Trotline Placement Advice

To say I'm a novice at trotlining would be an understatement. That being said, some buddies and I are planning a trip to camp in a few weeks. We are wanting to run some lines and target flatheads. I've been messing around on google earth, and have found a spot that looks pretty good to me, but that doesn't mean much. I have attached two pics of the area. My questions are, is this a likely looking spot to trotline for flatheads? If so, where would an experienced trotliner recommend placing the line? If the pic is hard to see, there is a bayou flowing in to the main river just ahead of a pretty sharp bend. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks, Gooch

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Flatheads will soon be spawning. They will usually want to run up into creeks or bayous in 10 feet or less water and around heavy cover or structure. Just my opinion, I have caught quite a few in my life time but others may have different opinions. I used ricefield slicks, small bream, and goldfish. Goldfish being my favorite bait.

Uh....this is crappie.com in case you got the wrong channel......shallow eddys or ripple type water Bob current side of the curves

Oh and another tips

1: Usually limblines are just as or more productive if you have any. (usually wont find many flatheads in the same top, so put out a couple close together and then move on down a ways.) Makes more of 25 hooks than trotlines.
2: Dont put out long trotlines. (ex: take a 25 hook line and turn it into 3 lines. This puts more hooks in the "strike zone/cover" where a flathead will be. If you used a 25 hook line, chances are only 3-5 hooks have the potential to catch where all the other hooks are in dead space. Waste of time and bait. You can take one 25 hook line, turn it into 3 or even 4 smaller lines and just place lines up the bayou. Thus covering way more area with the same 25 hook line.) I hope this helps and good luck!

Easy Joekiller, this man is trying to save our precious crappie by removing these FOUL prehistoric predators! Hahahahaha I

Quote:

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Originally Posted by joekiller

Uh....this is crappie.com in case you got the wrong channel......shallow eddys or ripple type water Bob current side of the curves

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Dead gum. If ya don't like the subject line don't open the post.

Lowepro, thanks for the tips. Sounds about right since I just made up a 40 hook line. I haven't been there yet to graph it, but I was thinking there may be a massive log jam in that bend, with a sandbar between there and the mouth of that bayou. Am I on the right track or is the spawn gonna mess me up?

Hey hold the
Show there g....I Not only took you to school about the channel, but gave you sound advice as I'm an OL school net setter/hook placer....if in you didn't like it so what

X2 on the limb lines.
A lot more productive and easier to run.
Bigger the bait bigger the fish...
You will not find a bluegill to big to use.. A 5lb flathead will eat the biggest bream you can catch and a big flathead can easily eat a 2lb crappie..

I have been using 9/0 Eagle Claw SS Circle hooks and can't complain.

X3 on the limb lines. If no limbs are in my target area, I'll carry a jug or two and tie the line a foot or so longer than the depth, these serve as a portable limbs more or less staying where they are set.

In arkansas a 4inch bream is a big as you can use. Check your regs before slapping a big bait on there. Each limb line or trotline has to be labeled with first and last name and drivers licence number or ss number or the trucks license plate number or home address. I use truck license place number. Its shortest. If you can legally use a big bait, do it. Sounds like ur plan should be right on target as long as its 10 foot or less deep in my opinion. Spawn should only make your trip sweeter! Good luck and post piks!