I've always flathead fished using bait clickers and let em run and give them enough time to get the bait situated in their mouth. But lately I've seen a lot of videos by professional catme, targeting and catching big flatheads with the reels locked down and letting the circle hook and the rod holders do the work, just like we do when fishing for big blues.
Does anybody else flathead fish this way? Do you get a lot of short strikes with them not being able to run?
When I used to use the clickers it seemed like at least half the time when I would have a good run the fish would drop the bait before I could set the hook. I switched to tight lines and reels locked down and feel like I rarely ever miss a bite now. Also I'm fishing from shore.
The kind of water, the rod/reel I am running, the kind of hooks and maybe the bait.
I have a couple really stiff rods that are not so great for circle hooks so on them I run J hooks and a clicker. Some of my other rods are perfect flex for circles hooks.
In the last 15 years my fishing has been from a boat in shallow rivers, I use clickers and circle hooks exclusively now, having gut hooked several early on with J hooks. But last night I caught 2 around 18lbs and both were hooked in their gullet I didn't let either one run exceptionality far but the bluegills were on the small side
I am certainly still in the learning stage for flatheads but I keep my drag the same as I do for Blues. Not locked down per say but tight. I have had several flatheads somewhat timid and taking the bait so I have reeled down on them and that has worked well for me.
Depends on how tight my rig is. For instance if using a carolina rig with a 12" leader and tight line in current, you gotta let them eat at least a few seconds. So clicker/open drag. If fishing slacker water with 3 way rigs, lock em down.
Most of the videos you see (steve douglas, fv catfish, etc) are fishing for flats in slack water next to fast water or just deep holes in what i consider little to no current. Try locked down on tight lines in a 3mph current and youll see a lot of rods bent then flinging back up when the bait is pulled off.
Depends on how tight my rig is. For instance if using a carolina rig with a 12" leader and tight line in current, you gotta let them eat at least a few seconds. So clicker/open drag. If fishing slacker water with 3 way rigs, lock em down.
Most of the videos you see (steve douglas, fv catfish, etc) are fishing for flats in slack water next to fast water or just deep holes in what i consider little to no current. Try locked down on tight lines in a 3mph current and youll see a lot of rods bent then flinging back up when the bait is pulled off.
Funny how things work differently in different areas. I have alot better hookups in current with the reel engaged than in slacker water areas. It seems in the current the fish commit better on the bite.
In slacker current, the want to be lazy sometimes and not pull the rod down enough to get hooked
Funny how things work differently in different areas. I have alot better hookups in current with the reel engaged than in slacker water areas. It seems in the current the fish commit better on the bite.
In slacker current, the want to be lazy sometimes and not pull the rod down enough to get hooked
I am certainly still in the learning stage for flatheads but I keep my drag the same as I do for Blues. Not locked down per say but tight. I have had several flatheads somewhat timid and taking the bait so I have reeled down on them and that has worked well for me.
If the rods are in a solid rod holder, I'll lock 'em down. If I plan on falling asleep, I'll probably flip the clickers on.
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