Flatty's and Loving It

[Rick]

I called Dennis Steele to talk about a few things and before we hung up he asked me if I would like to go on a flatty outing. I did a little checking on the home front, found I was good to go and set it up to start in the early evening.

Long story short, I tied into a 42" Flathead.

The current was washing into the spots we fished fairly decent creating some nice edges for those bigs cats to run along.

I placed a 7" bullhead anchored with a 4 oz. sinker right on the point where the current was finishing it's washout. I heard my clicker go a couple of clicks, grabbed the rod and felt a tug. I set the hook and the fight was on. I thought it was a nice cat but then it just got too darn easy.

I was thinking something 20 lbs or less. I had this fish right under the boat and quickly realized it was indeed a nice flathead when I tried to pull her off the bottom. She was not coming.

Finally after a tough job of horsing her in and then a quick net job by Dennis some measurements and the scale she was put back in to fight another day. She didn't take off slowly as she snapped her mouth with a loud pop a tail flip and she was jetting out of there.

We couldn't get a real accurate weight because she was so feisty and Dennis's scale is off so Dennis conservatively put her at 38 lbs.

We fished a couple spots and had runs and fish on all. Dennis had a nice one on that I will let him tell you about.

He also caught one I will let him tell you about.

I believe the key to fishing these flatheads with the higher than normal water is current pushing into an obstruction that creates slower water and/or eddies for the bait fish to mill around in.

The flats are cruising the channel edges and taking advantage of the easy meals offered up.

A lot of anglers are keyed into hot spots but the reality is that there is an abundance of hot spots if you look for those washouts with current that run into an obstruction.

I will let Dennis Steele finish telling the story as I figured this out because of the style fishing Dennis chose to pursue and I will say it was just a little differant to what we normally do during lower water.

It was a great trip. Thanks Dennis

[harvey lee]

Congrats guys on the nice cats.That Dennis must be a pretty good riverrat.

[Jim Hudson]

Nice fish Rick!!

[Wiskers]

Ok enought about the big flattys... I want to go I want to go... It has been two years since I made the trip down south. I need to just do it. Dennis, still no schedule in the email. LOL.. I need to set a date. June 11th weekend maybe? or? July 1st, 8th or 29th?????? pant pant.. lol..

[Dennis Steele]

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I will let Dennis Steele finish telling the story as I figured this out because of the style fishing Dennis chose to pursue and I will say it was just a little differant to what we normally do during lower water.

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Sure...Rick tells the good part and leaves the mudane details to me.

So...OK here is the L O N G version of our trip.

This was the first flathead trip of the season for me. I had been avoiding the flooded river and chasing channels on other river systems, then when the river was manageable a few of the staff made a run up for pre-spawn cats in Lockport MB, so I had not gotten a chance to get a "feel" for what was going on with my favorite river.

With the water levels manageable, but still higher than I like, I figured I had better get down there and take a good look at the river to check conditions out for myself and work out a plan for a few upcoming guide trips.

Rick had called earlier to talk a little business, So I suggested we could take care of that while getting a little fishing in. The boat is a great place for meetings, even if you don't have a secretary bringing in coffee.

Having heard reports from other stretches of the river, (Got to love this HSOforum for good info! )I chose to fish a stretch that I hadn't heard any reports from to help get a better idea what was going on with the cats.

As always, we ran up river scanning holes for life and paying attention to how the current was paying and playing into each area. Basically taking notes on likely spots and coming up with a game plan for the "magic hours" of just before and after dusk.

When the river levels are dropping like they are, I usually like to fish tail outs or pushes, areas where the bottom rises sharply at the downstream edge of a hole.

In high water, creek mouths can be extremely good as well, so we made sure to scan these areas for baitfish and signs of life.

The tailout areas were devoid of life, so we chose not to spend time fishing them. Water levels must still be a little to high for these areas to be productive.

We switched to plan B.

Outside bends can be very productive in normal water levels , but with the water levels up and the river moving fast, I choose to check the inside points that had deep holes behind them.

It was still a little early in the evening when we placed our first baits right along the chute or wash coming around a tree on a point. Getting close to wood cover before dark can sometimes entice a cat to come out to play a little early in the evening.

