Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I'm posting this in the lounge because I know some of you know the answer to this but won't scroll down to the fishing section. I need to know how to catch monster flatheads. The biggest I have caught is 18 lbs. But the locals always win the tournaments with 35+ pounders. I use live bait and fish the deep holes. We even caught one that was feeding in the shallows. I've bought every available video but nothing brings the results we want. PLEASE HELP!!!!!! I don't even care to win a tournament anymore...I am just determined to start catching the bigguns'!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question i have my best luck using cut shad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Pardon my ignorance but what is smelt? We have used liver, stink-bait, homemade stink-bait ( boy that was an experience!) and various rotted fish parts. And the only thing we catch on the smelly stuff is channel cats. Never heard of smelt. Maybe that's the ticket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question I know that flatheads are similar to grouper in that they lay under logs and brush waiting for something lively to drop by. But....I've also caught grouper on cut bait. I just had an idea...maybe I could swap a saltwater trip in the Gulf for a flathead trip. ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question That's ok. The only small fresh water fish we net down here that I know of are shiners. Or fresh water mullet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question I may just have to bust out and get one of those "Aqua-Vu" cameras and use it. Don't know how well they work or if they even work in a river. The current probably would pose a problem. At least I would be able to tell if there's anything in the hole! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Flatheads (yellowcats or oppoloosas) actually prefer live bait over dead/stink type baits. The bigger the better! I've used red ear sunfish or goggle eye perch as big as 1/2 lb for bait. And if its legal there, you might think about trying goldfish or carp. Try to get some that about 8 - 10 inches long. I caught my biggest flathead, 65 lbs, on a goldfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Dude, if it will catch a flathead---I will try it. How long was the bait in the water before he hit it? We use red-bellies to catch jack-fish (pike) and as soon as they hit the water they are gone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question I have heard of people taking a live bream, cutting off its' tail and using it that way. Sounds cruel but they can't get away as well and the blood atrracts attention too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Huntin Girl, you hit it with the last post. Not for sure it it's legal here in Fl. but we always used bream for bait. Find the holes and the deep dropoffs. We would take the bream and cut off it's tail, the blood gets flowing and the fish flounders a lot attracting the big ones. The bigger the bream the better. You can also attach a piece of cut fish or liver on with the bream. We catch them like that on rod/reels. In the lakes we fished we would always used drop hooks on cypress trees just off the channels. We'd set out a couple hundred hooks to run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Oh another thing, what kind of setup are you using? We used 50 -80 lb line to the hook and off the hook we used a bell sinker about 12 -18" down attached with 4lb line. This keeps the bait just off the bottom in the range the like to hang out and the light line snaps off when they head for cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007hunter Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Here is what I have read about catfish.The past year I have become a avid catfish fisherman and all this information supports what I have seen. Up until catfish reach a certain size they are scavengers meaning they eat what they can find. This is where your chicken livers and stinkbaits will work. Once they reach a larger size they become predators. You need to find what they are feeding on and use that. Chicken livers and stinkbaits will not consistently catch the big ones. There is alot of information on the internet....Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question [ QUOTE ] Dude, if it will catch a flathead---I will try it. How long was the bait in the water before he hit it? We use red-bellies to catch jack-fish (pike) and as soon as they hit the water they are gone! [/ QUOTE ] A couple of hours before I caught the big one. That's the great thing about goldfish and carp, they'll stay alive and lively on a hook "forever". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question I use shrimp or rooster liver..........I personally like the rooster liver because it stays on the hook a little better. That is how we do it in Mississippi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest benelli_man_84 Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Use chicken that is pretty ripe. That always works with me. I put apple juice in there with the chicken and leave it out in the sun for a day. Then I fish with it. Get some rubber gloves to bait it on the hook with. The smell will not come off of your hands for a few days if you dont. It works though. I caught a 25 lb flathead with it 2 years ago. It was fun!