While a male is guarding a nest he will not roam around and actively feed. Once the female deposits her eggs, she leaves the nest site and eventually resumes normal activity. Not all fish spawn at the same time, so there are always fish to be caght. They typically spawn in shallow water, but I believe cover is the most importan factor.

Mike pretty well hit the nail on the head,,,one thing I learned last year is the spawn period is a lot longer than I had previously thought ranging from late May well into Aug.  The spawn period is affected by weather and water quality as well.  Extended periods of heating and cooling cycles much like we have had this year stretches out the spawn as the females will hold their eggs a little longer while waiting for a cold front to pass and a warming trend begins.  I'm kind of surprised to see cooler water temps this year as compared to previous years, sometimes as much as 5 degrees cooler than for the same period over the past.  Other fish like bass, crappie, and gills seem to have a much shorter spawn period of two or three weeks that can be shortened or lengthened by just a few days due to weather and water conditions, but with flatheads it seems to be a week or two.

With flathead the female is driven from the nest after eggs are fertilized.
They resume feeding immediately. Often spawned out females will have
bruising on their sides for a week
after laying eggs where the big males have rammed them
to drive them away.

The male continues fanning the eggs for aerate and keep them silt free. Most
times this is under submerged timber and often their backs are rubbed raw.



Thse raw places will heal to scars and help identify flathead as males during other parts of the year.



When the eggs hatch the fry remains in a cluster for several days while they absorb their yolk
sacs. The male flathead stays with them and protects them.

.

When the fry disperses to feed the male can no longer protect them. Typically
he will search for other receptive females. If he finds one he will spawn again. If
he does not he will rest a few days and resume feeding.

Not all flathead spawn at the same time. Some do not spawn every year. Females
who are weak or poorly nourished will reabsorb eggs into their bodys.

Males that are not dominant fail to spawn.

Water temperature is the key but strong rains that muddy the water will
cause frantic flathead spawning. Muddy water is flathead frys best defense against predation
and the mature flathead respond when rains roil the water at spawning time.

All of them sounds good to me as I've only one SMALL flattie so far this year!!!!!!