When you think of the Midwest's favorite fishing opportunities, few even ponder the thought of fishing on the river, especially for a Flathead Catfish. While there aren’t many diehard cat hunters, the select few are passionate about the monsters they chase, and score huge fish every year. Here are a few ideas to get you started, and once you get bitten by the catfish bug, you just might fall in love.

You’ll need good bait. The livelier the better. Bullheads are a top choice in Minnesota, and added fun when you have to catch your bait. Find a local pond, and you’ll find your bullies. But remember, they must be of legal length if you plan to use them in Minnesota.

A heavy rod and reel with 50 to 80 pound line is a must. Next is a big hook and enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom. Three to four ounces of weight should do the trick depending on the current in your river. Once you have the gear, all you need to do is find the catfish. Typically they hang in heavy brush and snags under the flowing surface. You will also want to locate running water such as creeks or drains, and find deep holes in the river channel too. Better yet, if you find all three of these ingredients, you have likely found the motherload.

Whether you fish from shore or in a boat, this approach and tactic can get you bit. Flathead catfish are an incredible fish with bone shattering strikes and fierce battles matched by few others. Now is the time to latch into a monster as the water warms and the cat spawn draws near. If there is a flowing river in your area, you can bet there is a monster lurking. Good luck!

Travis Frank - travis@mnbound.com

1 - Lively bait is good bait! Ever wonder why one guy is catching all the fish? It’s probably because he keeps putting on lively bait after each catch, while everybody else is dragging around the same stinky minnow. Keep your bait fresh and catch more fish!

2 - Fish when the fish want to bite! Instead of spending your precious free time chasing fish during the middle of the day, focus your efforts when the fish are in the mood to bite. Lowlight hours of sunrise and sunset are key feeding times for all game fish. Another lesser known key factor is fishing during the rise and set of the moon. These are the 4 major feeding times each day.

3 - Be Mobile and find a pattern. If the fish don’t want to bite, there is no point in sticking around. Try searching out areas deeper and shallower before sticking with just one depth. Once you find the fish in a certain area, study why you caught that fish in that particular spot, and find more spots just like it. Odds are, there will be fish waiting at the next spot too!

4 - Trust Electronics. Todays electronics make can make us all experts before we even launch the boat in the water. Investing money in quality electronics will save valuable time on waters old and new. That secret spot the locals have had for years is no longer a secret once you turn on your GPS mapping system. Fish smarter, not harder!

5 - Get Up And Look! Many times a fisherman relies too much on their electronics, and never see what is actually happening below them. Next time you are out on your favorite body of water, get up in the front of the boat, put on a pair of polarized glasses, and visually see what is happening. You may be surprised what you will learn by watching the fish and studying the bottom. Plus, there are more fish roaming shallow waters than one might think!

One of the toughest parts of fishing can be finding spots to store all your gear. Walk through the sports store and you'll find dozens of boxes, bags and sacks designed to help you get all your ducks in a row, so to speak. If you're like me, you have a ton of gear, but not a ton of money to spend on expensive bags and boxes. I found a pretty good solution to one of the toughest tasks; finding suitable storage for my muskie baits. They tend to be big and they tend to take up a lot of room! My solution is a milk crate. Contrary to the talk these days, you can still get and use milk crates legally. I just called a local dairy and asked if I could purchase a couple. They were happy to get rid of a few, older bins. I used a saw to cut shallow creases along the top edge every inch or two and suddenly have a great bin which holds baits in place. The creases hold the hooks and baits in place and I've got room to hang about 30 baits per crate. Heck, do you really need more baits than that to throw anyway? I still find I only use half a dozen of them! The crates are easy to move around and don't cost a ton of dough. If you want to get really fancy, you can drop in dividers across the middle to create even more hanging space. Hey, the price is right!

Bill Sherck "The Man About The Woods"

If you are a muskie fisherman, or any fisherman for that matter, now is the time to capitalize on some very big fish. Throughout the summer months, fish feed on a regular basis and maintain a healthy size. As the water cools, the fish go on a wild tear and seemingly eat everything in sight. While most outdoorsmen enjoy a walk in the woods, or a perch in the deer stand, it is possibly the best time to be on the water. Fish of every specie especially the famed muskellunge are gaining weight by the day. If you can stand the cold on the water and are able to land a muskie at this time of the season, there is a good chance that you could hold the largest fish of your life. At this time of the year, it is possible for a musky to weigh 10 to 12 pounds heavier than it did in July or August. All the more reason not to hang up the rod and reel just yet. That state record muskie is also very likely to be caught before the ice forms this season. Good luck!

Travis Frank ~ Official Due North Outdoors Guide

Late August and early September an offer one last glimpse at your whitetail herd before season starts. Whether you are a bowhunter or a firearm hunter, now is the time to focus on the deer movements. What is the best way to do this? If the funds will allow you to, purchase a digital trail camera to really monitor the deer's behavior. With the last few days before archery season almost here, it is great to have the camera's out near your hunting are to see when the deer activity is best. If you keep getting pictures near your stands in the morning at 7 to 7:30, then you know where you need to be at that time. Another stand can also show activity in the evenings at certain key times. This is a great way to know exactly which deer are moving at which stand location, and it is pretty darn fun to see what you get on the camera's. All of this, and you won't spook the deer during their normal movement hours. Give it a shot, and if ya get some cool pics, just send em on in to our photo albums!

Travis Frank ~ Official Due North Outdoors Guide