[cattracker13]

Got my boat out , finally!! and went back to the same area with more poles and fished for mr big boy I missed the other day. Well he was there. Within minutes of having a big gill in the water and my spool open this time he started taking line and I let him run with it. After a minute or so I decided to set the hook. The gill came right out of his mouth and I reel it in and it was completely descaled, eyes poppoing out and dead as a doornail. No bite marks like turtle or a gar. So I rebaited with another big shellcracker and and the samething happened. there goes my line agian so I waited longer this time. Well I set the hook and it was like I had a log on and... snap...my line broke. After checking my line it appeared as though he ran over some big rock. I may bump up to 30 or 40lb on this particular reel. Tried it agian and he was gone. Waited another hr or so with bait in the water and at dark somthing hit my other pole with 30lb line so I really let him take it and run. After a few minutes I went to set the hook and the hook never set. Ripped right out of my bait. I WAS REALLY PISSED! Mabey it a gar or a turtle...*%#%! I dont know. Oh well... I guess thats why they call it fishing. Any suggestions??

 

[timswow]

I am not certain, but I ran into something similar at this lake fishing with cut bait. They'd take my line, I'd set the hook and miss.

I am no pro, but the only I thing I can think to talk about is where you are hooking the gill, and what type of hook.

But hey, I dunno. I fish with dead fish all the time. A pro will answer for sure.

 

[cattracker13]

Hooking near the tail, Gamagaksu octopus circle 5o hook. Mabey I need to use 2 hooks one in the front and another in the tail. Or downsize??? I dont know... from what Ive heard, big flattys will play around with a live bait before they completly engulfing. Ive heard they will even try to knock scales off. The dead gill I pulled in was completley descaled.

 

[lforet2002]

How are you setting the hook??Are you giving it a swift jerk??Cause a circle hook is not meant to be used that way..I would first try a bigger hook, an 8/0 maybe..If that fails try the double hook with trebles..If it is a flatty, which it sounds like it to me, yes they do usually just hold the bait in there mouth and gnaw on it..Thats why I don't like using circles for flatheads..He's not really running off with it he's just mouthing it..Kinda like a gar would do, but a gar would shred the bait with its teeth..Sounds like your saying it just kinda crushed it and scaled it, right???If he's not really running with it and he's mouthing it, trying to set the hook would just pull it out his mouth, a circle kinda needs to get in that corner of the jaw as the fish runs with the bait..So try a bigger and different style hook and make sure its sharp..Thats my take..Hope it helps, and don't give up..I'm anxious to find out what it is too..

 

[catfishbill33]

good info Les
thanks

 

[Mr. Foster]

Do what Les said and jus dont give up. Enjoy the pursuit. Good luck.

 

[TnRivershark]

I have a friend that says circle are better in someone elses tackle box,me personaly I only have one type of fishing that I like circle hooks and it is to help prevent snags. So put the circle hooks in juggers tackle box try you a big J or kayhle hook and catch that beast.

 

[tnturtle]

if it is in fairly calm water I would try an octopus hook not a circle and at least an 8/0 with a 2 to 4 inch gill hanging about 4 feet below a large float. hooked much like you would a minnow for crappie, through the back just behind the head. the float will cause resistance but with the spool open the float is all he will feel and that may be just enough to get him to swollow sooner. but still let him run for a minute. but I would say its a blue cause flattys are not known for hard hit and run tactics.

 

[cattracker13]

The octopus is what I am using. Its not like the standard circle hooks. I may go by Dicks today and see if they stock larger than 5o. I am using a carolina rig with a large float. I really like this method. The only downside is all the weight from the gill, sinker, and float. I need bigger poles. Eagle Claws here I come...
I have heard from others that flattys will take up to thirty minutes to eat a live gill(sometimes). They like to soften the fish up a bit and even try to knock scales off. This is all what I have heard. Im no expert. That seemed to be the case on one of my hits, is the gill I pulled out of his mouth was completley descaled and eyes popping out and very soft. There were no teeth marks like a trutle or gar. This is what has me stumped.

 

[lforet2002]

Yeah if this was a blue he'd of been hooked.It sure does sound like a flatty to me..And also John, Dicks has a Mudville Cat rod too..It is white with a glow tip..Pretty decent rod for 20 bucks, I got one..

 

[tnturtle]

as for the bigger rods check wall-mart they did carry an 8 ft ugly stick cat rod and the price was not to bad I bought one a couple of years ago and it was like 28 bucks. if not then I would suggest that you hit the pawn shops around you and see what they have. I have seen several around me that have everything from ultra-light to 10 footers. even a few of what I call a boat rod, the short real heave ones that use salt water sized bait casters.

 

[TennesseeJugger]

I have a friend that says circle are better in someone elses tackle box,me personaly I only have one type of fishing that I like circle hooks and it is to help prevent snags. So put the circle hooks in juggers tackle box try you a big J or kayhle hook and catch that beast.

Yep I will take all them circle hooks off your hands. Hey Cattracker try a 7/0 mustad hook.

 

[Fishmaster1203]

I have a friend that says circle are better in someone elses tackle box,me personaly I only have one type of fishing that I like circle hooks and it is to help prevent snags. So put the circle hooks in juggers tackle box try you a big J or kayhle hook and catch that beast.

I agree. My hookup ratio on flatheads at least doubled when I switched to Kahles.

 

[cattracker13]

I went to Dicks(mj) and Walmart(hermitage) and both of them did not have squat as far as hooks. The biggest they had was for a plastic worm. Wal mart especially did not have anything for rods either. I may try that .................. Bass pro has always been my source for hooks but they are still closed. (as far as I know)

as for the bigger rods check wall-mart they did carry an 8 ft ugly stick cat rod and the price was not to bad I bought one a couple of years ago and it was like 28 bucks. if not then I would suggest that you hit the pawn shops around you and see what they have. I have seen several around me that have everything from ultra-light to 10 footers. even a few of what I call a boat rod, the short real heave ones that use salt water sized bait casters.

 

[tnturtle]

well no matter what hook or rod you are using i hope you latch onto it and show us all what has been tormenting your dreams. lol

seriously best of luck with it.

Kind of reminds me of one that almost gave me a heart attack 2 years ago and i am still wanting some more of him. I was behind a dam (no I aint saying which one) and hooked a nice rainbow one night and as I was fighting it I noticed a shadow coming out of the depths. It came right up after that trout. If I had not swepped the rod back I would have lost the trout, some line and maybe a rod also. It was a big, let me say that again, it was a BIG Blue. It was about as wide across the head as the trout was long (17.5") . the following week I took the cat rods. I hooked something and 30 lb test lasted about 4 seconds of the first run. Was it the big blue? I dont know but I aim to find out.

 

[lforet2002]

I went to Dicks(mj) and Walmart(hermitage) and both of them did not have squat as far as hooks. The biggest they had was for a plastic worm. Wal mart especially did not have anything for rods either. I may try that .................. Bass pro has always been my source for hooks but they are still closed. (as far as I know)

Try Academy over at Rivergate...No doubt you'll find what you need there..They are way cheaper than Bass Pro and Dick's..I say they are the Wal Mart of sporting goods and they have a pretty good selection of fishing stuff..