New to flatheads,top ten tips?

[erickol]

Hey folks. I guess I have lurked here once or twice. Thought I'd register and try to meet some of you folks.

I caught my first flathead last week. MN river. Had a ball. I would like to pick up a bit more info, and go out and make some mistakes, so that I can go out and make fewer mistakes after that!

For a newbie flathead enthusiast, what would you all say to a top ten list? That could be top ten tips for bait, tips for gear/techniques, top ten no-nos, top ten tips for finding fishy water.

I don't want to pester people for things they don't want to share. Just interested in some input as I go out to experiment and explore on my own. Thanks, Eric Kol

[aanderud]

Oh geez, if you want 10 of all those things, I think you've overestimated the complexity of the flathead. Not to minimize the creature, but as I've heard before when sturgeon fishing -- "this aint NASA".

This board has all of the info you're looking for, just use the search feature. I'm new to cattin but here's some things I've learned so far.

Creeks are good catfish habitat - I've caught all but 2 of my flatheads where creeks come into the MN river.

Snags are good catfish habitat - You will catch flatheads of all sizes (caught a 4 pounder and a 35 pounder in snags) plus plenty of opportunity to snag your anchor, your weight, your bullhead, etc.

There's other good catfish habitat, in theory, but I haven't yet fished in any spots that weren't 'obvious'...i.e. creeks or snags where you drive by and go "I would bet there's fish there" without even looking at a depth finder. Who knows, holes and whatnot might be the key at some point, but until they stop biting in 'obvious' spots, I'm not going to start looking for non-obvious places to soak bait

Bullheads are the best bait - hardy, cheap, effective. Throw a $20 at Bob Moore and he'll set you up with a pile of em. Or catch/net them if you have time. Either way will get you effective bait.

If the fish aren't biting, wait a few more hours, they might start. If the fish aren't biting yet, come back tomorrow, they might start. If the fish aren't biting yet, try a new spot. Or move more often but don't be afraid to try those spots again, because spots that skunk you on Friday might run you out of bait on Sunday...

Don't forget your spotlight at home.

Don't leave the rear anchor in the water when you start back to the landing.

Don't forget the DEET.

Use heavy enough line to catch the big ones in current -- big flatheads are few and far between, and having your line fail you can't feel good.

Buy and BRING a scale, you don't want to rely on Lumpy catching and weighing your fish before you catch them.

These guys are all fun to fish with, jump at any chances to go along if someone has an open seat.

[DTro]

Welcome aboard!

Here's my top ten:

1. On the river, be prepared for anything and everything. This usually means having a lot of extra junk on board, but trust me, you'll be happy you have that whatchamacallit when you need it.

2. Use good lively bait. Best case is wild caught the day of fishing. Obviously not very easy for everyone, but possible if you put your time in. Get a good cooler setup or livewell to keep those viddles happy.

3. Good spotlight and good headlamp.

4. Use the right gear. Yes, you can catch anything on a snoopy pole and twine, but it's not the preferred method.

5. Location.....creek mouths, snags, sharp bends, eddys.

6. Patience

7. Patience

8. Patience

9. Patience

10. Finally....you will need some patience.

[erickol]

I got the first couple of items, snoopy stays home (sorry snoopy) but you might have to explain the patience thing. Thank you

[erickol]

Thanks for the advice! I have my eye on a abu garcia 6500 (i think that's the on ) at Moore's, I'll make sure to take some of the bullheads off his hands too.

[Larry FlatCaster]

Quote:

---

Welcome aboard!

Here's my top ten:

1. On the river, be prepared for anything and everything. This usually means having a lot of extra junk on board, but trust me, you'll be happy you have that whatchamacallit when you need it.

2. Use good lively bait. Best case is wild caught the day of fishing. Obviously not very easy for everyone, but possible if you put your time in. Get a good cooler setup or livewell to keep those viddles happy.

3. Good spotlight and good headlamp.

4. Use the right gear. Yes, you can catch anything on a snoopy pole and twine, but it's not the preferred method.

5. Location.....creek mouths, snags, sharp bends, eddys.

6. Patience

7. Patience

8. Patience

9. Patience

10. Finally....you will need some patience.

---

Did some one mention patience............

Patience.

[Ouchless]

1)Use hook no smaller than 4/0. 6/0 is the one I use.

