Key Tips For Continued Flathead Success!

[Catfishrollo]

As many of us know catching trophy flathead catfish can be very challenging, and many factors play into a successful day or night in catching them. Season changes, bait selection, along with water levels etc. make them one of the hardest freshwater fish to pinpoint with continued success! A couple major factors I believe that one needs to know if wanting to chase these fish are "time on the water is a must", and the need for "patience". That is a good starting point in my opinion. Lack of time pursuing these monsters will greatly diminish your chances of encountering them often. Once you find a good area that likely holds trophy fish, its a waiting game. Too many times, one will give up on a potential good spot after a night or two of being shutout to write it off as not being good. Thats why "patience" is key! I would like you all to add to this thread, giving your "know hows" and what things factor in to catching these fish year after year. Feel free to go into detail on such things like " how you fish", "what structure you like" etc. I am anxious to read how you fish for them, and gain your knowledge as well. I will chime back in adding more myself. This isn't just for those that are seasoned anglers, but for those thats wanting to learn more about flathead catfishing also. So feel free to ask questions if you have them.. Thanks, and goodluck Freaks!! rollo

[rcbbracing]

I would like to add that having a good lively bait can't be stressed enough...in my opinion I think fish native to the water way are best...not saying things like goldfish won't produce flatheads but I think smallmouth bass are a far better choice... not only are they typically in the same rivers as flatheads but also inhabit similar areas within the river...I also try to care for my baits as much as possible...I check at every stop for gas or whatever to cool em down or add clean water to the tank or remove the occasional dead fish as this will spike nitrogen levels and possibly kill or harm the others...IMO it isn't enough that the bait makes it to your fishing hole alive...they also need to be healthy and lively... the flathead hunts by sensing movement in the water with it's lateral line...so the more active your bait is the better chance it will be detected by the flatheads you are targeting.... hope this somehow helped someone and I also plan to add more later to this thread...great idea rollo love the topic!

[Seanstone]

Knowing when to sit it out and wait for that one bite, and knowing when to move to another spot, is also key to consistent catching numbers of flatheads. It might not be the best for landing the trophy your looking for, but in my opinion you will catch more flatties if your mobile. This is true for most cats in a way. I can't tell you how many times we have fished a spot and went without a bite for over an hour or two, and then pulled up anchor and moved 50 or 100 yards in one direction and instantly caught fish within 10 minutes of dropping anchor. Just my thoughts.

[Catfishrollo]

Very good points both of you! Good lively baits are a must for my style of flathead fishing the majority of the year. Also, I agree on the knowing when to sit and move. I do both. I have always been one to fish for active fish, moving, and moving from stretch to stretch to catch fish. But. like Sean stated.. You learn when to move, and get a feel if you shouldn't. Great posts guys!!! rollo

[Smoothkip]

River Flatheads,
I have to stress the importance of adequate gear! So many times you hear stories of the one that got away, only to find out there using 20# line and a bass style of rod. Not saying that giant fish can't be landed this way but why risk it. Big Flatheads are fighting machines and they will test even some of the heaviest gear. I myself use 50# mono and don't recommend using less than 40#, especially when fishing cover. you have to win that first initial few moments before he gets you in the snag. A med/hvy to hvy 7 to 8 foot rod and a quality swivel and 8/0 to 10/0 hook. Confidence in your equipment is a must! Don't cut corners to save time or money in my opinion.

[gryan1966]

First things is dont take me LOL if you want to catch anything ROFLMAO. That being said I caught my biggest using cut (40lbs). And we had plenty of bites that night using nothing but fresh cut. I dont really get out enough to have much input on this except be able to go somewhere else if needed. I usually get stuck at the dam which can be good but hasnt been for me lately LOL. I usually have my boys and to be safe its well lit so that makes it better for me and them. That being said study what the people catching are doing (I try to) and if you can emulate if needed.

[katfish]

Rollo

I normally fish proven big fish spots from dark till dawn. Since I target flathead over 40 pounds I often go several nights or even weeks without a flathead. When the waiting becomes intolerable I will try new spots for a night or two so I may possibly discover a new hotspot. My thinking is that all my flathead spots were undiscovered at one time and I can never have too many options.

Each time I find submerged timber I go over it several times with my depthfinder and consider if it might be a flathead home or an area the big fish hunt. If it looks promising I map out the bottom around the area for more structure and check bottom coposition.

Once I feel the timber will hold or draw flathead, I will then locate a flat spot on bank to set up and clear the brush along the shore and give it 2 or 3 nights a year to see if I can get a big fish.

I spend many hours gathering and caring for baits. I check all tackle and gear before dark on each fishing trip. I prepare my landing nets and consider options for landing big fish.

Like I said, I don't get many bites but I am prepared for each one

[skinfish]

Great tips guys.

[rcbbracing]

I would also like to add be willing to travel...just because a lake or river system holds flatheads doesn't mean the numbers are adequate... I live less than a half hour from two muskingum watershed lakes that both hold flatheads And they actually both produce 50+lb fish a year(not by me)...but I've tried countless times to locate them and it's always a wasted trip...take the time to visit the odnr website to see which species are present in mwcd lakes...they also have shock survey results as to the number present...both these lakes are claimed to have only fair outlook for flatheads...if i head to the muskingum river or clendening or tappen lakes I seldom get skunked.... if you have the time and money to travel an hour or two there is almost certainly amazing flathead fishing within that range...and even though it has already been said time on the water couldn't be more important! can't catch fish from your couch...more hours on the water equals more fish on the end of your line!