A few flathead in the fall questions

[Urbanflyguy]

So im hooked on the flatheads after my first one (46") and i have found them close to home with no need for a boat so i find myself after them often now. But i have questions about some basics for the pros here.

first off, do they normaly shutdown in fall and about when. im guessing they are fatting up now for the winter but i am also guessing there is a time when they hole up and thats pretty much it for the year.

Is there a time of the year when bullheads work better than others as i have a spot where i can still hook and line 20 bullheads in an hour and the water has no milfoil or other invasives that prevent me from using them as bait. But for some reason they wont touch them latley the just want the suckers

I it true that flatheads will only take live bait as i heard this from an old timer who was a river pro in IL when i was a kid.

And lastly how deep do you guys fish em at night and do they favor certian certian types of structure other than logs.

Thank you guys and if this is too much info to post feel free to email me at [email protected]

[EBass]

Not a big catfisherman - but they will hit cut sucker too. That's about all I can really comment on off of past experience

[DTro]

I would concentrate more on the current water level, temps, and conditions then what the calendar says.

Look for faster current and the when you've found it, try to find how the baitfish are relating to that current. That is where you want your bait.

I would also prefer creek chubs and suckers right now. Bullheads have been slow. Also never be afraid to just use cutbait. Flats like that too.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I'm no pro at all, most of us aren't but I'll give ya my two cents.

Bait - I have noticed that Flatheads love live Bullheads from May up until July. This time is usually referred to as pre-spawn. Suckers and Creek Chubs will work too but Bullheads are the ticket. Then they cool off for a while during spawn and then pick back up mid August. This is usually when it seems like they will prefer Chubs or Suckers. Also this is usually the time (mid August through November) that they will take other types of bait like cutbait. There have been a few pigs caught in the last month off cut sucker or chubs.

Locations - Fishing from shore usually limits where you can and cannot fish but I have noticed I usually find them in deeper areas in the Spring and Summer and then post-spawn they seem to target shallower areas adjacent to deep holes where the bait fish thrive. I would say if you have luck at your spot then stick with it. Sometimes it will get slow and if it stops producing after a few times then move.

As for time of year they shut down...it's usually the end of September that they slow down a little bit but seem to be able to be found up until November. I fished for them until it got too cold to fish anymore and that time was about Halloween last year.

[Urbanflyguy]

thanks a bunch for the info. i think i may have to put down the fly rod for now, well until i figure out how to hit the flatheads on one heeheh. you guys know if they prowl the shallows at night for prey???

[Larry FlatCaster]

Sometimes you can find them there... Seems more often I find them in a little deeper water. (Move around till you find them is my motto) I know that many like suckers and chubs... I do also at time.... but I've had some big ones come on bullheads late in the season.

Once the water hits about 50-55. The bite dies off on everything.

Good luck

[Scott K]

I agree with you Larry, I like to use bullheads until the bullheads slow down do to the cooler water. Although that doesn't mean I wont switch it up on occasions.

[Urbanflyguy]

just got off the water and man o man where they destroying everything. using huge suckers we went threw a dozen from the first bite at 8:13 to the last bite at 11:15 big lul in action from 10-11 though. bigest was 40 inches but lost one that felt alot bigger with in 15 min of being in the water. We had a hard time hooking though we lost 7 of them and only landed 2 not sure what we did wrong. using #8 circles not setting them and keeping tension. but all but 2 missed where missed as soon as we felt tension. oh still tight lines for a sec. ill post picks after i get my transfer cord back from my ma's

[Urbanflyguy]

ooh ty for the river temp info LFC i was looking for temps they shut off in

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I used circle hooks for Flatheads last year and they were VERY inconsistent for me. I used 8/0 Team Catfish circles and I missed quite a few fish. This season I switched to big octopus hooks (9/0 or 10/0) and I have had a huge difference in hookup ratios. I would say I get at least 90% of the fish that take my clicker compared to last year I would say 60% hookup rate.

I would maybe recommend switching from the tight line/circle hook/self setting method to clicker/octopus hook/setting the hook method. If you don't feel comfortable doing that then by all means continue what you're doing (you seem to be catching some nice fish lately).

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Glad to hear you were getting action though tonight...it's been slow for me lately when I get out.

[Urbanflyguy]

thanks for the tip. i've been using the circles for the almost consistant corner of the mouth hooks. But i will pick up a pack of the octos today and give her a shot tonight. And with any luck it will be like last night only with 7 or 8 fish landed instead of 2 and 7 lost hey if your gonna dream dream big huh

[pureinsanity]

I have missed a couple fish on circle hooks. One nice one for sure. I have not really tight lined much at all. But I did find that I was pulling up on my rod way to fast. Found tightening up the line and slowly raising the rod in a swooping motion while reeling seems to do the trick.

[snatcher20]

I'm a big fan of #8 circles. My hook up ratio has been outstanding this season. My theory on missed fish is they are probably smaller fish that don't have the entire bait in their mouth. Therefore a circle or J style wouldn't matter.

This excuse seems to ease the pain of a missed hookup for me anyways.

Any flat over 30" has a huge mouth and should have no problem handling a 5-12" bait. Also, sometimes whether a cirlce or J, the hook just doesn't find meat.

Also once I feel the cat is hooked, I'll drive the hook home a couple more time to be sure it gets through their tough mouth.

[DTro]

I'm also a big fan of circle hooks, but not a big fan of how the hook point likes to find it's way back into a live bait. This will usually result in, "FISH ON......FISH OFF"

But if you can find a good spot on the bait to keep the point clear, you should be good to go.

[Urbanflyguy]

any body seen the gamakatsu big river bait hooks yet? they have an odd shape to em. im gonna give em a go tonight and see how they work ill post back afterwards.

[howellcanufish]

any body seen the gamakatsu big river bait hooks yet? they have an odd shape to em. im gonna give em a go tonight and see how they work ill post back afterwards.

I've caught almost all my big fish lately on 10/0 Big Riverbait Gamas. They work AWESOME for 12-14" Suckers...little big for smaller bait...weights down a 7" bully pretty good and they can't fight very well.

[Urbanflyguy]

how are you hooking your bait up? i've been tail hooking everything to keep it feisty. glad to hear those hooks work well for suckers in that range as thats what in using. im guessing these are a set the hook style not a tight line set up?

[howellcanufish]

I've been hooking just underneath the dorsal fin leaving most of the hook exposed. I've also been angling the hook at about a 45 degree poke as to hit as much meat as possible. You still have to be careful on the cast due to the shallow piercing they are cast off pretty easy...that is the big guys anyhow. Good luck!