need some advice

To catch a flathead, you need to study the fish. Flatheads generally don't like a swift current, just a moving current. They like to stay around underwater logs, rocks, bridge pilings. They eat just about anything thats natural in water... small fish, crawfish, ducks, mussels, snakes. Occasionally they are caught on dead bait, but that's the exception - not the rule. I think I'd move down stream a little and see what happens. Oh, yes, then the cotton picking, contrary things need to be hungry.

 

Welcome to the BOC! You will find all the info here and then some, not to mention all the nice folks here.
Bill in SC

 

look for slack waters where the fish might stop to relax

 

Never actually fished for flatheads but this year I think I'll try them.
Do any of you fish for them at night by yourself ???
How do I go about finding out if the river I fish in has any ?

 

Start by finding the feeder fish they are eating on a reg basis,and take your time you will be there for a while Flatheads are in no hurry.(THEY WILL COME).Try putting some non lethel cuts in the back fin area.

 

To find out if your river system has a decent flathead population, hit the bait shops. Search out the pics and pick the brain of the proprietor and browse the shelves with your ears open.

Looking for flatheads is like looking for bass, muskie, walleye, in other words predator fish.

The biggest fish, just like people get the nicest digs. Heaven for a flathead consists of food, shelter, food, a natural highway to security and food.

Swimming in current takes energy. To have energy takes food. If food can be eaten without a large expenditure of energy, then the predator can rest more often.

In a discharge (deadly when the surrounding water is less than 50 degrees) you need to see the whole picture. Big flatheads love wood. If there is a log on a flat within 5-10 yards of the current, or a hump, boulder or log blocking current a big flattie will call this home.

While inactive (not biting) the predator will be behind the obstruction resting out of the current. An attentive fish, getting more active will move off to the side and sniff the current (like a land predator sniffing the wind). A hungry predator will move to the front of the obstruction. As the current rushes to an obstruction it will push, create a roll and go over the obstruction making a perfect spot for a predator to watch sniff pounce and inhale a helpless bait stuggling in heavy current.

You keep sticking to one spot. Study your quarry. Listen very carefully. If you want to be a successful catter go shallow. Where do baitfish go when it gets dark? Is it safer to be a gill in shallow water where you only have three sides to watch your back and a shoreline as protection or in deep water where a predator can come from 4 sides, top and bottom to eat you?

Now, do predators know where their food is?

Follow the food and present your bait. I would be willing to bet a large sum of money that many many more big flatheads are caught in less than 5 feet of water than more.

Good luck and welcome to the obsession!

 

is there anyone else catching fish in that area? it could be the fish aren't hanging out in that area. if there is baitfish around there usually will be fish. no biatfish=no fish. thats usually a pretty good rule of thumb.

 

How do you rig for them, What kinda weight ,heavy or light?
What kinda hook ?
Circle or J hook?
Do I need to be on the bottom or fish witha cork?
Thanks.

 

John, there are more answers to that question than there are fish in your river/lake.

The simplest and most common rig consists of a hook, leader, swivel, bead and sinker.

The sinker needs to be the lightest weight needed to hold the bait in place. I have used no weight to 2 8 oz sinkers (1 lb) to hold position.

Hooks- Circle hooks hook the fish themselves. They are the best hook out there for aggressive fish. J hooks are best for less aggressive biters (tap taps).
Kahles are advertised as the best of both worlds.

You can fish on the bottom or with a bobber, or fish on the bottom with a bobber (no joke)

What are you fishing, a river or a lake? What system?

 

Man, grab ya some live blue gills or sunnys and back hook them with a circle hook and and put it in the water, stay outta fast movin waters, flattys like the slower current and stuff they can hide from that fast current,,, good luck

 

Welcome to the BOC. I would recommend going to a location where there is less current, ESPECIALLY if such a location close to your warm water discharge. The flats are going to be in deep structure that is bordered by a current channel. If there is something like this close to where you are fishing it is more than likely full of cats.

 

I'll look forward to seeing the pic of your lake, but right off the bat, my first suggeston would be to get down a bit out of the current. That warm water discharge canal has to meet the lake someplace - can you fish on the edge of the current right where it flows into the lake? Without seeing the place, that seems to me like it might be a hot spot.

 

Aaron welcome to the boc from north carolina..

 

Welcome to the BOC from Kentucky good to have you aboard

 

Don't be afraid of the heavy current.I often use 16-20 oz of weight in a small river in AZ.It's all in the timing.Don't be in a big a hurry.Look for current breaks.A flathead likes to rest where the deep current changes/breaks.Don't be afraid of big baits.Smaller baits will catch smaller fish but bigger baits only get bit by big fish.My son and I call this pocket fishing.We look for little changes in the current that would indicate a pocket or structure down deep that a flathead can use to his advantage to rest/ambush prey.You need to learn to read to river.It takes time so don't be discouraged.P:big_smile:ratice,pratice,practice.You'll figure it out.Good Luck.
Pappy B.

 

you might just be doin everything right it might not be warm enough yet. Dont know how the weather is up there in missouri. All i gotta say is dont give up on it use bigger bait but it should produce just take your time and goodluck!!!

 

Shawn,
I fish a river, I don't know what you mean by "what system" ?

Ok now to choose a hook. what kind of hook do you use mostly?
Should I scower the area with my depth finder for strcture?

Are flats usually aggressive biters or is that just a term you use to discribe how there biting at a given time?
Told you I never fished for them :big_smile:

Thanks everyone for the lesson Iam gona go and see what I learned from ya.