Livebait Flatheads - How long to let 'em run?

[Hotspotter]

Heading out soon for a night-trip on the Miss.

From past year's experience, we've never had problems getting quite a few runs. However, hooking-up has been a problem.

Typical rigging was 50# test to a sliding 3-way rig, 4-5 oz no-roll sinker and a 7/0 Mustad cat-hook (not a circle-hook, couldn't remember the proper name of the hook). Lively bullheads were used for bait.

I was told by a more experienced catfisherman to let em run until they stop (up to 30 seconds), feel for pressure, reel up slack and drive the hook home. Last time out last year we had ~10 runs and landed 2 small ones. Had several fish run the bait out a ways, with no one home on the hookset.

Any advice/suggestions?

Joel

[hanson]

I think there are many varying opinions on this but I'll offer up what has been working for me. Hopefully we can get some other views here also.

If the fish is obviously running and you can feel it, reel up the slack, feel the fish and let it rip.

If you are fishing very close to cover, you don't want the fish going very far. You need to set the hook as fast as you can and get him turned around.

I've had my share of misses lately as well. They could be channel cats, could be small flats, but I think they generally don't have the hook in their mouths. They have ahold of part of the bait but not the entire bait. When you set the hook on a fish like this, you just rip it right out for a 'swing & miss'.

Hooks? I've been using a 9/0 or 10/0 Gamakatsu Octupus lately. Its been doing the job.

I kind of look at flathead fishing in the same way I do tip-up fishing for pike. If the fish is moving with the bait, I set the hook. Less chance of a deeply hooked fish this way and less chance of them dropping the bait and not picking it up again.

[Bagley]

Before this year I had always thought to let em go till they stop. By doing that though I ended up like you did. Either missing the fish or when I would go to set the hook there wouldn't be anything there.

This year I haven't been letting them take it long at all. I have been setting the hook right after the clicker goes off, as soon as I get it out of the rod holder. I don't rush to set the hook but I don't wait more than 10 seconds. Doing this has been working for me. I've definitly set into a lot more cats this year compared to last year.

Usually If a flathead takes it, they have it right now.

The ones you miss are usally smaller channels, gar, and maybe tiny flats.

Bagley

[Dennis Steele]

I have to agree with Bagley.

I don't believe that flatheads take tiny little bites like your date at a fine restraunt. They just gulp it down.

They may taek the time to turn the bait so that its headed down their gullet head first, but most of the time the get it in their mouth in the right direction from the initial attack.

I usually set the hook as soon as I am sure that there is not slack in the line.

To increase my hook up ratio, I also hook my baits under the dorsal and not in the tail. I figure the tail is the last thing in the cats mouth, so why put the hook there??

[Hotspotter]

Thanks for the help guys, will give it a go and post results and hopefully pics.

Joel

[Hotspotter]

Chris:

Are the hooks you're using the "inline" variety that are not offset? Do you have an exact name or model number you use? Pondering the benefits of the offset hook point, wider gap, etc.

Thanks,

Joel

[rushing]

I pretty much use Gama 8/0 octopus circles cuz I hate gut hookin anything. If I am getting little jerky runs then I will let them play with it for awhile but if the reel is screamin' then I pick up the rod, hold onto it for about 10 secs to make sure I didnt spook them and I engage the reel.

I am with Dennis with hooking them under the dorsal fin, but if I am in faster water lately I've been hookin them through the upper lip if the bullies are small enough.

[hanson]

Joel-

Hmmmmmm... Good Question.

I've been buying them from Sportsman's Warehouse. Its the only place in the cities that I've found hooks that large.

Catfish Connection has them also. Awesome HSOforum if you haven't been there. Their stock# is G020-10/0 for those particular hooks. They have a nickel finish and come 5 per pack. They have a slight offset also.