Red River Channels

Hey Guys,
I was wondering if anyone has ever been up to the Red River around North Dakota and Canada to catch these HUGE 20-30 pound channels? Because I have heard about it and was thinking of doing one late summer trip there around Labor Day with some buddies of mine I haven’t seen in a while. Does anybody have any good recommendations on guides, places to go, baits to use, where to stay, etc. I would really appreciate it. I have always wanted to catch a monster channel and this just seems like the place to be! Thanks for the help everyone!

Send a PM to Landscats. I haven’t made it up there yet but it’s on the list. I have a hard time going because I have some pretty good cats 5 minutes from my house but once the boys are old enough to appreciate it….

Kent would be my first choice too (landscats)

http://www.trophycatadventures.com

If you were thinking of a Canadian trip, http://www.catsonthered.com Stu is the only game in town.

I want to go too!!

Steve — the guides I would suggest have been thrown out there already. I am from Grand Forks and grew up fishing the Red River and those big 20lb+ cats a blast. I always had good luck on chicken livers, cut suckers, and also live suckers, we also used some old rotten raw shrimp too! Good luck if you go and it is a blast.

Just to clarify Briank’s post, to contact stu, http://www.catsonthered.net

have been to stu’s a couple times in the winter, he is one of a kind, and knows the river up that way well. From what i understand, labor day is a great time to be there!

good luck!

My uncle goes up to Lockport annually. They go self guided. They catch most of their own bait. He said once you go, you’ll want to go back every year. They caught something like 3000lbs + of channels on the last trip for 3 guys. Don’t quote me on that number, but it was unreal. I’ll see if I can find some of the pics.

3000 pounds by 3 guys is easily doable in 3 or 4 days in the spring. Cats average 18 pounds, 167 of them would be a little over 3000. We’ve caught from 40 to 240 on the weeklong trips I’ve taken.

I’ve even caught a lot of big channels around Fargo. 15 – 20 lb fish are very common. I have always had the best luck on fresh cut shiners or suckers. Use a bigger piece of meat than you think you should. I usually cut the biggest suckers from the bait shop in 3 or sometimes 4 pieces. I know alot of people use frogs later in the year. I’ve only ever fished it from shore and have just got permission from landowners or fished public land.

You’re asking a lot of questions there.

So,how far you want to drive? Cats typically get larger the farther north you go on the Red. You can get into good cattin’ from Fargo to Winnipeg, thats A LOT of miles.

Most guys just drive straight up into Canada and fish out of Cats on the Red at Lockport. Cats on the Red and Stu McKay are mentioned already. Really no need to talk further, this is THE spot and Stu is THE man.

If you don’t want to drive as far, you’ve got good spots near Hallock, Drayton, and Grand Forks. Good spot meaning this is where you can find a decent boat launch at to get into the water.

Grand Forks has a couple very good guides in Kent Hollands and Brad Durick. Grand Forks is a good town as well, lots to do and East Grand Forks has a Cabelas. There is seriously not much to do in the towns between Grand Forks and Canada other than bars, fueling up the truck, and camping. Not sure if that matters but something to consider.

Bait? Suckers, Goldeyes, and Frogs. I may be leaning towards leopard frogs that time of year but the fish will tell you what they want.

20 pounders are available anywhere in the Red… good luck to ya!