red river

I’m watching espn2 and “the fishing hole” is on. Jerry what ever his name is, is catfishing and he’s killin ’em. just about every pro that fishes for more then bass has done a show about the red. Is the red river the best in the state? Can you catch fish like that at the coon rapids dam, pool 2, 3, 4, 5, the st. croix or the mn river? I’ve heard stories about the crow too. A few guys on this post tell stories about that perfect day.

so were can you catch good numbers and good averge size?

NEW STATE RECORD in 2002.

The red river is hard to beat for channel cats…. I fished it just north of fargo where the cheyanne river dumps in and it was unreeal….. anyhting you threw out there cought fish… without much effort….. but for numbers of nice flatheads the minnesota river (in my opinion) is the way to go…… I don’t think the state record will come from there,,, most likely the missisippi…… I would really like to explore that river down by wabasha that dumps in to the miss… i think it is the cannon?? I know that it is mudbottom and snag infested in that area and looks like it is relatively untapped by a lot of catmen…… if you or anyone has any info on that area let me know… I am going to plan a couple spring trips down in that area….. the problen is getting a jon boat in there,, where to launch, parking etc….

The red is tough to beat. I have been going up there, selkirk manitoba, for the last five years and the channel fishing is spectacular. For consitently producing big fish its tough to beat.Rarley do you catch a channel under 10lbs there. The croix has some big channels along with the mississippi the problem is there are more smaller cats to weed through before you get a big dog. Check arround the state. There are several smaller rivers that produce big channels, but only for limited times of the year. I got my little gem. You would have to beat me to get me to give up where it is. I think the key to growing big channel cats is to find a river system that runs into or out of a lake. It seems these types of rivers produce bigger cats. I think it is because the cats can use the lake to feed and rest though out the year. Thats why I think the cats on the red are so big. The red river dumps into lake winipeg or manitoba, which is huge. Not that the size of the lake is important. I fish on small rivers that dump into smaller lakes and the channels are big there too.

mavzer there are a few launches along the wabasha bride(hwy 25) but i don’t know how the access is during low water. but in wabasha right on grant blvd there’s a city park. nice place lots of parking, two lane ramp. it’s the chippewa river that dumps into the miss.down that way. lots of back water in there. want some company let me know. but i don’t want to go to sleep.(hehe)

NEW STATE RECORD IN 2002!

I’ve seen shows on the Red, and channel cats seem to average in the 18-25 lb. range whereas the biggest channels on the southern rivers are more like 7-10 pounds.

not the chippewa…. I have fished that one… I am talking about the river on the Minnesota side that dumps in….. I thought it was the cannon but I could be wrong…… well, I will gie you a holler when I get out cattin……