ok...now what?

[PYROPAL]

i've got three good, stout rods. reels loaded with 12, 17, and 30lb line. how do you land these monster cats you guys talk about? can you grab them like a bass? i saw a post about 6oz. sinker moulds! you use a cannon ball for a sinker!? i already have some good size kahle hooks that i use whith big minnows for northerns, i can file the barbs if you think it is important...i bet they swallow the bait pretty deep mostly? any thing else peculiar to dredgeing up these critters i should know?

[MNRiverRat]

Have a good reclining chair, a BQ grill, and a cooler full of cold beer(optional). Oh yeah and some good rod holders

Oh, do mean technical know how...

Everyone has there own way of fishing them, my best luck is in areas of fresh water inlets, fronts of holes, or snags... Usually tight to snags inthe day, front of holes or in front of snags come dark. Yet, I've got them virticle jigging sucker minnows before, now that is fun catching flaties on a walleye rod and jig

where ya from, if you're around the BP/Shakopee area I usually have an extra seat.

MNRiverRat

[DARK30]

Hey Pyro, I see your a reasonable drive from the Rock River. That is a real Flathead playground from what I'm hearing..gonna get down there myself this year!

Nice to see someone excited about learning to catch Mr. whiskers!

[MNRiverRat]

Dark, still on?

[Dennis Steele]

For as long as I let them take the bait sometimes its a wonder they don't get gut hooked more often. I only gut hook one from time to time.

Like MNRiver Rat said everyone goes about hunting flatheads differently.

I like to find the key areas where they travel at night while on the feed and don't fish the snags as often as most. A current edge or seam at the head of the hole is often a good spot to place baits or along a rocky shore line. Basicaly anywhere bait is likely to school up or move through. Flatheads are typically ambush predators, so placing bait in an area where they will lay in wait is a good idea.

[Canuck]

I would strongly and mean strongly sugguest that U not attempt to stick your hand, fingers or whatever in a channels mouth, that is if U want them back. I had a guy (big guy) from Texas one day grap this little kitty (about 36") by sticking his hand in the mouth to pick it up for a picture before I would warn him. It is a good thing the was a good natured fellow because that kitty clamped down and didn't want to let go. His hand was pretty bloody when he finally got it to let go. Channels may not have long teeth but they are sharp and lots of them. The jaw muscels of a kitty don't take a back seat to any fish I know of.

I think U were talking about me and the 6oz mould. We need 6 oz in the spring to keep our bait in contact with the bottom of the river and also prevent it from swinging all over the river. These sinkers are inline so aren't really that excessive. I like to keep my weight down as much as I can but also find alot of people do not use enough weight. Our Red River in the spring time can have major flow.

I agree with Dennis there are very few kitties gut hooked. my favorite hook is a 2ot wide bend. These hooks do not have a long shank and I feel this prevents the kitties from being hooked in the eye. SHARP, a major issue in my opinion. I actually carry a file on by belt and put a few strokes on the hook after every fish caught. Their mouths are hard and I am find alot of fish are not hooked up because of dull hooks.