Downtown Fishing in Grand Forks: So Close, So Easy, and So Fun!

I’m originally from Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes. Like so many others from Minnesota, fishing was a favorite pastime of mine growing up. We were lucky to have a ton of lakes nearby to fish from, whether it was Leech Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Woman Lake, or Lake Minnetonka—and that only names a small few!  I had never fished in rivers before moving to Grand Forks, so I wasn’t sure if it would be the same as my time on the lakes. However, I was happy to find out that fishing in Grand Forks area rivers is absolutely off-the-hook! Here’s why:

Downtown Grand Forks houses the Red River of the North, which flows North through East Grand Forks and along the border of Minnesota and North Dakota. I love how simple and easy access is to the river.  Downtown, you can set up camp and fish almost anywhere along the Red. My favorite spot is the dock just north of DeMers Avenue and just off River Road. With the added perk of over 20 miles of blacktop bike/walking paths, our largest park, the Greenway, offers miles of river access along the shoreline as well as a number of boat drops. Anglers can gain boat access from both sides of the riverbank from four locations within town:

• Lincoln Park Boat Ramp- Accessible from Belmont Road to 13^th Avenue South
• Whopper John Little North Forks Boat Ramp- Accessible from Mill Road to Red Dot Place
• Folsom Park/Red Lake River Boat Ramp- Accessible from 2^nd Avenue, NE to 4^th Street, SE in East Grand Forks
• LaFave Park, which includes a large parking lot, handicap accessible fishing dock, and public bank fishing sites-Accessible from Hill Street NW or 2^nd Avenue NE in East Grand Forks

With so many fishing location options, you’ll be happy to feel like a little fish in a big pond!

The Red River offers about 70 different species of fish, the most typically caught being catfish, walleye, northern, bass, and even sturgeon. Recently, I caught my first sturgeon which was so cool and so prehistoric looking! I’d say the most popular to reel in is catfish, even if they are, no doubt, a little ugly. Around here they can reach up to 30 or 40 pounds, however the best size for eating is just a few pounds.

To learn more about what kind of fish you could be telling tales about, check out this species guide.

Nothing expensive is needed to catch lots of fish or big fish! I’ve caught tons of fish of all kinds with the simplest if setups. Seriously, my best luck comes from nothing more than a riverbank, a pole with 8lbs test fishing line, a slip bobber, a small weight, a hook, and a night crawler. For huge catches, people often use 30lbs test fishing line, a 3 oz weight, and a circle hook with a variety of baits—and of course their own top-secret methods. (Pro tip: I think a pink Barbie pole catches the biggest fish!) Whether you are in the market for a whopper of a setup, or you want to keep your supplies simple, there are several local businesses nearby that offer a wide range of supplies-from bait to boots- to help you catch the trophy of your dreams:

• Bass Pro Shops (Formerly Cabela’s)
• Home of Economy
• Scheels

I love how North Dakota embraces outdoor activities. Just steps from my downtown lifestyle, I can easily spend a couple hours relaxing–with delicious fish to show for it! Between the kids who ride down on their bikes with their fishing pole on their backs to the families who make memories together on the banks of the Red, Grand Forks offers a seriously simple and fun time spent outside together. Downtown fishing is just another reason why Grand Forks is a way cooler place to live and enjoy the good life!