Tips on handling a large Flathead Catfish

[DTro]

You've waited all winter, scoured the Catfish magazines and websites, you've prepared all your gear and the moment has finally happened. You've hooked a huge fish and brought it to the boat.

Now what?

Well hopefully you've brought a big net or a brave partner. I prefer a large landing net myself, but landing a fish by hand works in a pinch. Just make sure when do this, that you have a firm grip on the bottom lip of the fish and that the fish has been played out. A big "green" flathead has the power to break your arm in the blink of an eye

You've landed the fish!

Cats are a pretty tough customer and can stand being out of the water more than most other fish, but use a little common sense here. You have time to efficiently take a few quick measurements and photos before letting her go. This could be the biggest fish of your life and you want to remember it, so take a moment to double check that the picture turned out to your liking (I love digital cameras).

I really don't weigh fish under 40lbs anymore. There is a pretty good formula for determining weight. L*L*G/1275, and honestly, I'm pretty confident in that formula up to 50 pounds.

Now this is what I would recommend for handling the beast. The lower lip/jaw of the fish is a great place to hold it firmly with one hand (just like a suitcase handle) and then support the rest of the fish with your other hand under/behind the belly. Really that's it, pretty simple. While I'm not going to say it's "wrong", I wouldn't recommend holding the fish up by the gill flaps. They make great handles, but that is a lot of pressure on the fish. I think even the classic double grip of the bottom lip/vertical pose probably puts undue stress on the jaw. Most of the concern is for the bigger fish 40+ pounds.

Here's a good example of what not to do:

You've landed the fish, got some great pictures, now it time to let her go. Gently lower the fish into the water if you are in a boat, or walk her into some deeper water if shore fishing. Spend some time letting her get enough spunk to swim off. She'll let you know when it's time.

It's probably not the best idea to just toss it overboard and hope for the best.

An alternate method for some Cat guys is to make sure you get a nice big kiss, or even a lick and a short little private chat with the fish before watching it swim away. Most definitely optional on this one though

Sit back, take a deep breath, recollect and think how much fun that was. By handling and releasing that fish properly, that same feeling you just experienced can now be passed on to the next guy!

Good Luck

[Scott K]

Very good info, thanks for taking your time to post this Dtro!

[Gordie]

thanks dtro that will come in handy during the KTOC this year.

I also saw a guy grab a pretty hefty channel by the lower lip once and I'll guarentee that he will NEVER do that again. but it was quite comical when he did the channel cat dance.

[DTro]

I realize for most that frequent this forum it's nothing more than preaching to the choir, but 15 minutes of my time is worth the few it might reach.

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

I can't remember how many bruises I have had on the top of my hands from big old kitties snapping down on my hands. I was one of those guys that would grab onto the lower jaw with both hands. Then it kinda hit me all at once that I probably shouldn't be putting all that pressure in one spot. Definitely a one on the lower and one on the belly guy now a days.

[Flaco651]

Good info Dtro. The L*L*G/1275 is a good formula on getting a very close weight. When I actually weigh the bigger flats, I weigh them in the net and subtract the nets weight. I always figured it wouldn't be to good for 'em to be hanging from their head on the hook of a scale.

[harvey lee]

Nice post DTro. I have found that a good kiss or a lick on the head of a flathead will favor one with the flathead gods.

Do yourself a favor and lick away.

Chris Hanson showed me the art of flathead licking and if I could find the picture, I would post it. That Chris has real technique when it comes to those cats.

[River Runner Z]

that is some good info i like the one hand on lip one hand under the belly and them tell them to stick around the area for hopefully another chance to caught her

[Shack]

Yep, great post!

Hey, that looks cool Flaco

[The J-Man!]

...but it was quite comical when he did the channel cat dance.

I love watching the Channel Cat Dance! I did it once, never again.

[wildcatcreek]

I got crunched by a channel once......once. I can't believe how hard they can bite.

[SteveD]

I got crunched by a channel once......once. I can't believe how hard they can bite.

I bought a fish gripper at Cabela's last time I stopped in. I got it primarily for handling channel cats - like you said a misplaced finger too close to their mouth and it hurts. The Gripper was worth the $13. I also hope it will work to hold a big sucker from flopping around while I turn it into cut bait. One more thing for the cat box.

[mplspug]

Yep, great post!

Hey, that looks cool Flaco

He's so negative sometimes.

[Flaco651]

Lol.

[Slowhand]

Originally Posted By: shackbash

Yep, great post!

Hey, that looks cool Flaco

He's so negative sometimes.

Good one bud. Nice photo Flaco!

