Good Luck BK. Looks like I only have one more year of guiding to catch you expect I don’t plan on stopping. Still to many fish to catch and to many questions that still need answering.
Enjoy catching your own fish.
I have to brag a bit about my boy who is becoming quite the catman. We have had a good couple weeks going catfishing after school. The only problem is he is six and thinks this is normal.
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Great tips guys-how late into the fall do you fish them?
I guide until water temps hit 50. Below that I find that the bite can be too inconsistent to take people’s money. I didn’t say I quit fishing for them however. We were jigging cats from wintering holes last year the week before thanksgiving in 36 degree water. Not lights out numbers but really really fun on light tackle. I don’t ice fish them up here for a variety of reasons but you can do it.
I always anchor in the Red River for catfish and I fish 98% of the time in the daylight for channels. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION and work the clock to stay on fish. Not sure what electronics you run but if you have side imaging you can find catfish easy any time. It is the getting them to bite part that is sometimes the challenge.
I’m not in Canada but fishing has been pretty stellar on the US side of the Red.
Check out my web site. http://www.redrivercatfish.com
Thanks for the info Brad. I apologies for my lack of knowledge but when you say suckers, do you mean the same suckers used for pike fishing? Do you fish them live or a fillet?
Same one’s you pike fish with. The best ones are 8-10″ long and you cut them into steaks that are about 1″ square. I recommend at least a 7/0 hook too
Drayton is about as good as it can be. Going to be a circus by the sounds of it but there will be fish to be caught. Bring suckers with you or some crawlers and plan to catch goldeyes. There is no place carrying suckers there from what I understand.
I have heard biologists call them fresh water fleas. We see it quite a bit when fish have been laying still for a while. After they get active they get them rubbed off.
I once was moving a dock and got a couple on my leg. They were there for about 10 minutes and I had a rash for about two weeks. Not cool.
Congrats on your decision. I know first hand that guiding can be trying at times but there is so much reward that goes with it. It is a lot of work and a labor of love every day. With that everyone has their time to call it. I wish you the best.
I think it is an interesting thread from six years ago. In my mind a lot has gone on since 2010 when this thread was started. The industry is taking off and there are so many new ideas out there with ways to catch cats and be better at it.
While it will for the most part remain “hook,line and sinker” it is expanding greatly in knowledge of the fish as well as electronics and applying quality electronics to cat catfish more effectively.
I want to thank everyone who has bought Cracking the Channel Catfish Code over the past couple years.
I would like to announce my new book Advanced Catfishing Made Easy is now on the market. This takes the technical info from Catfish Code and puts it into a simple and easy to use guide that explains how to look up weather and water trends then match it to the season you are in and pattern the catfish from there. This is the system I use every day while guiding. It is broken down by region and by season so anyone around the country can use it whether a boat or shore angler. I like to explain it as a “pick your own adventure” catfish book.
Available in paperback or kindle
I hope it is ok here moderators. If not please delete.
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Thanks for signing up. You are the only IDO right now.
We do have teams in from Iowa, Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota so far.
Registration for the 2016 Boundary Battle is open. Dates are June 25/26, 2016 at Grand Forks. http://www.boundarybattle.com
Glad I could help you out a little Ryan.
He did it again. Yesterday a 20 and new PB 23. He also caught a tagged cat.
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This weekend was pretty special. My 5 year old boy got into the action on some big Red River catfish and another monster has been created. I don’t even know how many fish he reeled in but I do know he caught 2-21 pounders to set personal bests. One proud dad here.
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Was fun fishing with you guys.
Another from today. 10 years old and broke 20
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Learned a new spot yesterday and guest landed a true trophy 22+. Great photo came from the whole experience.
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A 20 pound channel catfish is very special. I would not call them common but they are possible on every hook set on the Red and as you move north they become more common. This has been a great start to a big fish year. Here are some highlights from the past couple weeks as I have experienced them. http://redrivercatfish.com/photos/2015/index.html
Scout trip 4-29-15
GAME ON!
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Heading up Saturday morning.
Still spots available in this tournament.
I’d like to add 3 Mr. Perch rod holders to be boat.
Also plan on Ethernet linking my two birds.
Boat needs a radio
Autochart Pro, I’ve got several rivers recorded just need the software to turn them into maps.
Would like up upgrade my 898cSI to an HD, not a high priority though.
Wouldn’t mind moving from a 70hp to a 90-110hp motor
Oh, and I must have a guide trip with brad in August with my daughter! She’s going to be King of the kitties! Hope to have her summer visit planned soon so I can hopefully find an opening with you Brad.
That would be awesome. Lots of openings in August still.
I really don’t have much on the wish list for 2015. I got a new set of Rippin Lips Rods and of course new line and hooks.
Last season I put an ONIX 10 on my new boat and mid-summer they updated with AutoChart Live to make real time maps. That is a feature that I really learned to love quick but didn’t have time to use it a ton. That is my top priority this year to get some of my best water mapped out so I know exactly where the structure is. In my mind probably the one thing that will change catfishing. I also finally will get my 360 installed.
Captainbrad is there a prop tunnel hiding between this pods? Hydraulic jackplate?
Yes that is a prop tunnel. It is the best of both worlds for me. I get to run fairly shallow water and not lose my horse power or fuel economy. It only has a manual jack on it but would love to have a hydraulic plate.
If anyone cares this boat is for sale for a fall delivery. Priced to move.
This is the day I brought it home last year. Rigged with 6 Driftmasters, headlights and a Humminbird ONIX 10
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Now taking registrations. Limited to 50 teams
Big John is a good guy. You won’t find a guide who works harder to stay on fish.
That’ll be a tough one to win… I know how dirty you play
yep lots of mud on the Red and I know how to pull an anchor.
