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 Red-River-of-the-North runs along the border of Minnesota and North Dakota and on into Manitoba, Canada. It's 545 miles long and eventually reaches Lake Winnipeg. It runs through the RR Valley of the romantic cowboy lament, which is really the ancient bed of a lake formed eons ago by glaciers.
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.
You can sign up for a boat trip that will take you to great fishing holes. You can also find an experienced guide to take you and any companions out privately. Trips can be for a half or a full day. Having a local guide show you the best spots can result in your own picture taken with a monstrous channel cat.
The southern Red marks the border of Texas where it adjoins Mexico and Oklahoma. It flows through Arkansas and ends in the Atchafalaya in Louisiana. Along the way it absorbs many strangely-named waters, like the Witchita, the Ouachita, Muddy Boggy Creek, and Loggy Bayou. It has several species of cat: channel cats, flatheads, and blues.
Deep in the murky depths of the southern Red, channel cats grow to monster size, too. The current record for a channel is 58 pounds, for a flathead over 100, and for a blue 124. There are many legal ways to catch these fish. You can use a rod and reel with worms, minnows, or chicken livers. You can use your bare hands in the method called 'noodling', which involves blindly searching in holes along the bottom, in sunken hollow logs, or under rock outcroppings.
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.
Whichever way you go, north or south, there are lots of fish. There's also wealth of fascinating history, many rural towns and larger cities, and a whole lot of scenery. Avid fisher-folk will love catching these large, tasty fish, while the whole family will find entertainment either on or off the water. Even if you don't get a record fish, you'll have a lot of fun and take home great memories of one or both of these great regions.
The Red-River-of-the-North runs along the border of Minnesota and North Dakota and on into Manitoba, Canada. It's 545 miles long and eventually reaches Lake Winnipeg. It runs through the RR Valley of the romantic cowboy lament, which is really the ancient bed of a lake formed eons ago by glaciers.
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.
You can sign up for a boat trip that will take you to great fishing holes. You can also find an experienced guide to take you and any companions out privately. Trips can be for a half or a full day. Having a local guide show you the best spots can result in your own picture taken with a monstrous channel cat.
The southern Red marks the border of Texas where it adjoins Mexico and Oklahoma. It flows through Arkansas and ends in the Atchafalaya in Louisiana. Along the way it absorbs many strangely-named waters, like the Witchita, the Ouachita, Muddy Boggy Creek, and Loggy Bayou. It has several species of cat: channel cats, flatheads, and blues.
Deep in the murky depths of the southern Red, channel cats grow to monster size, too. The current record for a channel is 58 pounds, for a flathead over 100, and for a blue 124. There are many legal ways to catch these fish. You can use a rod and reel with worms, minnows, or chicken livers. You can use your bare hands in the method called 'noodling', which involves blindly searching in holes along the bottom, in sunken hollow logs, or under rock outcroppings.
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.
Whichever way you go, north or south, there are lots of fish. There's also wealth of fascinating history, many rural towns and larger cities, and a whole lot of scenery. Avid fisher-folk will love catching these large, tasty fish, while the whole family will find entertainment either on or off the water. Even if you don't get a record fish, you'll have a lot of fun and take home great memories of one or both of these great regions.
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