How does flathead spawn effect your fishing?

[Seanstone]

When you know flatheads have entered spawn, does it effect your fishing? Do you stop fishing for them, reduce the amount of time, or just keep fishing? I know you can still catch the females once they leave the nest, but the males are stuck fanning the eggs. This would lead me to believe that the odds of catching flatheads would be cut in half. I understand that flathead don't all spawn at the same time, but generally does it effect your fishing?

We usually fish the same amount, and in the same spots but use one pole for channels instead of tossing two live baits.

[bassmassey]

that's a good question............typically I would say my fishin' slows down if I know forsure they're spawning. Especially if bank fishin.

Now if fishin out of the boat I would still try like heck......maybe run and gun a little more........try to fish 8-9 anchor spots throughout the night. I would concentrate my efforts on rock outcrops that come off the bank,undercut banks, and big chunk rip-rap banks that are often found on medium and large sized rivers.

Either that or go down south where they're already coming off their beds, lol..........

[ducky]

sean, i fish just as hard, but the spawn does realy slow fish down. here is last years total of lake flathead,april= 7 may=25 june=21 july= 9 august=3 sept=6 oct=3 did not fish much in sept due 2 goose season and did not fish much in october due to hunting, wish i would of!
Grand total 74 flatheads you can see after june the fishing realy slowed down,we fished just as hard in july as we did in june. august i did not fish as much and september and october i was hunting alot. everyone thinks its all about the water temp that trigers fish to spawn and i believe it does somewhat but i believe that moon phases has more to due with it, just like deer the rutting moon is the first full moon in november, after that first full moon you can tell alot of does go in to estrous because so many bucks are locked down then. i believe the rutting moon for flathead is the first full moon in july. animals react to the moon phases more than weather and water temps becuse weather can be so diverse. i have fished in early june, late may and the surface temps were in the 80s.

[bassmassey]

ducky, I think you're right about the moon triggering spawn......I know sunfish "bream" bed on full moons.......

I beleive the amount of daylight in a day also triggers them to spawn, moreso than water temp.

[Varmint_Sniper]

Jun 22, 2011 15:54:47 GMT -5 ducky said:

sean, i fish just as hard, but the spawn does realy slow fish down. here is last years total of lake flathead,april= 7 may=25 june=21 july= 9 august=3 sept=6 oct=3 did not fish much in sept due 2 goose season and did not fish much in october due to hunting, wish i would of!
Grand total 74 flatheads you can see after june the fishing realy slowed down,we fished just as hard in july as we did in june. august i did not fish as much and september and october i was hunting alot. everyone thinks its all about the water temp that trigers fish to spawn and i believe it does somewhat but i believe that moon phases has more to due with it, just like deer the rutting moon is the first full moon in november, after that first full moon you can tell alot of does go in to estrous because so many bucks are locked down then. i believe the rutting moon for flathead is the first full moon in july. animals react to the moon phases more than weather and water temps becuse weather can be so diverse. i have fished in early june, late may and the surface temps were in the 80s.

Good info duck i will keep this in mind and try to put it to use this year .....Sniper

[mmagis]

A lot of folks like to blame spawning on poor success, but fail to consider other factors that may play a bigger roll. While going through past pics and notes, July typically produced less fish than June or August. But, there are always good fish to be caught and some great ones were caught in July. August keeps showing up when I look at the dates at some of our better fish, say 50 lbs and up. The males often have healing sores from spawning and I’m sure need to eat to gain condition they lost while spawning. Some of the males appear to be nothing more than a big head and a tadpole body. The moon theories have been studied for decades if not centuries, and still not one concrete correlation has ever been found. It’s like a magic 8 ball. Believe it if you like, but don’t base any serious decisions on it. The best advice anyone can give is to fish when you have time to maximize your chances.

[Seanstone]

Thanks for the great info guys, I really appreciate it.

Ducky, those are some impressive stats. I have heard that the fall bite is usually better than the spring bite. By the time fall rolls around the flats have eaten everything in a body of water and they are easier to catch. That theory doesn't seem to correlate with your stats though.