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CBU93 Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Rod and reel, I'd have to go with a bream. Jugs, bream. Trotline, bream. Or, you could go in after them. Grabbling is rush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IADEERDUDE Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question ive had nothing but luck with live bait on flatheads we use either a 6-8in blue or sunfish or around a 9 in bullhead (yip bullhead).we usally float rivers and find log jams with a good sized hole under em and drop our lines only trying for about 15min max. this old local guy says that is the best way he says if a big cat is in there he will eat it. if not your just wasting your time ,and i tell ya he knows what he is talkin about, he has the skulls to prove it, the biggest being around 65lbs. my6 presonal biggest is about 33lbs. anyway i hope this helps a little... good luck.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Chicken livers work the best here. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Dogdoc reccomends cut shad...not a bad idea either is too cut that shad in a certain way: Make that cut behind the gills and run it backwards towards the tail but only going enough to make a flap...do not cut the backbone in the process. Do this on each side of the bait and place an egg sinker 12-18 inches ahead of it with enough weight that it wont be able to be moved in the current if any. Then when you Jig the bait off the bottom it flutters the flaps that are cut in each side adding movement to a bait that gets the bigger ones attention. It is commonly called "Butterflying" a bait and is a favorite of mine with grouper in salt water or larger catfish near the Dams in fresh water. It may use up quite a few bait fish if you like to have live bait to do this with(some people I know believe that to be the better way) but it works both ways and can save the day when all else fails!!! LOL...I was using this technique in Boca Grande Pass one day when the tarpon were supposed to be there.....never caught any Tarpon that day...but 3 of the biggest SailCats that I have ever seen hit the bottom of the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question You guys are great. I knew I could count on you for the best advice. I can't wait to put them ALL to use! Wish me luck and I will post some pictures soon!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Huntingirl, we catch a lot of em every year and our average size is about 28 lbs.Weve caught a couple over 40 and a lot in between.Very seldom do we get anything under 20 lbs. Heres what works for me.Fish at night, and fish all night, your pretty much wasting your time if you fish for them in the daylight, you will get a few but in my experience theyre smaller fish and they move much better at night. When fishing at night dont target the holes, they come out of them into the shallows to feed at night.Find an inside bend with a sandbar and a lotta brush, a creek or something that attracts baitfish is a plus to.At night the baitfish will move up into these shallow sandbars and the flatheads will be right behind em.Our biggest one ever was caught in less than a foot of water, you can actually see thier wake when they make a run into the shallows after these schools of baitfish.If you can use more than one pole cast one across with enough wieght to hold in the current, into the outside of the bend, theres usually deeper water there but its where the brush usualy is to they like to hold up in.Take the other pole and cast out right off the end of the sandbar into the shallows. Keep your bait alive, if your baits been dead on the hook for very long change it, the big ones prefer live or freshly killed bait, they occasionaly eat an old dead one but not near of often.Use large baitfish, 10 or 12 inches, and dont worry about using to big of hook, if theyre there and hungry theyll take it. If you have to fish in the daylight fish really deep holes and/or old overgrown brushpiles, you know the ones where theres actually new stuff growing out of the top of them, theyre really light sensitive so they hang out in these places where the lights blocked in the daytime. if you start catching channel cats move if possible, very seldom do spots with a lotta channelcat produce good flatheads, not sure why but they dont. And be very patient, 1 big flathead a night is a good night, 2 or 3 fish is phenomanal. Anyway, these are things that work up here, hope they help, and good luck.Ill post some pics in a minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question heres a few weve caught, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddhunter Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question The very best way to catch big monster Flatheads is NOODLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not everyone can or will do it but it is the best way!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question Those are great pictures. Mine is not as impressive. After hunting season is over down here my goal will be to catch a monster flathead. Your advice sounds like the key. I cannot wait to try it. I'll be as obsessed with that as I am hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Re: flathead catfish question I just posted my pictures in the gallery. I couldn't figure out how to post them here. ???????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.