Expert tips and tactics for catching Manitoba’s mighty channel catfish

RED RIVER PRIMER

Having fished for the Red River’s channel catfish since 1987, I’ve learned quite a lot about when, where and how to tackle these river-dwelling brutes. Here are just a few tips to get you in the fight.

WHEN & WHERE TO GO

Channel catfish are found throughout the Red, Assiniboine and Winnipeg River systems, with the Red producing the greatest number of large cats by far. That’s confirmed by Travel Manitoba’s Master Angler program, which awards anglers for catfish stretching the tape to 34 inches or longer. The list of recipients also provides good clues as to when to hit the Red. Of the largest 100 cats recorded in the past three years, 29 were caught in September, 23 in both June and July, 10 in August, nine in May and six in October.

The spot on the spot for large cats, as revealed by tagging studies, is undoubtedly at Lockport. That’s largely because of the abundance of forage fish that accumulate in the turbulent waters below the lock. Channel catfish are aggressive predators, and they’ll go wherever prey is most plentiful. Despite what some anglers believe, cats will feed throughout the water column, not just along bottom. In fact, it’s not unusual to see baitfish activity on the surface of the Red, often in response to feeding catfish below.

Experienced catfish anglers most often target the seams between moving and slack water. The heaviest currents with their colder water are generally not the place to look, however, since cats typically seek out warmer, quieter water. Other likely fish-holding areas include back eddies, and the slack water below bridge pilings, along riprap banks and next to natural edges in the river. Remember, catfish like to be out of the current, so structure is key.