chasing flatheads

I'm not new to catfishing but have never hooked a decent sized flathead until recently. Now they got me hooked. I went out and bought a 7' Ugly Stick Catfish baitcaster rod (med. heavy action) and put my Shimano Calcutta 400s reel on it. I spooled it with 40 lb. Powerpro and rig it carolina style w/ size 3 barrel swivel and 50 lb mono leader and 8/0 circle hook. I plan on fishing w/ live bream and crappie for bait. I got a few questions regarding the tackle y'all use for big flatheads.
1. Is mono ok or should I be using flourocarbon for the leaders?
2. Is what I described sufficient for flatheads 40 lb and over?
3. What type knots do you use for mono that heavy (uni is what I tied)?
4. Is the basic Carolina rig the best way to go?
5. For river and large reservoir fishing with slow to moderate current how big and what type of sinker are y'all usin with live bait.

Depending on where the Flatheads are in your waters, you are a bit on the light side with your line. Flatheads love cover and you had best get them out of there on the first run or they will snag you up good.

As for your other questions:

1. I don't think Flatheads are very discriminating fish. You really don't need a leader at all. They don't scare off by seeing line.

2. See my opening statement.

3. I can't get a Uni to stay put in PowerPro. I use a Palomar.

4. Carolina rigs are OK, but if you are dropping baits into cover, a long leader will drive you nuts with a lively bream on the end of it. The best thing I have found is to use a basic offshore Grouper setup called a knocker rig. Tie it up like a Carolina with the line through the weight (about 6 to 8 ounces), a small plastic bead on the line next, then the hook. The weight sits directly on the hook.

5. See above.

Tom

PS: Flatheads in Florida are a introduced exotic and considered a trash fish. No limits, and it is against the law to return one alive to the water. If you catch one, kill it even if you don't intend keeping it to eat (which would be a shame as they are great table fare).

Trying to learn how to target the big flatheads also. How are you hooking the bream to get the best action out of them while still maintaining their longevity? Thanks

boatstall

I hook through the back just behind the dorsal fin using a big circle hook.

Tom

Thanks T_om,
After you cast that rig out and it's on the bottom, do you keep the bait tight to the weight, or do you have a preferred length that you let out, to have the bait swimming around above the weight? Any recommendations on hooks and line? I'm shifting over a few of my heavier salt water rigs to catfish since fuel doesn't allow me to make as many salt trips. (12 to 14 hrs. round trip)

Thanks,
boatstall

i could be wrong but i thought it was illegal to use crappie for bait? maybe it is just in alabama?

Thanks for the insight T_om. I figured I might be a little light on the line. 40 lb. was the biggest I could find local. I'm gonna have to get over to BPS.

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i could be wrong but i thought it was illegal to use crappie for bait? maybe it is just in alabama?

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Legal in Georgia bigfish5.

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Originally Posted by boatstall

Thanks T_om,
After you cast that rig out and it's on the bottom, do you keep the bait tight to the weight, or do you have a preferred length that you let out, to have the bait swimming around above the weight? Any recommendations on hooks and line? I'm shifting over a few of my heavier salt water rigs to catfish since fuel doesn't allow me to make as many salt trips. (12 to 14 hrs. round trip)

Thanks,
boatstall

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100 pound braid is not too heavy. :)

On the knocker rig, just having the line tight is good enough, the purpose is to keep the bait close to the sinker. A little slack usually develops anyway. The bream flop around even held close to the weight. The flopping around and struggling is what rings the dinner bell for predators. An Alabama relative uses a REAL short leader (6 inches) to do much the same thing. The knocker rig works though and is simpler.

Circle hook sizes make me crazy as all the manufacturers have their own idea as to what number designation goes with which actual size. An Eagle Claw 7/0 is the lightest catfish hook I use (too light for Flatheads) and I go up (way up) from there targeting big fish. The only limit to the hook size is that if you go too big you kill the bait too quickly. Flatheads don't care one way or the other. You aren't going to scare away a Flathead with a big hook.

Tom

Minnowsoaker, sounds like you know where a few of them big boys are!;) Good luck with 'em. Looking forwards to seeing a few posts (with pictures) before too long!;):)

i fish them alot alot

i make my sinkers i sen no.rolls during summer i use 3.4.5oz
and early spring i may go as high as 12.oz due to extreme current

i fish from the bank for these 100% of the time even if i use a boat to get to the spot

my bank poles are heavy 8 and 9 ft casting rods penn reels
the poles i throw deep are 10 to 13 ft casting with abu reels

i use 280# power swivels with kahl and bass pro 10 bait holders i use those because i use live bait leader made with any heavy mono main line 25# to 50# mono cajun red usually i like the abrasion resistance compared to any other and when i hook my baits i usually hook them through the tail but if the bait is usually 10 inches or bigger ill hook them through the top of the back i try not to hook the bait through the head or lips i like my bait to be as lively as possibly and i feel that if you hook em through the head its 1 more thing to add stress to the bait and too much stress on a fish/bait will kill it

Thanks T_om and guys,

Great info. I am going to start fishing the Red River out of Shreveport. Plenty of small cats have come home, but this big flathead goal is next on my list. I've found several deep holes with good wood cover close, and have marked several large fish, may or may not be cats, but I'm going to see if I can get a few to the surface. Thanks again guys.

boatstall

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Minnowsoaker, sounds like you know where a few of them big boys are! Good luck with 'em. Looking forwards to seeing a few posts (with pictures) before too long!

