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Author Topic: What a crazy first experience.  (Read 400 times)
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pfc_josh
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My big cat26 pound flathead :(
« on: July 30, 2008, 05:13:54 PM »

Well I live in Phoenix, Arizona and I fish Bartlett lake, with no boat.
I moved from Ft. Lauderdale Florida and am used to offshore fishing so this freshwater buisness is new to me.

I have gone out fishing for flatheads probably 4 times now, and on my 4th time I was about to give up because I had never even had a bite. I had been using live bluegill on a Carolina Rig with 5/0 circle hooks. I have been fishing at night in about 3-10 feet of water in the coves, and have tried in about 25-50 feet of water at the dock. I went out with my cousin the other night and had one poll rigged with live bluegill and the rest with worms/anchovies for the channel catfish so we didnt get bored. I had lots of luck with channel at the lake before but none that were a good size. They were all pretty small. I had one pole riged with a crappie type rig I used to use at hilsburo in Florida in about 100 feet of water for kingfih. I had anchovie on the bottom hook and worm on the top hook.

After a few hits on the worms and one lost fish to a snag, about 12pm I got a huge hit from the poll with the modified crappie rig. I thought I had me a giant channel, but no as I wrestle in this 26 pound flathead on my 8 pound test I start to realize I just caught my very first flathead. Then I realize that there is a bluegill in his mouth. Turns out I accidentally caught a bluegill and he must have sat on my line and hooked a flathead when he went after the bluegill!

So that was it, I am hooked on flatheads. I want a monster now.
I need some tips. Should I try deeper water? What about sand beds, there are sand flatts at the lake I fish with a few points.... also I have been hooking the bluegill through the back dorsal fin. Should I try hooking them in themouth?

Also should I try a different rig? to get the bluegill off the bottom? I have to gotten a single bite on a carolina rig.
Also what is this about goldfish? Should I try goldfish? and were do I hook them?
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Doug158
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« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2008, 05:40:17 PM »

you might want to try a slip bobber rig with a live bream or goldfish I sometimes use a carolina rig with a 3 inch cigar bobber on the leader 3or 4 inches behind the hook and I hook the bait in the bottom so that it swims up and the bobber helps hold it up off the bottom  smiley
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Doug158
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« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2008, 05:41:20 PM »

Congrats on the Flathead  cool smiley
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gone_cat_fishing
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Fishing is what matters on the Catters


« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2008, 08:07:07 AM »

Very good information you gave him. Doug.
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Bob

FATFLATTIE
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My big cat45-55lb Flathead, 45-1 blue cat, 38 inch channel
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2008, 07:06:25 AM »

That's a sweet story!  Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.  It's pretty addicting after you get a nice one like that.  Good luck on your quest for a two hander, they're hard to come by but when you do get one it makes it all the more worth while.
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bigcatwannabe
flathead catfish
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My big cat53 lb blue, 41 lb flathead, 20 lb channel
« Reply #5 on: August 25, 2008, 03:21:34 PM »

congrats, the biggest thing about flatheads is to no get discouraged, the slip bobbers do very well, with the bluegill a couple feet off the bottom
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pat
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