Channel cat pre-spawn

I want to try and target some of the big pre-spawn channel cats this spring, which I haven’t done before. Anyone know if they’re biting more yet around Minnesota or if they’re still grouped up in the deeper holes? When does the pre-spawn bite usually start heating up, or at what water temperature?

50-55 is when they start getting a lot more active. We had 43 last Friday and had a few really good aggressive takedowns and boated a few 30+” fish, but they were still stacked in deeper water. If you really want to get on a good pre-spawn channel cat bite, head up to the Red River in a about a month. Drayton would be my recommendation.