Here Kitty...Kitty!

[bklimek]

Hey fellas! I am looking at planning a catfishing trip in mid-August. I have fished the Red River up by Catfish Haven and have had mixed results. About 4 years ago we caught some sows. The biggest being 22. I think our biggest ten cats were around 120 lbs. The return trip two years ago was a little less successful. The biggest being 18 lbs and after that the rest were small. The method we used was to find a hole and park on top of it and lob some shrimp down to them. I read a few reports that cut bait is good. What type of fish do you use and how do you cut it and how big of a piece? I am wondering if this is still a good spot to nail some huge cats or if there are other good spots to go and what are some of the better techniques used? I am open to flat or channel cats. If you are not interested in sharing any of your hot spots or techniques to eveybody feel free to email me. Thanks in advance.

Brad Klimek
[email protected]

[DARK30]

Hi Brad, If you want to try the Minnesota River south west of the metro area, we could point you in the right direction if not hook up.

You ever try the St.Louis River for Cats? I'd like to get up there sometime.

WET NETS!

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[bklimek]

I have thought of going SW of the metro area. Is that in the area of Granite Falls? I have never been in that area of the state. I heard you can catch Channels during the day and then Flats in the evening. I heard of one guy catching a 40 pounder. What are the average size channel and flats? Is that the MN river they are fishing? If you could give me any insight I would appreciate it. I am an amateur when it comes to catfishing. I have only gone catfishing twice up by Catfish Haven. Usually when I go catfishing I am in search of a big one. I don't think they are all that big on the St. Louis. I usually fish the St. Louis for walleyes. I could help you out in that area if you are interested. Thanks again for any insight. I hope you don't mind I will probably have more questions for you later on. Thanks again

Brad

[fiskyknut]

-Brad-
Having fished the Red for many years from the Fargo area all the way up to Lake Winnepeg, IMHO the strech of river from the Drayton dam to downstream a few miles north of the haven is as good as it gets for large fish on the US side. There are some excellent spots between the dam and the haven, and I usually concentrate on this strech. Also, the first 3-4 miles downstream from the ramp west of Hallock can be very good also. Cut Goldeye is hard to beat on the Red, although they eat just about anything they can fit in their mouthes! Probably easiest to catch Goldeyes near current edges and seams up near the dam. Half a crawler, about 2 or 3 feet down usually gets them, small jigs and twister tails, propped jigs, and mepps type spinners also get them. I like to use a piece about 1.5"x4" or so, cut from a filleted side {skin on, no ribs or backbone} on a 2/0 Kahle, keep your leader fairly short, around 12-15 inches os so. I am planning on fishing the Drayton area Friday or Saturday this week for the first time since walleye fishing this spring. I had posted a ? regarding water and ramp conditions on the RR forum but have not had a response. I'm about an hour and fifteen minutes east of Drayton so I think I'll drive out that way tonite or tomorrow before dragging the boat out there this weekend, unless I get a decent response from someone who has been there lately. August thru freeze-up has me torn between my 2 loves....The Red river and the Rainy/LOTW. I usually get out to the Red 4 or 5 times a month now thru octoberish. Post here or the RR or LOTW forums and let me know if/when you'll be out here and maybe I'll see ya on the water. The Walleye fishing in the fall can be superb in the Drayton area also as you probably know. Post before you're coming out and I could e-mail you a bit more spot specific info for these areas.

Regards....Fisky

[fiskyknut]

Butch/Brad

Here it is again.

Fisky