Kayla Stewart brought her three youngsters fishing with Capt. Bernier.
Initially the bite was slow and the kids complained about being bored—
until this monster hit. The 21-pound channel cat was the biggest
Capt. Bernier had seen that season.
Guide of the Month: Zac Bernier—Nodak Charters
by Capt. Richard Simms
Photos courtesy of Capt. Zac Bernier
On the mighty Red River of the North, where muddy currents wind between North Dakota and Minnesota, Capt. Zac Bernier has built a reputation on one simple promise: every cast could be the fish of a lifetime.
Bernier, owner of Nodak Charters, traded a long-time office career four years ago to pursue his passion for catfishing full-time. When the river freezes, he shifts gears and teaches Special Education. But from May through September, his classroom becomes a Lund 1800 Sports Angler boat and his students are anglers chasing giant channel catfish.
“I’ve never been skunked yet and don’t plan to,” Bernier said.
That confidence comes from countless hours learning the moods of the Red River. His approach isn’t flashy. It’s effective.
“Anchor and wait, move, anchor and wait, move. Repeat.”
The strategy regularly produces impressive fish. While anglers can expect a mix of sizes, Bernier says the goal is always big cats.
“On average, we get at least a few over 10 pounds. The goal is to get near, or over, 20 pounds. We often get several in the range of 15 to 20 pounds.”
To battle fish of that caliber, Bernier outfits clients with Whisker Seeker Chad Ferguson Signature rods paired with Abu Garcia Catfish Pro reels. Depending on river conditions, he may deploy fresh-cut suckers, goldeyes, leopard frogs, shrimp or waterdogs.
The formula works. Bernier estimates his fishing success rate at 90 to 95 percent.
But the fish are only part of the story.
Some of his favorite memories involve watching first-time anglers discover what a big catfish really feels like.
One father-and-son duo from California had never caught catfish before. The father landed an excited 3-pound fish and proudly requested a photo with his new personal best.
“I politely explained to him that they will get up to seven times as big,” Bernier recalled.
A short time later, both anglers hooked channel catfish exceeding 15 pounds.
Then there was the trip that nearly unraveled before it began.
Kayla Stewart and her three children endured an hour without a bite. The youngsters grew restless.
“This is boring,” one complained.
Bernier kept spirits high by letting them pick music and even take aim at flies with a salt gun while he searched for active fish. Then the switch flipped.
An 18-pound catfish hit the deck. Moments later, the oldest child landed a 21-pound giant, the biggest fish Bernier had seen that season.
“The temporary boredom quickly switched to excitement, chaos and exhaustion,” he said. “The majority of clients are beginners or people wanting to introduce fishing and a fun outdoor experience for their children. The excitement from children and folks new to fishing is hard to beat.”
As a licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain, fully insured and CPR-certified, Bernier takes safety seriously. But he never forgets that fishing is supposed to be fun. In fact, when asked about his success rate, he offered the perfect answer:
“Perfect rate of having a good time.”
For anglers looking to chase trophy channel cats on one of North America’s premier catfish rivers, that’s a pretty good guarantee.
(From Chattanooga, Tennessee, author Capt. Richard Simms is owner of Scenic City Fishing Charters, Inc. He has been a catfish guide on the Tennessee River for 20 years. He began his outdoor career as a Tennessee game warden, later choosing journalism (and guiding) as his chosen profession. You can contact him at Richard@ScenicCityFishing.com or connect with him on his Facebook page.)
