First your better off on the bottom---I'm not sure what kind of reel you use,,but with level winds I leave it in free spool with the clicker on.  Now if your using a spinning reel and you got a the bait runner feature by all means use that.  Flatheads can be pecular at times and just lay there with the bait in their mouth and other times they pick it up and walk off with it at a moderate pace.

[smilie=a_holyshit.gif]  :scratch  Ok what size line are you using and are you boat fishing or Bank fishing and do you have rodholders that you use  :?:  :?:

OK to be honest I dont think your reels will survive a large cat    :shock:  :lol:  but I would use a carolina rig with freshcut bait and a circle hook 5/0 or bigger on the bottom  :wink:

Ok can you suggest some reels im not that fond of open face just cant get the hang of it but if I have to ill try it again thanks

mine was the same way until she casted one of my abu garcia 6500 C3's spooled with Yozuri Hybrid 30 pound test  - now the lil lady has 2 of her own, on a medium/heavy ugly stick rod , she loves them.....that why i sometimes refer to my 65's as a girls reel. you can buy one at wal-mart and try it out.....if you dont like it, as with anything from wally world  you can return it no questions asked.

bottom fishing or bobber fishing will work on both blues and flats. the trick is use a slip cork when you are dealing with a thermocline or to fish over the top of structure. it just depends on the fishes mood alot of times. right now slip corks are working good for me with the blues. i like to run a small crappie cork on my leaders also when bottom fishing. that will put the bait right in a fishs face instead of him search around on the bottom. cut bait works best with the crappie cork. might need to step up the weight size a little also to hold it on the bottom. i use 2 oz in lite to no current conditions. as for baits mix it up everytime you can until you figure out what they want on a given day and then change everything to the desired bait. try to fish more structure for bigger fish. big fish grow by laying around and not raoming so much. they setup waiting on a easy meal alot of times. to me struture is the key to catching bigger fish. keep in mind structure can be alot of different things also. brush pile to a drop off or hump in the main channel. i would stick to main channel fishing also. big fish can be caught in coves but the condition have to be right. keep a eye on the wind direction also. it will tell you where the most bait is located at most of the time in open water areas. now i fish in lakes so you river guys might disagree. i dont know rivers too good. one more trick that works for me also. in a no current condition fish with more live bait. condition are always changing and be able to read them is a big plus for you.  learn the seasonal movement patterns of your area by reading post from your area. thats another key to finding big fish. like cold weather can be the best time for a trophy blue. fall time is the best for me for flats on my home waters. its all due to knowing what to look for at different times of the year. and the list goes on. find someone in you area that is willing to share information with you and vice versa is a big plus to learning your home waters also. dont be afriad to get a skunk trophy fishing. its takes a move alot of times that dont pan out but the reward is great when it does. i like the abu series of reels myself 6500-7000s. it will take practice to learn them also. 30lb test with a 50lb leader. i find the bigger blues will roll on hook set and cut the line with their fins if the leader is less than 50lbs. flathead are not so bad to me for cutting the line but what a fight!

Go to your local Walley World Marge and pick up a Berkley Big game rod in MH or H action about 7ft---they should be 19.95 and will do a pretty good job for the money,,,next pick up a Abu 6000 or 6500 there as well and spool it up with some 30 or 40 lb test big game---also run dont walk---from braided line like spider wire,,,one back lash from that stuff and you'll be getting out fished by Bob for the next three weeks while your setting there picking out the birds nest.   :roll:   Ok you got the rod, reel, and line so its time to set it up,,, with about a 3 oz sinker tied to the line adjust the side bearing cap on the reel so that the sinker travels slowly to the ground when you hold it out in front of you and press the release, button---initially it will be too loose and you will get some over runs so you'll need to use some thumb pressure on the spool to prevent the line from running out to fast.  Now go to a big yard and start practicing you casting,,,as you get the hang of it you will later be able to decrease the pressure on the bearing cap so that you'll be able to cast farther and farther.  Take your time and learn to do it and it will pay off with a big one.