Capt. Alex Welter has been chasing catfish on the Upper Mississippi River
in Wisconsin for 25 years. Three years ago, he decided it was time to share
his skills as a professional guide, focusing mainly on catching trophy flatheads.
Guide of the Month: Alex Welter – River Bent Outfitters,
by Capt. Richard Simms
Photos courtesy of Capt. Alex Welter
Capt. Alex Welter with River Bent Outfitters has been pursuing flatheads as a guide on the Upper Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wisconsin for three years. But having lived along the Mississippi River all his life, he has been chasing catfish for more than 25 years.
He specializes primarily in pursuing flatheads, offering five-hour nighttime trips generally running from 7 p.m. until midnight.
Capt. Welter says his fishing style is decidedly active. Rather than anchoring in one location and waiting for a flathead to find the bait, he uses Spot-Lock and a “run and gun” approach, moving from location to location in search of active fish.
“I find that your odds of finding an active flathead are much better if you stay mobile,” he explains. “Plus, I’m not patient enough to sit in one spot all night and soak!”
His trips are designed for up to three anglers and provide everything needed for a night on the river, including rods, reels, tackle, fuel and fresh live bait. Clients simply need to bring weather-appropriate clothing, any desired snacks and drinks, a cooler with ice if they plan to keep any eater-size fish and a hard copy of either a Wisconsin or Minnesota fishing license.
Capt. Welter fishes from a 2024 Excel F4 1860 powered by a 70-horsepower Yamaha, a rig he says is ideally suited for navigating the Mississippi’s backwaters. He uses several boat ramps, generally within a 30- to 40-minute drive of La Crosse.
The baits of choice are live bluegills, which he catches fresh every day before meeting his clients. His equipment includes Whisker Seeker Tackle rods and Piscifun reels, with tackle selections varying according to the situation.
It’s a Game of Patience
Capt. Welter says anglers should not expect nonstop action. Flatheads are a relatively low-density catfish. He says a typical five-hour night produces three to five bites. However, those bites can produce some impressive fish. Most catches fall in the 10- to 15-pound range, while fish in the mid-40-pound range are possible. Flatheads exceeding 50 pounds inhabit the river but are relatively rare.
The emphasis is on quality rather than quantity. His clientele generally consists of anglers hoping to catch a big flathead or learn techniques they can use to pursue these fish on their own.
The Upper Mississippi’s flathead season is relatively short, generally running from May through October when water temperatures reach approximately 60 degrees. August through October is his favorite period for trophy fish, and 2026 has already been an outstanding season, with several flatheads exceeding 40 pounds and numerous fish over 30 pounds hitting the boat.
Conservation is an important part of his philosophy. While he acknowledges that flatheads are excellent table fare, he encourages clients to consider the value of protecting the river’s larger breeding fish. Generally, he recommends that fish weighing 15 pounds or less may be kept, while larger fish should be released.
He recalls last season when he and two different anglers caught a 41-pound and a 38-pound flathead from the same tree on consecutive nights.
He said, “On the first night, my client, Tyler, hooked a large fish that got him into the tree and broke him off. Less than a minute later another rod produced the 41-pound flathead he successfully landed.”
Capt. Welter returned to the same tree the following night with his client, Arick.
“Arick landed a 38-pound flathead,” he said. “The fish had the hook from the previous night’s lost fish still in its jaw.”
Capt. Welter said when he sent the photos to Tyler (who had lost the fish the night before), Tyler said, “Man, I’m so glad he caught that one. I bet he was so excited!”
Capt. Welter says that shows the true character of some amazing clients.
“There was no jealousy. He wasn’t bummed. He was just truly happy for another angler to catch the fish of a lifetime. This is why I love the sport of catfishing so much!”
(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.)
