Catfishing open water on rivers in Minnesota

[Aaron]

Hello it is early March in Minnesota and I'm looking to do some open water catfishing on the river. I live west of Minneapolis about 30 Minutes. I have been fishing for channel catfish on the crow and minnesota but have had no luck. I have been thinking about fishing the St. Croix River near Stillwater, MN. Does anybody have any tips for fishing catfish this time of year? Will they bite this time of year? 

[bobbymalone]

It's gonna be pretty slow going until water temps hit about 50 degrees.

I'd let the water get warmer and go back to the crow and minnesota rivers.  No need to drive to stillwater.

[JBMasterAngler]

Croix is still covered in ice in Stillwater. It's melting and breaking up along the shorelines, but still impossible to fish.

[popriveter]

I've caught cats very early near the black dog outlet on the minnesota river in burnsville. The western channel from the lake (before discharging into the river) can become active weeks ahead of the river at large.

Edited March 10, 2016 by popriveter