We are at the end now, at least for the guiding season. Water temp is falling about two degrees per night now and the lack of heating hours during the day just isn’t pulling it back up enough to keep it as level as it needs to be. It will level off in a few days when the water temps reach the low 50s. This is slowing the catfish but not shutting them totally off. There are still many great catfish to be caught for a couple weeks still but they will require some different tactics to really be successful.
Until the temps level off, fish deeper, slower water and plan on a longer sit, like 20-40 minutes. During this time of year many times you will notice small pulls or pecks on the baits but not pull downs. This can be a great fish with little to no motivation to just hit the bait. One tactic that will help with success is lightening your normal gear. I have started playing with this some and find that a softer rod like a medium Ugly Stik GX2 can detect the bites much better than a normal, heavier catfish rod.
Baits seem to be the same as they have been. I tried some fresh sucker the other day and found that two day dead still is the better choice. Some are saying frozen is getting better now as well.
2025 was a great season for me. Earliest start, second latest end, second most fish boated in a season and highest hourly catch rate. The river is in great health moving forward. With all that, this will be the last report for 2025.
Redrivercatfish.com
Until the temps level off, fish deeper, slower water and plan on a longer sit, like 20-40 minutes. During this time of year many times you will notice small pulls or pecks on the baits but not pull downs. This can be a great fish with little to no motivation to just hit the bait. One tactic that will help with success is lightening your normal gear. I have started playing with this some and find that a softer rod like a medium Ugly Stik GX2 can detect the bites much better than a normal, heavier catfish rod.
Baits seem to be the same as they have been. I tried some fresh sucker the other day and found that two day dead still is the better choice. Some are saying frozen is getting better now as well.
2025 was a great season for me. Earliest start, second latest end, second most fish boated in a season and highest hourly catch rate. The river is in great health moving forward. With all that, this will be the last report for 2025.
Redrivercatfish.com
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