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 one that separates Minnesota and North Dakota is sometimes called the Red-River-of-the-North because of this duality in nomenclature. This waterway is 545 miles long, running north through the vast ancient lake bed called the Red River Valley and on into Canada. Eventually it reaches Lake Winnipeg.
Dedicated fishermen of this far northern region declare that they can offer visitors the 'best catfishing on the planet'. They say that the channel cats are big and numerous, so an excursion on the water can mean hauling in twenty-pounders all day long. There are some great photos online to show that it's not all brag.
Professional guide services take visitors by boat to the places where these massive channel cats lurk. They say that there are so many huge cats that twenty-pound fish can be hauled in all day long. All visitors need to bring is a license and their lunch. Private groups can engage a local guide familiar with the best fishing spots for half-day or full-day trips.
Then there is the Red-River-of-the-South, which originates in the Texas Panhandle as two more or less parallel forks. This long waterway (1360 miles) meanders along part of the Texas and Oklahoma border and on into Arkansas and Louisiana. It's home to several species of cats, including channel cats, blues, and flatheads. There are rumors that a new species has been identified at the end of the river-course.
Down here they also have huge channel cats. The record is 58 pounds, but anything over twenty pounds is more than an armful. The flathead record is over 100 pounds, while the blues can get even bigger than that. To catch them, you can use a rod and reel baited with worms or minnows or chicken livers. A more adventurous way is 'noodling', which means feeling around in the murky depths with your bare hands, using your fingers for hooks.
If you prefer to take things as easy as possible, you can go jug-fishing, which means suspending baited lines from plastic jugs. Those interested more in filling the freezer than confrontation can use slat-traps, which entice fish in with bait but won't let them out again. There are two other legal ways to fish for cats: trot-lining and snagging. Go online for more information on these methods.
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 one that separates Minnesota and North Dakota is sometimes called the Red-River-of-the-North because of this duality in nomenclature. This waterway is 545 miles long, running north through the vast ancient lake bed called the Red River Valley and on into Canada. Eventually it reaches Lake Winnipeg.
Dedicated fishermen of this far northern region declare that they can offer visitors the 'best catfishing on the planet'. They say that the channel cats are big and numerous, so an excursion on the water can mean hauling in twenty-pounders all day long. There are some great photos online to show that it's not all brag.
Professional guide services take visitors by boat to the places where these massive channel cats lurk. They say that there are so many huge cats that twenty-pound fish can be hauled in all day long. All visitors need to bring is a license and their lunch. Private groups can engage a local guide familiar with the best fishing spots for half-day or full-day trips.
Then there is the Red-River-of-the-South, which originates in the Texas Panhandle as two more or less parallel forks. This long waterway (1360 miles) meanders along part of the Texas and Oklahoma border and on into Arkansas and Louisiana. It's home to several species of cats, including channel cats, blues, and flatheads. There are rumors that a new species has been identified at the end of the river-course.
Down here they also have huge channel cats. The record is 58 pounds, but anything over twenty pounds is more than an armful. The flathead record is over 100 pounds, while the blues can get even bigger than that. To catch them, you can use a rod and reel baited with worms or minnows or chicken livers. A more adventurous way is 'noodling', which means feeling around in the murky depths with your bare hands, using your fingers for hooks.
If you prefer to take things as easy as possible, you can go jug-fishing, which means suspending baited lines from plastic jugs. Those interested more in filling the freezer than confrontation can use slat-traps, which entice fish in with bait but won't let them out again. There are two other legal ways to fish for cats: trot-lining and snagging. Go online for more information on these methods.
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.
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