Red River help-water, bait etc. THANKS!

[RustyFA]

I really appreciate any help given. This seems to be the best message board I can find on the Red so hopefully you guys can help out. I am coming up to the Red in between Fargo and GF for the 4th year with my brother-in-laws. We are going to be there in the 1st week of June and are hoping the fishing will be good. We camp and fish from shore. How is the water level? Is anything biting and on what? Are the mosquitoes out yet and are they usually that early? What is the weather shaping up like?

We will go mainly for catfish but are coming up early to have a shot at other species, especially walleyes. Any hints on how to catch them? What baits will get hits? I have been reading that cutbait is the best bait. We usually use stink bait. Where can I get cutbait close to the interstate in Fargo? Do you use treble hooks with that? Any other help is really appreciated!!!

Sorry for the lack of brevity but thank you to those who help!

[Scoot]

Hey Rusty,

Your trip should be time pretty well. The water's high and dirty right now, but there's still some decent activity. Barring any big gully washers, your trip should be right on schedule with good fishing. Fish will still be in a prespawn feeding frenzy and you should be able to get plenty of cats. Snag piles in the first couple miles below dams would be a great place to start. Immediately below dams will also produce. I'm not a stink bait fan, but that'll definitely work. I'd catch goldeye (small jig, worm, two feet below bobber- near brushpiles) and cut them up (1x3 or 2x2 inch cuts work great). Sucker cuts on the MN side would be fine, but illegal to transport across state borders- careful of this, people have gotten pinched on this illegal transporting of bait in the last couple years.
Walleyes will be a lot tougher to key on at that time. Most walleye catching through the summer months is dumb luck rather than targeting them on the Red. Who knows, you may stumble on them though.
Skeeters- they should be getting good and cranked up about the time you get here.

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Scoot

RodsbyEngel: custom made fishing rods

[RustyFA]

Thanks Scoot! If I can't catch Goldeneye to use as cutbait does anyone know if there is a baitshop close to the interstate? And if there is an all-night one in Fargo? I usually roll through about 3 am. Thanks.

[Wiskers]

Like Scoot said your trip should be a good time. The water is going down and the fishing is starting to get back to normal soon. With the water still murky and fast, look for some areas along shore that would give them some shelter out of the fast water. Don't be afraid to fish 3 feet from shore at times. That is where many of the Sumos like to feed.

As for bait, Suckers or Shrimp will work for ya. Goldeye are good but might be hard to find depending where you go. "Wisker Bits" would work awesome... Oh ya I don't have them in production yet.... LOL..soon soon..

If your camping out and fishing, try to find a nice corner near by so you can use the bend and the sandy flats after it for searching for sumos...

Good fishing.

Rusty

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Wiskers Guiding Service
Red River, Red Lake River & Minnesota River,for Channel Cats, Flatheads & Walleyes
Crookston, MN
[email protected]

218-280-0442