After about 15 minutes and no luck, we decided to move on. The sun was starting to set and I wanted to target two areas for the prime bite. Spot number one, was a sharp point with moderate current washing along it creating a chute and feeding into a large eddy. To the side of this eddy was a very deep hole on an outside bend.

The second spot and the one I thought to be the better of the two was a creek mouth just down stream of a large outside bend. The creek flow and the main river created a current edge just over the break and when we scouted the area earlier there was a lot of life.

We set up on spot number one just upstream of the chute and Rick placed his bait tight to a large fallen dogwood and I placed mine right in the chute where the it tailed into the eddy.

Rick had the most action with several short runs, but these fish never got the hook. At a close inspection of his bait, there were the tail tell signs that the fish had had the bait in thier mouth right up to but not quite to the hook. We assumed by the scrapes on the bait that these were most likely channel cats and not the big flatheads we were after.

As the sun was starting to set, I finally got a sharp tap on my rod tip followed by a short run. Lifting my rod from the holder, I could feel a vibration that I assumed was a cat mouthing my bait. I quickly set the hook with an upward swing and the hook found the roof of a cat mouth. At first I thought I had a decent fish on, then I thought I had lost the fish as it rose to the surface of the water, not giving much fight at all. It turned out to be a 6lb flathead that had wrapped its tail around my line and was coming in backwards. Still, my first flathead of the season!!

We had only planned on fishing this spot until just before sunset, saving spot nuber two, what I thought to be the best spot for the best time of a half hour before sunset to an hour after sunset. With the action we had been having we decided to give this spot just a little more time.

As the sun set Rick was still playing with channels that would take short runs, but I noticed a sharp tap and a slight bow in my rod. There was no run, but from experience, I knew exactly what was going on. The fish had taken my bait and was still working his way upstream. I quickly and gently removed the rod from the holder and gradually tightened the line until I felt a little weight and knew that I had a tight line on the fish. I set the hook with force but I did not feel the hook connect with the fish as my line just pulled freely out of the spool. DANG! My drag was set entirely too light for a fish of this size. I quickly tightened the drag and set again once I knew that my line was tight. I had the hook in the fish but the drag was still set too light to control the fish.

As the fish worked his way upstream and I fumbled with the drag still trying to control the fish as I knew that there was a snag laying just under where we had anchored. I typically would not set up over wood but in order to place our baits in the location they needed to be, it was the only way to set the boat.

I had to keep this fish off the bottom but did not succeed. The fish ran straight into the tree we were anchored over and tangled himself in its branches. We let the anchor line out attempting to pull the fish out backwards but had no luck. Pulling hard on the line in hopes of freeing the cat from the tree, the line finally gave at the hook and I pulled up nothing more than the sinker.

Two lessons learned for the umpteenth time again, don’t anchor over a snag, and make sure your drag is set properly!!

After that ordeal, and the sun finally set, we decided to head to what I thought to be the prime spot of the night. After all we were already into the prime time.

We ran down river to the creek mouth and set up on upstream point so that we could place our baits along the current edge created by the creek and river currents meeting. The surface was alive with lots of fish feeding on the surface. I tossed a bait on both the edge of the current and the break as it slipped into the deepwater. Rick tossed a bait along into a slight swirl or minor eddy along the current edge.

It wasn’t long before Ricks rod tip thumped as a fish picked up his bait. Rick was quick on the hook set, connecting with what he had thought to be a smaller fish. We were in only a few feet of water and the fish ran toward the boat as many sometimes do. As the fish came to the boat, Rick couldn’t pull the fish from the bottom. Then we both knew that this fish was a good fish. After all when you're only in 30 inches of water and you can’t pull a fish off the bottom, it can only be a good fish! As Rick pulled with all he had, he finally lifted the fish off the bottom and we saw the swirl from its tail, then its head breach the surface. The fish wasn’t done with Rick just yet, another short run, while Rick turned the fish and I quickly put the fish in the bag of net.

Flatheads usually are quite docile once landed, but this fish wasn’t quite played out. After the hook was removed, Mr. Mudcat kept on fighting Rick as we tried to snap a picture. After we snapped two quick pics, the fish was returned back to the river to play with us or another angler another day.

