DTro Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 But........all the sudden the big girls are MIA. 75 degrees water temp and nothing but little tykes out roaming around. Wonder what that could mean We did have over 10 runs last night and only hooked up with 3. All 3 of those fish were under 10lbs and my guess was the missed fish were about the same size. If you want some action it might be prudent to downsize your baits/hooks. At least you'll be able to connect with the little fellas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Wiggum Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Uh oh, they must be doing the deed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey lee Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I had the same deal Tuesday night Darren. Many runs but no hook ups and 3 that were caught with the largest going 12 pounds.Slow at best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanson Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Do you think the bite has been related to the spawn or the rapidly dropping water levels?? Jordan Gauge is down 5' now from Saturday evening. She's dropping a foot a day! The flatties are obviously going to be adjusting to their new surroundings as long as the bathtub is unplugged.Guess my hunch is the rapidly dropping water level is having a greater impact right now on the fishing than anything.But, I've been wrong before... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey lee Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 The main reason I'm blaming it on the spawn is because we saw fish that are starting to spawn. I will find out in the next week hitting different locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aanderud Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Do you think the bite has been related to the spawn or the rapidly dropping water levels?? Jordan Gauge is down 5' now from Saturday evening. She's dropping a foot a day! ...Guess my hunch is the rapidly dropping water level is having a greater impact right now on the fishing than anything.But, I've been wrong before... My guess is that the bigger fish are spawning. Water temps are up there, and they have to spawn eventually, right? Plus we've seen marks on the fish already, so there's evidence that the spawn is starting. I think if it was just fish relating to different structures, one would get skunked or have a very slow night. Reports now are that there's action out there, but the fish are all small. I believe that if you're catching flatheads of any size with any consistency at all, you're in a perfectly fine spot -- there SHOULD be some big ones around, because they all eat the same stuff. The reason behind the big ones not biting and the small ones biting is something besides location -- i.e. the swawn.I'm not a guru, but hey -- everyone has theories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveD Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 Same thing on the St Croix, water was 76 degrees and coming down fast. Tuesday night one small 26" flathead on cut bullhead and last night one Tini tiny 18" flat on a live bullhead. I also got one 21" channel and a giant Bowfin (both on cut bullhead). That Bowfin had a nasty disposition - he swallowed the circle hook so I just cut the line and let him go where ever he wanted to go - Nasty critters.I was hoping to get another week of prespawn fishing in but we may be seeing the start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Holm Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 If you want some action it might be prudent to downsize your baits/hooks. At least you'll be able to connect with the little fellas. You talking 5" bullhead with an 8/0 hook? or smaller? I'm heading out tonight and I'll be happy catching a few smaller ones. We got a 5 and a 10lber on Monday out of Kato. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveD Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 You talking 5" bullhead with an 8/0 hook? or smaller? Tyler - I fish circle hooks for flats and I've downsized my bullheads too. I'm running 5/0 to 8/0 Kamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks using 4" or 5" bullheads. That hook size seems to match up pretty well with that size bullhead - I like the 5/0 for the smaller bullheads. My favorite bullhead pond is full of those smaller bullies - they are perfect for cut bait and on the 5/0 hook stay active when fished alive for flats. I haven't had any trouble with hook ups on circle hooks so I'm going to stay with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey lee Posted June 26, 2008 Share Posted June 26, 2008 I would agree with the smaller bait and hooks. Tueasday I was getting a few hits and missing and then downsized to a 6/0 hook with a 5 inch bullhead and shazzam, flatheads in the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Here-Kitty-Kitty Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I also got one 21" channel and a giant Bowfin (both on cut bullhead). That Bowfin had a nasty disposition - he swallowed the circle hook so I just cut the line and let him go where ever he wanted to go - Nasty critters. Are you suppose to keep the bowfins or kill and throw away. I have heard both anyone know the truth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveD Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 I'm not sure what you mean by throw away. A bowfin is a rough fish and the fishing regulations are very specific about disposing of rough fish. Page 53, 2008 Minnesota Fishing Regulations: - Speared or dead rough fish may not be returned to the water or left on the ice or banks of any lake or stream.They are actually a lot of fun to catch - they fight like crazy. I don't know why you would want to kill one. I hope this one lives to get even bigger - he is an ornery cuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wastewaterguru Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Saw one big one last night......at 42.5 by 26.5.There are still fish to be caught. Even during the spawn there can be big fish caught. Just not as often or predictably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTro Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 Yep, I also boated a 40x25 last night. She looked pretty rough, but was still eating.Nice fish John! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aanderud Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Good ones Darren and John. It's good to see that there's still nicer sized flatties biting now and then.We were parked basically on shore and my dog saw what we think was a large bowfin trying to go upstream through 5 inches of water...that didn't last long. Before I knew it Jack was running up the shoreline of the creek and in the water trying to catch the fish. Well, the fish was pretty smart, so he just went back downstream into deep water. Oh well, it was fun for the dog, and good entertainment besides.We hit up 2 different spots last night. Both had baitfish, both had gar snapping all over the place. Caught sheepshead at both spots. We only got flathead bites on one of them though. Difference that I can see -- the first spot where we had good action most of the night had both shallow and deep water, with lots of wood nearby, while the second spot was a larger shallower flat area with no snags. Well obviously 2 spots and 1 night doesn't quite equate to a "pattern", but it might be the start. Where is everyone else seeing success? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjac Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Hanson was nice enough to take me out on my rookie flathead trip last night. We had one that we must have hit on the head with the cast, literally 1 minute after tying up and starting and she was clicking away. Nothing big but still a respectable fish. So, I go for my first flattie run, bury a good hookset, and I end up hooked up on a sheephead! Little later I got my first flattie, a 19lber. An average fish to many, but for me I was so pumped! So cool, so powerful! Few more small ones after that, but a good time indeed. Thanks again to Hanson! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTro Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 Nice Fish Chris! Sure beats the Metro Musky Grind huh? Creek 47 has been good this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey lee Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Hopefully tonight I can pop a bigger one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandmannd Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Nice fish cjac, that would be my biggest fish. Fun to catch no matter what. Can't wait to get out cattin' myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Holm Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Creek 47 - I love it! Nice to meet you last night cjac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aanderud Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 That creek has a lot of names by now! Nice job! Welcome to flathead fishing, cjac, it's a fun species, to be sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wastewaterguru Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Nice fish cjac.I'm thinking that spot feels a little "pimped" right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shack Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 Cjac, Great fish man! Hanson, I have not doubt in my mind now. Good luck Tom, I know you will hit a big one tonight, I know it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooter Posted June 27, 2008 Share Posted June 27, 2008 So roughly how long before the post-spawn bite picks up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTro Posted June 27, 2008 Author Share Posted June 27, 2008 Nice fish cjac. I'm thinking that spot feels a little "pimped" right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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