The Red River of the north starts where the Ottertail River and the Bois de Sioux River meet at Wahpeton, North Dakota. At that juncture depending on the time of the year you can wade and fish it. North of Fargo, it picks up the Sheyenne River and becomes a little bigger.
It is kind of interesting to consider the upper Red because the upper is actually south since this is a north flowing river and its water ends up in James Bay. In Browns Valley Minnesota, the water divides and water going north becomes the Red and water flowing south becomes the Minnesota River and flows into the Gulf of Mexico. So when you look at it on a map, the upper river is actually on the down side of the map. Be that as it may, the Red River is probably the finest catfishing river in the world. While it is famous for the fishing at Lockport, Manitoba, catfishing can be really good anywhere on the whole length of the river.
Drayton, North Dakota is just a bit south of the Canadian border and bills itself as the Catfishing Capital of the North. I have not personally fished that particular stretch of the river, but have fished both north and south of there so all the same rules apply. I do not know where you can stay there, but if you Google Drayton, you should be able to find some answers.
Best time of year to go is August 1. The Red River valley has been ravaged by floods almost the entire summer. Year in and year out, August 1 will probably come the closest to “normal” conditions what ever that is.
Take two buckets with you. One full of frogs and one to fill with frogs to replace the ones you use. I have used 200 frogs in a three day trip. If you run out of frogs, fish the downstream side of the log piles for Goldeye and Mooneye. They are standard bait on the Red and are a picnic to catch because small as they are, they are fighters to the core. They resemble tarpon and fight just like them. Nightcrawlers will do the trick for bait fish.
The fish will not usually be as large as the ones below the Lockport dam, but the flooding should help that as the natives believe flood years cause the big cats to move up river. Expect to catch 15 – 20 pound fish but usually nothing much over 20.
Use the wood in the water rule extensively. Fish for 20 minutes or so and if you aren’t getting anything, move. The Red River cats are all day feeders, so no need to lose sleep. Your Minnesota license is good since this is border water. From Drayton, you can motor down river all the way to Fargo.
With a little luck, you should have the time of your life.