2) No-no: Don't leave your rod with thightened drag. They WILL pull it into the river before you can do anything. Release the drag as loose as you can and put it on clicker.

3)When they bite, enjoy the sweet song of your clicker for at least 3-4 seconds before setting your hook.

[rushing]

Catch Photograph Release

[Lowblazah]

Quote:

---

Catch Photograph Release

---

This should be everyone's number 1.

[dps]

Dtro named the most important thing.. be prepared! Those thing-a-majigs and whatchamacallits have their place and time when fishing in a boat at night... things *just happen*.. and they ca happen quick so being prepared, and being safe is #1.

Keys to catching a flathead...

#1-3.. Location, location, and locaton... creeks were already mentioned, and one of the most popular places to fish. They are obvios structures easy to identify. ny bend in the river will have a hole, and usually some timber just downstream. The inside of a bend will generally have a significant sand bar which can also be feeding terrtory. Any structure large or small can be the honey hole... a series of structures in close proximity is often best, or a major structure in a featureless stretch of an river is nearly a guarantee a big preditor will be there.

#4-6.. equipment; be sure your equipment is up to the task at hand. If you are fishing heavy cover, you need equipment that will pull that fish out of that cover or it all over as quick as it started. Good qualiy equipment and heavy line.. 80# Power Pro is a favorite of many, mono guys usually have 30#+. Terminal tackle.. high quality hooks and strong swivels are neccessary. 7/0-10/0 is the norm on flatheads dictated by actual bait size.

#7.. Have a game plan... get a good idea where you are going and what structures you will be focusing on.. When you get there, try to approach the area quietly and be sure to place your lines in what would seem to be the best locations... dont get stuck in a rut, if it isnt working, move your lines or/and try another location/presentation. Dont park your boat directly on top of the key spots.. anchor upstream and cast back.. when you are waiting for a bite, pay attention to the rod tips and dont start throwing things around the boat, crushing beer cans on the floor.. or avoid making a bunch of noise in general... sound travels 4+ times faster through water than it does the air, and these fish can detect a crappie minnow struggling.

#8-10... be patient, and be persistant. You wont catch anything by giving up. One good spot will reward your efforts when you find it.

[slipperybob]

Kind of general...10 P's.

1) Plan: Where you gonna go? What time of day/night? Need to go catch bait that day? Pick a few places to try out. If choice A doesn’t produce, go to place B or C.

2) Preparation: Bring everything you need, plus things you think you might need (toiletries, advil, snacks). Pre-rigged a few poles for different presentation; one with a float, one with a heavy sinker, one with a light sinker. If anything else, definitely a head lamp and fish gloves. Some catfish have very sharp teeth, or maybe the back of my hands are just soft.

3) Placement: Location is very important, but also correct placement of bait is important too. Rarely would it be a particular location where it wouldn’t matter if you place your bait anywhere and will catch them. Sometimes you have to be directly into the snag pile (last resort if I’ve been skunked).

4) Premium: If you go after big fish, premium equipment is a must from high quality poles, reels, and lines. Sometimes you get nibblers that don’t really hit and you won’t detect a bite. Sometimes you have to horse them out of snag piles.

5) Presentation: Bait, live or stinky bait prepared? Floating or bottom rigged plopped down. Sometimes gingerly pulling your bait triggers a strike. Hooking the bait through the lips, nose, tail, back, or under one of the pectoral fins? Each way makes the bait do different things.

6) Pattern: Once you figure out what the pattern is, stick with it. I don’t find catfish to be as temperamental as bass. When you start getting runs, it might be a short time frame or it could last for a long time.

7) Patience: Trust that your bait will be found by a catfish. If you missed out on the evening run, there might be the midnight run, or the early morning run. Sometimes it’s a mid-day run, who knows.

8) Perseverance: Keep at it. If you get skunked one day/night that doesn’t just means that you’ve done something wrong. Go back to the drawing board.

9) Preference: Sometimes there are things you do, just because you do it that way. I personally like a float/bobber when fishing.

10) Partner: Don’t forget your partner had his own ideas too, plus you need a witness if you get a really good fishing trip. Sometimes putting two heads together is better than one when things aren’t working. Your partner may just have the right stuff. Sometimes big fish needs two people, one guy with the landing net.