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

ON THE FLY

In recent years, anglers have discovered that channel cats can also be caught on fly tackle. Two approaches prevail. The first is to fish streamers (Clousers, Woolly Buggers or DDH Leeches) on a high-speed sink-tip line. Cast upstream and across to give the fly plenty of time to sink and drift, then strip it back. Most often, cats will take the fly partway through the drift. Late afternoon and evening are the best times to try this.

The second approach is to drift dry flies during the Red’s nighttime summer hatches of mayflies. Under the protective cover of darkness, cats will fin in the current, their snouts just breaking the water as they pick off duns drifting on the surface film. A size 8 or 10 White Wulff or similar dry fly is just the ticket for battling these massive fish in the dark.