Go west, young man! Especially if what you are looking for is Red River catfish. There are actually two directions you can go to find them, northwest or southwest. This is because there are two major Red Rivers (as well as some minor ones) and both are famous for their fishing opportunities.
The northern waterway marks the border of Minnesota and North Dakota. It's 545 miles long, running from the Red River Valley into Manitoba, Canada and on to Lake Winnipeg. This is country with cold winters, so the presence of 'cats' may surprise those who thought of them as warm-water fish.
People who love this waterway say that it is home to the 'best catfishing on the planet'. You may want to judge for yourself if this is all brag or all fact. It is true that channel cats grow very large in the cool waters of this northern region.
There are guided trips that take you out to where the monster channel cats lurk along the bottom. On a good day, you can hook as many twenty-pound-plus cats as you can handle. Guides can also be engaged for a half or full day to show individuals or groups to the best fishing spots. Check out the photo galleries to see happy fishermen and women holding their catch, which is always more than an armful.
If you go to the other extreme, you'll find the Red-River-of-the-South running from its origin in the Texas Panhandle along the border with Mexico and on for over 1300 miles to end up in Louisiana, having gone through Arkansas on the way. There are several species of cats in the southern Red, including channels, blues, and flatheads. What is believed to be a new species has recently been found down where the Red joins the Atchafalaya.
This is where people go 'noodling' - catching catfish with their bare hands. Since channels can grow to over 50 pounds, flatheads to over 100, and blues even bigger, this makes you wonder about the good ol' boys and gals down that way. You can also use a rod and reel, you'll probably be happy to know, with worms, minnows, or chicken livers as bait.
More leisurely ways include jug-fishing, which means baiting lines suspended from floating empty plastic bottles. Slat-trapping uses baited traps that fish can enter but not leave. There's also snagging and trot-lining. These methods are used by those who are looking more for food than sport. Of course, a quiet day on the riverbank has its own attractions.
So there you have it. You can go as far north or as far south as the country's borders allow and find superior catfishing. Each river has its own colorful history and has played an important part in the development of this nation. The northern waterway brought trappers in and furs out for the Hudson Bay Company. The southern one wasn't really navigable until a 160-mile-long log jam was sorted out with dynamite. A visit to either one will introduce you to unique vistas and adventures.
The northern waterway marks the border of Minnesota and North Dakota. It's 545 miles long, running from the Red River Valley into Manitoba, Canada and on to Lake Winnipeg. This is country with cold winters, so the presence of 'cats' may surprise those who thought of them as warm-water fish.
People who love this waterway say that it is home to the 'best catfishing on the planet'. You may want to judge for yourself if this is all brag or all fact. It is true that channel cats grow very large in the cool waters of this northern region.
There are guided trips that take you out to where the monster channel cats lurk along the bottom. On a good day, you can hook as many twenty-pound-plus cats as you can handle. Guides can also be engaged for a half or full day to show individuals or groups to the best fishing spots. Check out the photo galleries to see happy fishermen and women holding their catch, which is always more than an armful.
If you go to the other extreme, you'll find the Red-River-of-the-South running from its origin in the Texas Panhandle along the border with Mexico and on for over 1300 miles to end up in Louisiana, having gone through Arkansas on the way. There are several species of cats in the southern Red, including channels, blues, and flatheads. What is believed to be a new species has recently been found down where the Red joins the Atchafalaya.
This is where people go 'noodling' - catching catfish with their bare hands. Since channels can grow to over 50 pounds, flatheads to over 100, and blues even bigger, this makes you wonder about the good ol' boys and gals down that way. You can also use a rod and reel, you'll probably be happy to know, with worms, minnows, or chicken livers as bait.
More leisurely ways include jug-fishing, which means baiting lines suspended from floating empty plastic bottles. Slat-trapping uses baited traps that fish can enter but not leave. There's also snagging and trot-lining. These methods are used by those who are looking more for food than sport. Of course, a quiet day on the riverbank has its own attractions.
So there you have it. You can go as far north or as far south as the country's borders allow and find superior catfishing. Each river has its own colorful history and has played an important part in the development of this nation. The northern waterway brought trappers in and furs out for the Hudson Bay Company. The southern one wasn't really navigable until a 160-mile-long log jam was sorted out with dynamite. A visit to either one will introduce you to unique vistas and adventures.
