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we_geaux_harder 
LSU Fan
alexandria
Member since Dec 2011
1166 posts
| Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/20/13 at 9:55 pm)
im in the Alexandria/Pineville area and was looking for tips on catfishing the mighty red. looking for tips about bait, specific spots (at a river bend, near a sand bar etc) and what time of year would be the best to go.
TIA 
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Spankum
LSU Fan
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
26554 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/20/13 at 10:21 pm to we_geaux_harder)
after installation of the lock and dams a decade or two ago, I think it has become more of a bass fishery...
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we_geaux_harder
LSU Fan
alexandria
Member since Dec 2011
1166 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/20/13 at 10:33 pm to Spankum)
i know there are plenty of catfish in the red, ive got them times before. just looking for tips to increase my productivity.
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faxis
LSU Fan
La.
Member since Oct 2007
6547 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/20/13 at 11:55 pm to we_geaux_harder)
For me, my favorite way of doing catfish on the red is from a boat with a bunch of jugs at night once it warms up. Caught a lot that way. Just float down with them, watch them with a spotlight, drink a lot. Bring a big landing net. Fill the boat.
But you can tear them up on the downriver side of a sandbar, although these won't be large, or in a hole on the bottom of a wash, or below a lock overflow.
I tied into something one time right below dam 5 with a bottom rig and a big surf rod that went right up to the spillway without me being able to turn it's head till he got there then I lost it when he turned back to me. Was exciting tying into something that huge. That rod is ten feet long and as thick as a broom handle or more and I had it doubled over into a question mark with the drag running and didn't budge him for a hundred yards.
No clue what it was but it was pretty fricking awesome whatever it was. Felt like a submarine.
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we_geaux_harder
LSU Fan
alexandria
Member since Dec 2011
1166 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 12:23 am to faxis)
Thanks for the tips. Any idea on bait? But I'm not looking for large ones, just enough fish to fry.
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faxis
LSU Fan
La.
Member since Oct 2007
6547 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 12:27 am to we_geaux_harder)
I always had the most success off of fresh cut bait for blues that I caught with a cast net, and live bream for ops.
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faxis
LSU Fan
La.
Member since Oct 2007
6547 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 12:33 am to faxis)
Also, when the river rises, get up in the tributaries and creeks and any flood plains. Go shallow. You have to be there when it's rising.
Once it drops, it's over.
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we_geaux_harder
LSU Fan
alexandria
Member since Dec 2011
1166 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 2:38 pm to faxis)
Awesome. Thanks for the tips!
This post was edited on 2/21 at 2:39 pm
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SaDaTayMoses
LSU Fan
Da Platte
Member since Oct 2005
2048 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 2:54 pm to faxis)
We have a set line tourny during July near Three Rivers. Some boats launch at the locks to set, others launch in Mississippi, or Atchafalya and set.
Live 3" buffalo work the best, IMO.
Also, we catch fish at the hydro plant after hours or on a Saturday. Not supposed to drive boat within 100 yards of the hydro plant, but the fish pile up on the concrete slab next to the wall. Drop your line down with a 2 - 4oz weight and a river hook with a buffalo or small shad on it. Get in a log jam and you can drink a case of beer and have a boat full of spotted cats! 
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we_geaux_harder
LSU Fan
alexandria
Member since Dec 2011
1166 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 3:31 pm to SaDaTayMoses)
Sweet. I've heard of buffalo but never used em. Can you get them at a store or you have to use a cast net?
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faxis
LSU Fan
La.
Member since Oct 2007
6547 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 4:12 pm to we_geaux_harder)
Cast net usually for me if I'm fishing the Red.
Was throwing it one time to catch some shad and pulled in a ten pound buffalo.
Speaking of buffalo, I was at that same spot below Lock and Dam 5 snagging with that same surf rod and hung a buffalo that was about thirty pounds. My buddy, who probably doesn't weigh 125 lbs soaking wet tried to rassle it up on the bank amongst the rock when that sucker started going nuts. It beat his arse like you'd taken a baseball bat to him then flopped back in the river. I could barely breath for laughing so hard.
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we_geaux_harder
LSU Fan
alexandria
Member since Dec 2011
1166 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 4:20 pm to faxis)
Alright cool. Should I try netting them around a brush pile or is anywhere good?
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SaDaTayMoses
LSU Fan
Da Platte
Member since Oct 2005
2048 posts
| re: Anyone here fish the Red River for catfish? (Posted on 2/21/13 at 4:24 pm to we_geaux_harder)
cast net for them near the lowest locking dam. not sure of the number. The water is usually coming through the damn and the shad stay there because of the extra oxygen and its cooler there during the summer.
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