfish are still in the middle of the river for the most part. If the weather is stable, they are in the heads of the holes and in the faster water. If there is a front that comes around, they are more to the middle of the hole or even up on the flat shallow water in the off-current areas. It's also a good idea to check for catfish on the back of an inside bend. All baits seem to be working at this time. Again, this...
This past week on the Red River has been a little bit slower for catfishing, but overall it is still very good. The big change has been the water levels and flows are falling. Some rain going down the stretch would be great. The bite is steady with the catfish mostly hanging out mid-river. The pattern has been to sit on them for 25 to 30 minutes to catch the fish in the holes and move on. Bait selection has been challenging as they just can't seem to make up their mind as to what they want. One day it is frogs and the next it is sucker. Keep...
Catfishing on the Red River has been quite stellar this week. We have had lots of big fish coming in. If you know where you want to fish, things have been pretty easy as the catfish have been hanging out in the mid-river holes toward the front. One thing that has been constant is you must give them an honest 20-minute sit to get the best results from the bite. Frogs have been the hands down best bait this past week with fresher sucker chunks as a second choice. The faster water seems to be producing nice fish as well if you can find some fairly...
The big news this week for catfish anglers on the Red River is that both boat ramps in Drayton are open. That means that all ramps on the Red River are now open and usable. Fishing this week has shifted to a full-on summer pattern. The fish are spread out and doing their summer catfish thing. They are sticking to holes that are near both faster and slower water. Depending on the day and weather is what side of the hole you will find them. Sit times have been a day to day thing. One day the bites will come very fast and the next it takes 20 to 3...
It appears we had a second spawn or late spawn this year. It really doesn't matter but it is noticeable this week that we have a bunch more beat up and skinny fish. The bite continues to be good if not great up and down the Red River. Water levels are down to what many would call perfect. It is easy to get anywhere you want. The catfish have been coming in the mid-river holes and even starting to move to the outside bends in the faster water. The hardest part of catching them this week is figuring out what bait they want. Suckers, goldeyes and...
Catfishing continues to be good on the Red River in and around Grand Forks but has slowed some over the past week. The heat and a water color variation have made fishing a little tougher but it is still outstanding. There are still many big fish around to be caught with many in the 14-to-16-pound range with some running even bigger. Since it got hot over the weekend, the fish have moved deeper during the day. They seem to be liking the slower currents in the morning and then moving into the faster currents as the day goes on. Goldeye has been t...
Since last week, the Red River in Grand Forks has fallen over five feet. After just a few days off the water for the Independence Day holiday, it is like a totally different world out there as far as how things look. Looks are one thing, catfishing is another. The catfish bite has stayed very good even with the fast-falling water and now that things are leveling off again, things should actually get better than they already are. Right now, the catfish are beginning to move from the shelf close to the shoreline over the first drop off toward the...
My what a difference a few days can make for catfishing on the Red River. We went from sluggish fishing with a big fish from time to time to GAME ON! Big fish are biting fast and often. Right now, the fish are on fire and it really does not matter what the bait is. The water has come up some from Grand Forks and north, meaning there is a lot of current and floating debris so you will want to be very careful with that. The best areas to fish are out of the current, such as on the back of inside corners. The catfish are running the break lines...
The big news this week is the ramps in the Fargo/Moorhead area are opening up. Grand Forks where I am fishing is nearly perfect for boating by my standards. All three ramps are now open. No docks yet but I suspect they will be coming shortly. Fishing is fairly tough as it appears we got on the water just in time for the spawn. Water temperatures are above 75 degrees so it is time for that to happen. It has been hot enough that the spawning process should be somewhat quick, at least I hope. Right now, the best fish are coming off the deeper...
We finally got in the Red River at Grand Forks on Sunday, June 12. As far as I know the two Grand Forks ramps are the only two open boat accesses on the on the Red River right now. As of now there should be little change. Due to the river levels falling more than one foot per day, the fishing has been very slow. The channel catfish are confused and it has to level off some to allow them to get their bearings. Add to that the water temperatures are in the low 70s which will be triggering the beginning of the spawn. It is very odd to start the...
Finally, I get to tell you something good. The projections the past few days on the Red River have the ramps in Grand Forks opening as early as Saturday, but it will probably more like Monday. Water temperatures and the time of year are saying we missed the best part of the prespawn channel catfish bite, but we will be in the water and that is a huge step forward. I suspect the catfish will be a little off kilter until the water levels off some. They tend to bite tough when there is a fast...
Storms over the weekend have put our flood situation on the Red River right back where it was last week. Only this time, we will have to wait a week for the river to rise and fall again. It now looks like around June 15 before boats will be able to get on the water and searching for catfish. Water temperatures right now are in the mid-60s so the pre spawn period for channel cats is in full swing. The next couple of weeks could offer great shore fishing opportunities. As the water rises again...
All of my Red River reports from last year had some mention of low water and dealing with where we could and could not go. Let's start 2022 off with a change. We have been flooding here on the Red River since mid-April. It is officially the latest start to catfishing that I have ever had. Right now, the water level is dropping fairly quickly and I am hoping to be in the water by the end of next week, but being realistic it will probably be the week of June 6, because the boat ramps need to be...
Water levels on the northern Red River are beginning to get really scary now. Below the Grand Forks and Drayton dams it is getting very close to the lowest I have ever seen. If you go in these sections of river EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION! The catfish are showing signs of the spawn ending. There are some post spawn fish showing up this week as expected with the hot temperatures. There are still some fish on the nest that will be coming out soon. Find any current you can and work the current seams....