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that's the plan Gabowman ;) I've hooked some biguns in the past and they have wrecked my tackle. we'll see how it pans out with the heavier gear.

i use braid with a mono leader there both 40# only reson to go biger is if you are having probs getting them out of the wood with out breaking them off
alan

flatheads are very addictive for sure. since there is no cure,you mite as well learn all you can, and the best place to do that is at catfish1.com!!!

yall have some good info on here, im new to tightlineing for flatheads and was wondering what are yalls primary baits, time of the year, and water depths for that time of the year. I will be fishing on a small river that has moderate current and lots of layed down trees and logs.Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

My youngest son is probably the best I know on flatheads. He goes out and specifically fishes for them below our dam. Not only is he an accomplished noodler,(reaching into underwater holes and dragging out monster flatheads), he's very knowledgeable about bait fishing for them also.
He likes to take small live bream and hook them just under the back fin and throw them out with just enough weight to hold them on the bottom. The trick, he says, is not to set the hook when you first see the strike. He says that the flathead will strike his prey a few times killing it and then he will move off a short distance with it and swallow it. At this point you pick up your rod, reel up your slack, and set the hook.

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Originally Posted by slabbandit

The trick, he says, is not to set the hook when you first see the strike. He says that the flathead will strike his prey a few times killing it and then he will move off a short distance with it and swallow it. At this point you pick up your rod, reel up your slack, and set the hook.

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Which is why I use circle hooks. No worries about setting the hook at all. You don't 'set' circle hooks, the fish does that themselves.

Tom

yeah but with a circle hook for flatheads it gets a little pricey because snagin up a big fat owner cicrcle hook cost over 5 dollars each because to get the right gap and gauge for big flatheads you have to go really big in the circle line and with a circle your no suposed to let them run with it really i was told by alot of circle users its better to leave the reel engaged and let the rod load up setting the hook i would think that would lead to them feeling the tension and there fore spitting the bait

thats why alot of flathead fishermen use kahles and big bait holders usually 9/0 and 10/0 setting the bait clicker and let them run with it for about 20 seconds or so and then engaging the spool and burring the hook into what seems like an army tank going in the opposite direction thats what i do im not saying its the only way but i do know it lands alot of fish for me and i hardly ever miss one when it runs with my live bait

gbaddour1

most of my flatheads are caught shallow all spring summer fall any water temp above 60 seems best its just a little slower in extreme high water temps favorite bait would be really any live bait fish from bluegill crappie bass baby carp gold fish sucker chubs more lively the better i always fish shallow when going after flatties anytime i go best for me from 3 to 8 feet but i do cast a couple deep also at the same time but those dont seem to be as active as the shallow ones as flatheads primarily feed shallow and on live bait i always like to take a rod down stream and cast shallow and walk it back up to where im gonna sit for the night and i do 1 up stream like that also and then just start fanning the rest of the rods out till i get straight out from me covering diffrent depths with each setup hope this helps you some

I do a little catfishing over baited holes in late May and June. I admit I don't know much about circle hooks but have heard a lot about them. What size would y'all recommend for cats in the 2 to 7 lb range?:confused:

thanks slab that helps alot

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Originally Posted by slab_slayin_fool

yeah but with a circle hook for flatheads it gets a little pricey because snagin up a big fat owner cicrcle hook cost over 5 dollars each

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You need to find a cheaper source for hooks. :rolleyes:

Gamakatsu 8/0 circle hooks come in a six-pack for a little over 4 bucks... at West Marine, not exactly a 'discount' store.

And they are good enough for large offshore grouper, which we also fish.

Tom

wow an 8/o for grouper must be smaller ones because i was just watching a video on you tube with ben chancey a heck of a grouper fisherman and he was talking about using them alot bigger but their average fish they were landing and releasing was 300# plus and yeah thats not a bad price for gamakatsu but i was talking about owner brand anyhow i know i like burrying the hook in those cats when they run for a bit i guess thats why i lean towards the hooks i use anyhow i guess each to their own thats why they make so many styles of everything

so anyone who wants to see some great offshore salt fishing at its best go over to you tube and check out captain ben chancey on you tube those vids will get anyones blood pumping in a hurry and have you itching just that much more for your next fishing trip

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Originally Posted by slab_slayin_fool

wow an 8/o for grouper must be smaller ones because i was just watching a video on you tube with ben chancey a heck of a grouper fisherman and he was talking about using them alot bigger but their average fish they were landing and releasing was 300# ...

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I don't fish for Goliath Grouper (used to be called Jewfish), the only grouper that weigh in at 300 pounds. (Record is over 600) I don't use 8/0's when shark fishing either.

Where are you fishing for grouper? Offshore Jacksonville and St. Augustine where we fish normally produce grouper (gags, blacks further south, and scamps)... and lots of red snapper. 40 pound+ Amberjacks and black drum to 50 pounds too. None of which requires more than an 8/0. The Florida record gag is 71 pounds.

Tom

we have a house in Jacksonville as well we usually spend a month in ever year and themn3 months every other its not a time share except by family i do my off shore when there and still learning a lot about it i just assumed you were Goliath fishing when you said grouper i guess thats what i get when assuming lmao


any how i live in w.v and mostly fish for flatheads on the ohio river but when im not doing that im usually crappie or musky fishing 12 pole creek that tributes the ohio and also fish musky and crappie on beach for lake plum orchard and east lynn lake and sometime venture burnsville lake for the 3 also but this year i only made 5 trips there where i usually do twice as many as that in the summer gas prices really hurt my traveling this year anyhow hope this was of some kind of help and answered your question