Firstly make sure you have a local fishing license. In most areas, fishing permits can be obtained online from local fish & wildlife government agencies ‘ websites. These permits help to provide resources for restocking and maintenance of the fishery and, in some case, prevents overfishing when needed. Fishing without a license is an expensive fine; it could even lead to the seizure of property in extreme cases.
So, you want to go fishing and catch flatheads on the hook and line? A regular-size fish exceeds 50 pounds and is 3 to 4 feet long. Even though they belong to blue or channel catfish, the shovel-headed fish is much different in their physical characteristics and habits. Make sure you learn how they differ from their kin to fish correctly.
Flathead catfish are popular with catfish anglers in the river and large lakes. It provides a stubborn, deep-digging, and intense fight. Larger ones might take some time to subdue and are pursued with heavy tackle, mainly as they exist in snag-filled environs. So, bottom fishing with prepared or natural bait is a widely practiced way to fish for flatheads.
Essentially getting big flatheads by the lower jaw is often the best way to land them, no matter the technique. This practice could lead to a way to land your record game fish. Other anglers near you may record and keep a record of fishing at night and even often in wintertime. The fish’s pounds may not matter to you, but keep in mind the game of choosing the right bait. Cover much often leads to winning the game and getting the record.
Continue to read; below are a few tips you can follow while fishing for flatheads.
How do you catch flathead catfish?
When fishing for flatheads, you can use a hand line or a fishing pole. Many others refer to the third technique as catfish “noodling.” It’s a unique approach to fishing but effective once mastered. These options could yield an angler’s dream catch of a delicious fish.
If a conventional method is chosen, the best tackle recommended for catching flatheads is at least a 7′ medium/heavy action rod (minimum size), and a bait-casting reel is best. 4/0 to 8/0 hooks are best, not smaller or larger, only based on your bait and fish size in the water, with no float. This might sound overkill; the gear is too much for freshwater fishing. But flathead cats are giants with big mouths, and your equipment, line, baits, and tackle should be significant too.
If you plan to keep one of these fish, you should focus on the smaller ones under 10 pounds, as they are more common and easier to catch. The daily and possession limit is 10.
Think Like a Predator
The first thing to do while fishing for flatheads is to grasp the bushwhackers. They may hide behind driftwood piles, submerged logs, snags, toppled trees, and riverbank cavities to ambush their passing prey carefully. They aren’t like their cousins and cannot go for extended chases. They roam very little during the night.
Knowing these will improve your chances of catching flatheads. Make sure you fish during day time and focus your efforts on shady near-shore and dense cover as you would for a Grass carp fish. Extracting them from their spots is not that easy. Nevertheless, if you fish using a heavy, tough tackle, it is possible.
Drift in the bait beneath afloat and be alert.
Learn About the Loner
The large flatheads are aggressive fish. They tend to be aggressive towards their kind. Thus, a primary piece of flathead habitat hardly has more than a single heavyweight adult. Hence, it might be useless to keep fishing around the same spot after you have caught one. So, grab one in one location and then move over to some other place. A common practice to see more flatheads when fishing.
Do Not Drop Deads
Several anglers think that large flatheads can eat almost anything. Flathead catfish usually scavenge and are not picky regarding their bait or food. However, this is only applicable to small flatheads when fishing. Young ones’ weigh only a few pounds and get attracted to chicken livers, stink baits, crawfish, worms and bait like live fish on a line.
However, if you seek heavyweight flathead fish, remember these baits will not work for all fish species. They don’t eat invertebrates for dinner; water temperature may differ in how the flatheads eat. The bait for a giant flathead is another live fish. Consequently, it would be best if you used that to entice them. Some right choices are suckers, chubs, goldfish, carp, sunfish, and bullheads. Know this could be different when fishing a lake versus a channel versus a river.