We fished a little while longer sharing that experience with each other and talking of other trophy fish we had caught. It was now well past the prime bite and we decided that we had a good night not only for being successful landing a nice cat, but just enjoying a night on the river.

[I Da Man]

Nice Pics and great story Rick and Dennis!

The only reason I like the ones that get away...is that it makes a person get his bass back out threre again!

With that belly...(the fish, not Ricks) I'm thinking 38 was conservitive

I missed my first "good one" about a week ago...the smaller fish have turned on...sounds like the MN has the bigguns going!

[Rick]

So when do I get to go out fishing cats with you on the sippi I Da Man?

[PierBridge]

What a beautiful Fish guys..........Great Job....

[DARK30]

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So when do I get to go out fishing cats with you on the sippi I Da Man?

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Talk about McDonald meets the Colonel....I'd like to be a mosquito in that boat!

What night was that? I was sitting down below Will's till about 11:00 sat night. Got one pop fly for an out. The bait was incredibly thick! You could hear fish feeding off the surface and minnows jumping along the bank. I should have tried for some eyes but I stuck it out with the big gun.

[hanson]

What a way to start out the year Rick! Nice Fish!

[Dennis Steele]

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Talk about McDonald meets the Colonel....I'd like to be a mosquito in that boat!

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Ronald and Mr Sanders have allready spent a weekend together. I was there too. Couldn't beleive they got along so well!

Of course, I bet since I Da Man is a guide, he's going to charge Rick double!

We were out saturday night too. Fished a few miles upstream of you. I heard your taking Rick out next weekend. I wish you luck, but don't embarass me.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Beautiful fish! I'm hoping for the first one tonight...

[Tyler Holm]

Great story Dennis and awesome fish Rick. I need to get up there and play with a few cats. Great story!

[DARK30]

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I wish you luck, but don't embarass me.

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Don't worry about getting embarrassed Dennis.....I might as well go golfing. I have about 15 hours in so far and not one mudeye to show yet. I thought it was gonna be a good year starting with my two biggest walleyes ever and my two best "once in a lifetime" lake superior agates....now I feel like I'm on dial up for sure. I know sooner or later, I'll get mine tho.

[Guest]

Nice fish Rick!

I Da Man will do a good job of putting you on some fish.. hopefully they wont be walleyes!

[I Da Man]

7 lbs eyes still biting! Dang Bait Stealers!

...I have a question...which one of us is Ronald Dark???LOL!

Couple weeks...I'm thinking Rick. I want to be able to put you on a "big" fish...

[Guest]

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Couple weeks...I'm thinking Rick. I want to be able to put you on a "big" fish...

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Is that when the REALLY BIG walleyes start biting?

[mplspug]

Oh man you are on today! LOL

[DARK30]

Finally got the net wet! Prefished the spot for tomorrow night and got two mudeye juniors and missed one. Should be a beautiful night around the smart fire!

[rushing]

Glad to hear ya finally had some luck! A couple friends went out in a boat tonight and the first fish they hooked into was a 48lber! I kinda regreted going to a BBQ instead of fishing tonight, it was such a beautiful night out.

[Guest]

It was dead for me tonight, but it sounds like I Da Man had a trip of a lifetime with Bob Moore of Moores bait..

last I heard it was at 3 walleyes over 8 pounds, 5 flatheads.. couple in the 10+ range, couple in the low 20's, and a 38 top it off... I dont know what they caught after I last talked to them..

I know where my boat will probably be tomorrow night!

[I Da Man]

HAH! It was 12:30 and time to go in...it was going to be 2:30 by the time Bob would get home. Luckly his brother opened the bait shop for him...

Bob had his hanky out when I was packing up...it sure was hard to leave a bite like that...I KNOW he would have stayed all night!

Ps stuck a 32 after we talked with you.

[I Da Man]

Someone please tell Rick to bring along some advil...Bob's a hurting unit today...

[Rick]

I don't need no stinking advil.

Can't you see Dark30 was referring to me as being the all night diner for the mosquitos.

[I Da Man]

I'll bring some along...just in case I give you a headache...