Lets Talk Flatheads

[Smoothkip]

Usually by this time of year Im getting reports of some shovelheads being caught down south and by april 1st Im on the river giving chase. With this late winter weather do you think it will better the prespawn fishing or be worse? I dont believe all flatheads winter up but for the ones that do they have to be getting awful hungry if the water temps dont get to 50 degrees till late april. Whats you guy's thoughts on this?

[banksidebandit]

I'm thinking that it will be a good year once the weather warms up and that the prespawn will be good fishing. Hopefully when it starts to warm up the water levels are cooperating. Might be a small window if the temps jump up real fast.

[ducky]

I would say the early bite that I usualy fish in early April will be more likey late April this year, but who nos, we may have 70 degree weather in early April. once water hits 60 degrees I will be out there and will feel confident in catching flathead. I am still a believer in moon phases And the amount of daylight for causing spawning flathead, it seems the first full moon in July triggers most flathead to spawn, this is when I notice a steep decline in fish numbers caught. A lot of guys feel it is when water hits 80 degrees, but i have seen 80 degree water in late may many times. Do I believe a few fish spawn when this happens? Yes, but not most of them. Those years I still caught many fish in June, and did not notice a major decline until July.

[Smoothkip]

Im not much of a Lake Fisherman Ducky but doesnt the bays in the lake warm quicker than the rivers? I was impressed with the early daytime bite on the Lakes last year. This time last year though we were getting 50 degree nights.

[ducky]

Yes, shallow bays will get warmer quicker than the rivers especially ones with many stumps, Lilly's, and boulders that absorb the heat from sunlight. But when i fished the river, catching flathead in March was not that uncommon, flathead in the river are much more aggressive imo.

[Catfishrollo]

I just don't want to see an abrupt change in temps. Anymore it seems we can go from winter to almost summer temps. I want things to get going like most do, but quick change after a long winter can end up being as bad as good in my opinion ESP. If we lack them spring rains... rollo

[luckeywade]

So do we go when waters high.I've always.been scared of high water.

[katfish]

I always advise catmen to adapt to variables. There are so
many different variables that I figure many are never known
to humans.

At best I observe what I find happening and try to react with
my best tactics. Last year the dominant male flathead
seemed to abandon traditional home areas where I fish. All
I had was a theory that they found good hunting in open
water on huge schools of shad.

The effect was few mature flathead were caught where
they previously were. There are a myriad of possible causes
and I have no proof of the reason.

Rest assured that I will continue to catch as many trophy
flathead as I can get to bite with whatever weather and
water conditions I am provided.

Reading other peoples success stories inspire me to consider
all options and often try new strategies.