[Grant]

Have been crunched a few times... the kind of thing that separates the men from the boys eh? *laugh* or maybe the black and blue from everyone else?

[Surreal Deal]

I also saw a guy grab a pretty hefty channel by the lower lip once and I'll guarantee that he will NEVER do that again. but it was quite comical when he did the channel cat dance.

'The channel cat dance' is is the catfishing equivalent to a snipe hunt, and necessarily one of the best kept secret initiation rites - Every newbie should do it at least once.

I too did the channel cat dance once while trying to pose for a photo with a 17# beast - I didn't know a flat from a channel back then and thought that I should try to look like Doug Stange from In-fisherman. That fish must have been a boy, because he had a very FIRM handshake!

The photo I ended up with you can see dirt on the fish from when I dropped him. Too bad I didn't get more shots of him because he was certainly a remarkable specimen. Some fish change your life!

[Mike Steckelberg]

I always hold the bigger cats whether they be channels or flats by the bottom jaw and one hand under the belly, being crunched by a channel just comes with catfishin. It only hurts for a little bit.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

I learned my lesson and my fingers will NEVER go in a Channel Cats mouth ever again. I won't even target them ever because Flatheads are easier to handle haha. Flats can chomp hard though occasionally.

[goblueM]

Hey SteveD, i found one of those in my long-lost tackle box. They actually work, huh? I was wondering if it'd work for a big cat, and more likely a large pike or muskie

Originally Posted By: wildcatcreek

I got crunched by a channel once......once. I can't believe how hard they can bite.

I bought a fish gripper at Cabela's last time I stopped in. I got it primarily for handling channel cats - like you said a misplaced finger too close to their mouth and it hurts. The Gripper was worth the $13. I also hope it will work to hold a big sucker from flopping around while I turn it into cut bait. One more thing for the cat box.

[Shack]

I learned my lesson and my fingers will NEVER go in a Channel Cats mouth ever again. I won't even target them ever because Flatheads are easier to handle haha. Flats can chomp hard though occasionally.

What I have found is flats and their 40 grit lips cause more trauma than a channel clamp (IMO). I do not know what it is like to hold a 22lb plus channel, but the worst I have gotten is the clamping sensation on my figures and some torn up knuckles from channels. Flathead lips are like shark skin. Your run the back of your hand on those things your dripping blood on the boat floor for a half hour It goes away in about a week .

I have handled channels by the mouth for years when fishing them up in the Elk River area. I just starting doing it and I figure it was because of the control you have on the fish if you bend the lower jaw right. To shore fish channels in the elk river area in most of the spots you find your self on rocks. I hate dropping the fish 2 or 3 times on the rocks while unhooking and taking a picture. Even in a boat I am sure it is not good for them. The tail grab, soft slimy belly squeeze or the pinch the head grab almost always results in at least one drop while the fish is out of the water. If you can grab the channels mouth right and do not panic, scream and shack this fish off when the mouth closes you will not drop the fish. I love it when one of my good fishing partners does the two hand mid section long arm hold and gets a barb/sine poke in his hand. He is down for almost two weeks with use of that hand.

I will admit if you look at my hands and knuckles they are pretty much like mini stumps. From doing auto mechanic things for many years and working with my hands (concrete, metal, even dishwashing at a restaurant from age 14-16) my hands are pretty much rough as a cob and have very little sensitivity anymore. I can pick up some pretty hot things because of this and I am sure many other in this forum have this with their hands also.

If you have soft or sensitive hands you're best off trying to unhook the channel boat side/at shore or just cut the line all together Or if you have a net just working it out on a big rock or the bottom of the boat and forgo taking a picture. Or just wear some heavy gloves IMO it is one thing to wear heavy gloves for a 30-60 blue and another for a 8-10lb channel .

Tyler H has an awesome hold for channels in his pictures. I am sure it took awhile to perfect it and (like myself with the jaw hold) many dropped fish along the way. His hold does look cool though and I would love to see how he does it.

I would like to say also that this is what works for me and may not work for others. We have been down this path before The last thing I want is anyones knuckles swelling up becaue of what I have posted

[wooduck26]

Its amazing how hard a good size Channel can clamp down....I learned my lesson!

[SteveD]

Hey SteveD, i found one of those in my long-lost tackle box. They actually work, huh? I was wondering if it'd work for a big cat, and more likely a large pike or muskie

They work excellent - I got crunched once by a channel cat ... never again. Here is how you hold a channel cat for a picture:

[DARK30]

Or a glove...

They work for holding on to bullheads too

For big mudeyes...if you lick um just right, they won't bite you

[cutter08]

It is pretty funny trying to take a pic of your buddy (quackkills) when they chomp down and the look on there face is priceless