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trapperearl
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« on: December 24, 2006, 01:14:41 AM » |
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ask your questions here
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Flatcatnightmare
flathead catfish
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Posts: 307
What's Really Goin On ?
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« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2007, 11:12:07 AM » |
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As some of you know I have a creek right behind my house , this creek may be about 12 ft deep right behind the house , with shallow flats straight across from me , and lots of downed trees throughout .
Do you think there are Flatheads that stay up in the creek in the dormant season ? or will they always go out into the deeper main river ?
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WVBowhunter
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« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2007, 01:14:38 PM » |
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I'm gonna spin yer head with this one---depth is a matter of bait and hunger---if the bait is there and the flathead is hungry he'll be there. Think of flatheads as an Owl, he's not gonna hang around a place that provides no cover, no food, and occassional protection of the elements. Those other cats are vultures --- sometimes their just sitting in a tree,,other times they are circling the dead bait.... Try relating flatheads to a trophy whitetail and hunt them like wise-- very stealthy, lots of patience, and put everything you can possible do in your favor.
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"Aye, and lighting bolts fly from my arse"
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catmatt
new account
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Posts: 16
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« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2007, 04:05:39 PM » |
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Actually since your question was about Flatheads and the dormant season the answer to your question Doesn't have anything to do with bait.It has to do with current and cover then depth is the least important.To answer your question properly a person would have to actually see that it has good Flathead current,It sounds like it has great cover although flathead do not necessarily need cover to winter.I have seen them in less than 12 feet of water wintered,it also has alot to do with the particular river system you fish,some rivers have abundant wintering areas and others have very few.the first few flatheads to arrive in there wintering area in the fall will actually move around in that area for awhile depending on water temp.When the water cools to the mid forty's and the first few become dormant the rest will follow suit and many times form giant balls of flatheads which relates back to the no cover thing.I know of one wintering area in particular that has one barren short log in it,The first few flatty's there winter on the log and then 50 60 sometimes 70 more use there buddy's for cover.Seen it on aqua view's and it is amazing.To answer your question definitely I can't,but do not worry about the depth so much or bait supply at all when trying to figure it out.Catmatt....................
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ne day I will leave this earth,But I will never leave the River.
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WVBowhunter
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« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2007, 04:41:57 PM » |
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oops--missed the dormaint part---Well I have zero knowledge of dormant flatheads---we both throw a log on the fire and pull up the blankets till spring
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"Aye, and lighting bolts fly from my arse"
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MadKatter
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« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2007, 04:25:11 AM » |
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ok Jim seein your primary flathead location is a lake id liek to learn a little more about lake fishing for flatheads. a lake i typically fish here is an oxbow and it is loaded with cover such as timber and it is also loaded with big flatheads every year there are flatheads taken from this lake that exceed 70#...my problem is there is so much cove rin this lake i find it a bit overwhelming and never know where to start so its basicly hit and miss with me and this lake some times i get lucky and ill find a piece of structure that is holding fish but others ill search all day and come out empty handed..what are some key features i should be looking for lets say in pre spawn? my answer for this question would be "look for the bait fish" but that really dont help me in this case since i can throw my net around any givin tree in this lake and come out with a net full of bait yet drop a bait around one of these trees and ill strike a blank.so i guess basicly how woul di go about fishing a lake that is full of bait fish and what are some key things i should look for.hope this makes some sence,i explained it the best i could lol
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quot;LUCK" is created by hard work and preparation.  |
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WVBowhunter
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« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2007, 06:02:23 AM » |
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Prespawn,,,you need to look for those areas last year----My top spots are covered with blue gill nests,,you can see them in the late summer as the water draws down. Generally these area's are 1 to 3 feet deep and are near very heavy structure. If it has standing grass and aquatic plants, that ok too....I know burnsville Darrel has caught good numbers of flatheads right on the edges of the plants,,,many times you'll hear the fish roll out of the water when you set the hook. You might try uping the anti by constructing wooden catfish boxes and set them on the edges of these areas in 3 or 4 feet of water...you pin em to the bottom by placeing lots of rocks on top of em..The boxes should be about 1 to 1/2 feet tall and about 5 ft square----think of two giant flatheads fitting in there because that will happen. Flatheads like to go into hollow logs, under cut banks,,or even a sunken log pile,,,,so just having a tree isnt enough,,,look for the heaviest pile of inpentrable cover you can find.
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"Aye, and lighting bolts fly from my arse"
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tomahawk
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« Reply #7 on: March 31, 2008, 02:26:03 PM » |
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You mightn also want to try using floatrigs. If the bait is around the tops of the trees so will the flatheads when it comes to feeding. With a floatrig you can set to any depth desired. It may open you options up some more.
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et the hook
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