Ain't this pathetic!

[BIG-G]

Just read an article about the flathead population in the Delaware river. I tried to post the link but I must have goofed up. Basicaly tellin ya to "KILL" em when ya catch em. The state is worried about the money fish in the river. In all fairness though it is an invasive species not native to the body of water. Guess I'll have to start huntin them bad boys. LOL!

[flathunter]

Go get em George, get em before they eat all the bass up:wink:

They love fresh cut shad!

[jerseycat9]

George Im still surprised ya aint put a couple over the rails on your boat yet:ooooh: They have already caught one or two by my old stomping grounds up by Lambertville so ya know they gotta be round your parts:wink:

[lightwait65]

Jerseycat9...I see you used to fish Lambertville...is that where that big catfish in your picture came from? I fish bulls island frequently, but wondering if you have had better luck at other spots.

Thanks!

[777]

Give em HE!! BG :wink::smile2:!

[hunted]

well,seems you ought to go do your part to save the important fish bg

[jerseycat9]

Jerseycat9...I see you used to fish Lambertville...is that where that big catfish in your picture came from? I fish bulls island frequently, but wondering if you have had better luck at other spots.

Thanks!
Ive caught a couple 20s in Lambertville and countless 12+lbrs after good solid rains. If you head over to the Lambertville Inn on the river pull into the parking lot and procede to drive behind the building and it becomes state property with a boat ramp and such. You will cross over a small creek on the way back. That creek is the key to success after the river rises a foot or more. Get as close to the creek mouth as you can and fish the downstream side. Im tellin ya bring lots of bait to as it wont last long and big sinkers. Fresh caught eel chunked up is what Ive caught most of my bigguns on and my second favorite is American Shad when running

[brother hilljack]

I hope you catch them all. sounds like a great place to live!!

[lightwait65]

Thanks for the tips. I used to fish by the bridge there. I thought about fishing the boat launch area, but the smell from the sewer plant turns me off :) I know the spot you are talking about, I will have to give it a try. Thanks again!

[ozzy]

I couldnt imagine the Govt. being wrong in this sitiation. :roll_eyes:

[PhillyCatcatcher4]

I know the flats are in there, but in all my years of fishing only seen one caught in the De. river.
And that was in the C&D canal in Delaware. :crazy:

[Scott Daw]

Its Jersey what did you expect? Cant even bear hunt there because they're to cute & cuddly and over populated. Dont fret about the cats though, its the same here in PA.

[lendog]

I know the flats are in there, but in all my years of fishing only seen one caught in the De. river.
And that was in the C&D canal in Delaware. :crazy:

back in the day my dad and i used to fish the c&d for catties around st. georges bridge, wish i used sunnies back then :wink:

[South Grand Laker]

ah crap the poor bass

[katkiller77]

pest in new jersey but shovelheads are gold in ohio let them eat the smallmouth :smile2: rick

[catman4926]

Them flatties are hurting them bass that is why mother nature has stepped in, there is to many bass it's time to thin them

[kyleco55]

ever caught a decent flattie on an ultralite?? thats what has them bass fishermens panties in a bunch.. they dont want to break all their cute little bait rods!:smile2::smile2:

[TTS in PA]

Them flatties are hurting them bass that is why mother nature has stepped in, there is to many bass it's time to thin them

You really believe after thousands of years it's Mother Nature that stepped in and introduced flatties where they've never been before? The natural predator/prey dynamic often takes care of over or under population.

I couldn't say if it was accidental introduction or deliberate by either private citizens or a State Department, but I doubt Mother Nature is to blame. I'm new here, but I'm a little surprised at some comments. Don't you guys fish for Bass as well, or are most of you catfish specialists?

[crclhuk1]

You really believe after thousands of years it's Mother Nature that stepped in and introduced flatties where they've never been before? The natural predator/prey dynamic often takes care of over or under population.

I couldn't say if it was accidental introduction or deliberate by either private citizens or a State Department, but I doubt Mother Nature is to blame. I'm new here, but I'm a little surprised at some comments. Don't you guys fish for Bass as well, or are most of you catfish specialists?
I'll catch ANYTHING that will take my bait, but you are on a CATFISH website. It does have sections for all types of fish and anything else.

[jolie]

You really believe after thousands of years it's Mother Nature that stepped in and introduced flatties where they've never been before? The natural predator/prey dynamic often takes care of over or under population.

I couldn't say if it was accidental introduction or deliberate by either private citizens or a State Department, but I doubt Mother Nature is to blame. I'm new here, but I'm a little surprised at some comments. Don't you guys fish for Bass as well, or are most of you catfish specialists?

after some thinking about it, I said my opinion in a PA thread about invasive flatheads.http://www.catfish1.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1305307#post1305307

while I won't restate my thoughts (it was said as good as I could say it in here). I'll say to those that are bubbling with joy about the growth of the invasive flat; that TT has a point. Flathead catfish will come at the expense of several popular fisheries. There's something sad about that...

BUT that being said, There's nothing except mother nature that can stop this invasive invader; and an angler ought to give flathead catting a try before they get SO upset about it. Its fantastic fun and an incredible predator.

[TTS in PA]

Perhaps I've been less than effective at making my point. I'm well aware this is a catfish site.

My point was that Mother Nature had nothing to do with introducing Flathead Catfish. I'm saying "Mother Nature" didn't suddenly decide to introduce 'flatties' as a solution to their being "to many bass". They appeared due to man's actions, not Mother's.

I certainly am not 'so upset' about it, just surprised that bass would be viewed as a problem, rather than an additional resource to enjoy.

Most of my cat fishing has been for regular channel cats on the Delaware River, and no one has to work hard to convince me that cat fishing is fun.

[kenlaw76]

The way I see it invasive or not they are here to stay. The Flatheads aren't killing all the panfish and Bass, the anglers who target them are doing more damage than the Flats. I always go fishing with at least 50 peices of bait and go a few times a month. That is why I have about 5 differant spots for bait. I don't want to destroy the population of panfish and bass in my spots.
It just makes me mad that they are telling people to kill them. I think that people that go and fish for them just to kill them aren't fisherman, they are bounty hunters. Those kind of people just have no respect for nature. I know over in Pa they say the same thing, but yet they are still putting fish ladders in the Skuke. If they were so much of a problem don't you think they would stop giving them a way to spread?

[lendog]

i'm sure is wasn't mother nature that put flatheads in the skuke, but they are here to stay and think a little more regulation should be put on them like other game fish, lowering the creel limit on all catfish would be a good start, 50 cats is alot no matter what water ya fish:cool2:

[TITANSFAN2104]

You really believe after thousands of years it's Mother Nature that stepped in and introduced flatties where they've never been before? The natural predator/prey dynamic often takes care of over or under population.

I couldn't say if it was accidental introduction or deliberate by either private citizens or a State Department, but I doubt Mother Nature is to blame. I'm new here, but I'm a little surprised at some comments. Don't you guys fish for Bass as well, or are most of you catfish specialists?
i agree !! i like bass and cats but dont take them too seriously as most these guys are just getting some shots in !! kinda like football- my team is better than yours!! catfish are thought of as a rough fish in alot of states and some catters dont feel as though other anglers respect the cat so they make fun of equipment and the fact that the biggest flattie gcould dang near eat a trophy largemouth!!!!!! so yeah mines bigger than yours!! LOL all in fun:roll_eyes::smile2:

[Blacky]

Channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and walleye are also not native to this river!