Ok...honestly!

[fish4cats]

If this has been discussed before, let me know i will delete.

How many of you honestly have actually "caught" flatheads in the winter time? Whether it be open water or thru the ice...

I know In-Fisherman did a show on fishing for flats on the Miss. but no doubt that they were snagging them. I know channels are caught quite regularly, but I have never heard of anyone catching Flatties in the winter. They seem to go dormant from what I have seen and read about them.

Just curious!

[DTro]

Count me in on the “never caught one” group

But also count me in on the “never tried” group.

There a few trusted members here who have reported that they have caught fish that were active/biting the lure and or bait near open water dams in the winter. I have no reason not to believe them. But I’ve also heard that the In-Fish crew admitted “off the record” that a large percentage (even more so than stated in the article) of those fish were indeed foul hooked and if you’ve noticed, that little experiment hasn’t gone anywhere from there. I think they may have figured out what was going on and really haven’t pursued it since, so credit to them there.

For anyone who has seen the few videos floating around YouTube of wintering Flatties, it is quite obvious that they are in a catatonic state and it wouldn’t take much to yank em out of there.

To me, it’s not about the catching of these fish that bothers me so much, they are pretty hardy, it’s the guys that want them for the dinner table that angers me. All they need is knowledge of said spot or a decent underwater camera and it’s a boat load of meat for them.

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Yep I fit into both of those groups as well Darren.

[wooduck26]

Ive never caught one, never tried.

[JeffB]

If you bounce a one ounce jig on my head enough times when I'm sleeping I might bite too.

[Scott K]

I have iced one, but I wasnt targeting them. I was fishing a nice deep hole, on the down stream side of a bridge pillar. I was catching bait stealers, and hooked into one. It was hooked by the mouth, but I would have never known it was even a fish, as there was no fight at all. This has been many years ago, as I was maybe 16 at the time. It was a nice fish, about 18 pounds.

I wouldnt think he was actively feeding, more then likely, I was just bouncing a jig off his head enough to catch him.

[Gordie]

I have never caught one either and I have fish a few hole on the minnesota trying for them along with eyes but still no luck and after I read the articals about wintering flatheads and seeing the videos dtro is talking about I will not try it again. I will let those flat get there beauty rest but once spring comes its game on baby