Flathead Catfish Photo Gallery

[uppdacreek]

Double from earlier tonight, not huge but still fun to have a double hook up!!

[Here-Kitty-Kitty]

Very nice looking

[sparky27]

Great night for cattin'. My brother(snatcher20) and my buddy BigOCat, got the first double I've ever seen. BigoCats Flat measured 41X28. I am cursed by the flathead gods because I have yet to get one.

[DTro]

Great fish guys!

[bronzeback]

what a chunk. I can't wait 'til they start getting that big up here in Brainerd. We've apparently got a decent population of 10-12 lb. cats cruising around the potlach dam. How long does it take for these fish to grow to say 30+ lbs.?

[Shack]

bronzeback,

Rumor has it that some flatheads have been caught above the Coon Rapids dam. That is just a rumor though and nothing has ever been said about flats being above the St. Cloud dam (or further up stream). Flatheads are the big ones that you are seeing in this thread.

The fish you guys are catching up your way are channel cats. Consider yourself lucky to ever catch anything about 15lb's and anything over 20 is a fish of a life time up this way. I am not sure about up your way, but between the Coon Rapids dam and the St. Cloud dam you might have a chance at a 25-30lb fish if where to find “it“. I have seen the 20lb mark hit, but that was back when I targeted the water up here 3-4 times a week. Now I spend any free time down town going for the big ones, but the urge to get back out up here on a consistent basis is calling.

The one major benefit we have up this way (and maybe up your way also) is the consistency that you can catch channels. If you hit them right, and provide what they want, between 2-3 guys in a boat (possibley on shore or from an Island), a 50 plus fish night is not out of the question. The channel cats are king up this way and stack up like cord wood. Since targeting is very low up here, the chances at a 10-15lb fish is a very big possibility when ever you are soaking a line. I would say your chances are 1 in every 8-10 trips out (in a boat) to get a fish in the 15-18lb range. From shore the same odds can be said for the 10-13lb range. Just have to put the time in and know where to go. Plus having a jet boat this time of year is a major plus. Even the john boats with props have issues.

Hate to break it to ya but you have to drive 3+ hours to get to even the closest spot to have a chance at these fish. Gas prices are low (fuel costs are half of what they where last year) so you should make a trip on down

[bronzeback]

oh well. i haven't targeted any of the cats up here. Makes sense that we don't have flats though. I fish the dam frequently for muskie and smallmouth, and went up there for pike in the last couple of weeks here. I've just talked to a few guys that stumbled across them while panfishing and I saw a few boats up there last summer targeting them.

I might spend a day this summer fooling around up there so I can have more of an excuse to post in here.

[Shack]

I sure would like to hear what the bite is like up you way and always love to see come caught cat images.

All it takes is to find some bigger hooks and a couple ounces of weigh, cut up some sucker minnows, put a hunk on, cast out in a deeper area, find a Y-stick, then sit back and enjoy. You will be addicted right away.

Who knows, if you sign up to for the KOTC, you might find you self in the top 10 on the channel side.

Good luck.

[bronzeback]

I've got the weights and the hooks I need. Fooled around with cat fishing while I was in Texas. I was looking for "The One." Didn't have any luck with any species while we were down there though.

Whats the best set up for fishing channels? How much line should I have between my weight and my hook is actually the big question.

and apologies for getting this thread completely off topic. not only are there no pictures, we are talking about the wrong kind of fish.

[Gordie]

couple from last night

35x19

34x20

[uppdacreek]

[Lowblazah]

41 pounds

[Gordie]

nice fish lowblazah

[Flaco651]

Nice one Drew

[aanderud]

Oh my. Drew is firing the big guns already? Very nice.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Wow some incredible fish rolling in...and all the while I am falling behind since I need a fricken boat and my spots are always taken by others.

[HotPocket]

Nice Andrew!

[DTro]

Nice fish Drew!

[rushing]

Wow some incredible fish rolling in...and all the while I am falling behind since I need a fricken boat and my spots are always taken by others.

Just put a little effort into finding some new spots. Just because one has a boat doesn't mean they will necessarily catch more fish or have assurance the spot they want isn't taken.

Patience pays off...its only May.

[MinnesnowtaWild]

Yes sir I am still pretty new to the river but have been looking around a lot for spots lately, just wish I would have earlier in the year.

[Whisker Warrior]

Nice fish andrew! You still planning on making a Kato trip this thursday??? maybe we'll hook up with another 40lber...

[Lowblazah]

still trying to figure that out...i should know by today

That whole work on friday morning thing is really getting in my way.

[uppdacreek]

Work is always in the way!!!!

Nice fish Drew!

[DTro]

[JimBuck]

Geesh. I picked the wrong time to get some motor work done. Nice fish guys.