Moon phases......won't go there. But seriously, I have read about the rutting moon that you are mentioning and it seems to widely accepted as the beginnings of spawn. I know Robby would agree and tell you to stop fishing for flatheads then, sarcastically of course.

Magis, we have caught a few of those tadpoles. Ones that measure in the 30 inch range and weigh less than 20 pounds. We have found our best fishing to be in mid fall, atleast for the bigger ones anyway. (late August and September.) It seems that the males have gained all of their weight back by then and even packed a few on for the winter. I completely agree that the only sure way to catch flatheads is to fish for them. All we do is work, eat, sleep, and fish. I guess were lucky that we have no real obligations such as families or bills. Better fish hard while we still can.

[ducky]

the fall bite is a great bite, i just get into hunting and do not fish as much, after the fall bite is over i wish i fished more but hunting is something that i love to do. so i just try to do both but usualy im layin in a corn feild around a bunch of plastic geese or sitin in a tree loking for deer more than sitin on a bank with a wet line. I never said i stoped fishing on the first full moon of july but i notice a very big decreses in fish #s after that first full moon of july, i will fish the first full moon of july this year if i have the chance, im just sayin that is when i realy notice fish #s goin down for us and everyone on the fourms that i pay attention to

[rockbass]

Jun 23, 2011 6:27:59 GMT -5 mmagis said:

The best advice anyone can give is to fish when you have time to maximize your chances.

That's the best thing I have ever been able to come up with when I get asked.....hey, do you think the channels are spawning or the flatties are spawning? Is it worth going out. Well heck yes it is. I base my fishing on when I can go out. Does the bite slow down? Like everyone has said....sure does, but doesn't mean they don't bite at all. Just gotta be a bit more patient

[bob]

When i think the spawns has hit all i do is changes bait some. . . I go from goldfish to use mostly bullheads for my live bait. The reason is a bullhead will haul ass for some good cover and with any luck its in to a good flathead nest. . .

[Varmint_Sniper]

Jun 26, 2011 21:06:09 GMT -5 bob said:

When i think the spawns has hit all i do is changes bait some. . . I go from goldfish to use mostly bullheads for my live bait. The reason is a bullhead will haul ass for some good cover and with any luck its in to a good flathead nest. . .

I see someone fishes like i do during the spawn lol

[katfish]

The effect of spawn opens up all kinds of controversies. Each year presents different conditions and therefore we need to adapt our fishing tactics to catch fish.

Basically the peak of fishing will be prespawn. Flathead activity will depend on water levels and mostly water temperature.
In lakes I find that flathead seek warmer water (typically shallow bays) in lakes. When water temps near 50 degrees flathead drift into bays and often are lethargic. Their first meals after a long winter are often winter killed fish that are easy to get and soft and easily digested. I think the easy meals get the digestive systems going on flathead and then as water warms they move to live fish.

When water reaches 55-60 degrees the males start patrolling bays. They look for suitable nest sites, rival males, and especially receptive females. During this time the males will eat any baits they come across and since they are constantly moving, more flathead swim near your baits.



Your catch will be mostly males but they are in prime condition and maximum weight. Also the larger fish select prime spawning habitat and defend it from other males.

The spawn is not a sudden continous event but a cycle that may take 2-3 weeks. Dominant males take charge of receptive females and do not feed. The smaller males cruise like satelites waiting for other receptive females and continuing the fighting for dominance. These fish will feed. Once females lay eggs they are driven from the nest but will stay in the area 2-4 nights and they feed.



These females are easily identified. They will have bruises on their sides and bite marks on their tails whre the males have urged them to lay eggs.

Post spawn is a little tougher. You will have the last few females to spawn and males that are thin and beat up from spawning. The most dominant males (larger) often spawn more than once and are extremely thin. Males often have sores where they have rubbed against submerged timber as they fan the eggs.



After spawn the larger females usually move to isolated areas where they are the only large predator. Often many of the males will be near spawning areas and simply relocate to deeper water.

Each year may bring changes to weather and water. Their are always opportunities to catch flathead in each phase of the spawn. Flathead are never truly predictable but this information may put you into postion to catch more and bigger flathead.