Arizona Flathead Fishermen

[Starcraftguy1]

The time is here.Flatheads will be running up the Salt river at Roosevelt Lake in the next 3 weeks.Are all you Az. guys ready?We should have an iboats flathead tournament,lol.Any body interested?All you need is a boat,some bluegills or waterdogs,and an offshore fishing rod.I know a lot of Arizona fishermen post on here.Let's just talk flatheads,ok?We will go from there.

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: Arizona Flathead Fishermen

That brings back some great memories! Just before I entered the US Air Force in 1985, my dad took me on a motorcycle trip on his Honda 900 Custom pulling a matching painted bike trailer from Pleasanton, CA to Yuma, Arizona where he grew up. We went out for flatheads with a buddy of his he'd known since elementary school, Buddy. Buddy took us out near a bridge in his 12 or 14 foot aluminum. The only thing I can remember about the name of the place is it has something to do with Christmas. Like Christmas bridge or something.

Anyway, we got out there and Buddy told me to watch his depth finder. It was a flashing depth finder with a needle indicator. He told me to tell him when the depth went from 7 ft or so to 12, which I did. Then I told him him when it came back up. We went up river from there about 30 yards or so and anchored. We then back bounced a big lead weight on a slider with a good size goldfish on a big ol' hook. It wasn't 2 minuted before the clicker went off on the big Penn level wind. I threw the lever forward and gave a big tug and it was hooked.

It felt like I was pulling in a log so I said I think I got hung on something. About the same time I saw this monstrous face hit the surface. That's when the fight began. He pulled the rod tip into the water and the handle right out of my hand. The anti-reverse on the reel wasn't in the right position so the handle was spinning backwards. I couldn't grab the handle without getting whacked in the nuckles. My dad yelled grab it. I got a hold of the handle and after a good 10 minute fight or so we landed a 19 pound flathead. One of the biggest fish I've ever caught.

We caught several more that night. Buddy ended up calling a couple of friends and neighbors to helps us clean them and to give some of the fish to. I have a polaroid around somewhere with the three of us holding the fish.

What a GREAT time we had.

 

[channelcat13]

Re: Arizona Flathead Fishermen

This flathead stuff really sounds like a lot of fun. So let me get the process straight. You boat up the salt as far as reasonably possible and look for deep holes in the river to anchor on, right? Then, using a sliding sinker (stopping at a barrel swivel?) attached to a leader, you drop down a live bluegill, right?

How should the bait/rods be positioned in the current? Do you leave the "clicker" on w/loose drag and wait for the line to go peeling out? Do waterdogs work as well?

I can't help but dream of big fish right now. My wife is finishing her dissertation and I teach between watching our two kids. It has been a long, icy winter and I am ready to wet some lines. Our pike lakes are starting to thaw up here. Chasing some really big flathead catfish sounds like a whole lot of fun, however. Do you have to get far up the salt to start finding flatheads?

Sorry for all of the questions, Starcraftguy. I am new to flathead fishing however. A flathead tourney sounds like a lot of fun. Perhaps in the future when I am not as home bound...

Thanks!!!

Channelcat13

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: Arizona Flathead Fishermen

No,you don't have to go far,really you can't go to far.There is not a lot of current.I use a 2 oz. slip bobber.With a 3/0 circle hook.As long as you are in the channel you can catch them as they are coming up out of the lake to spawn.Waterdogs work great,but bluegills I think better,and they are free.lol.

 

[jimmys72]

Re: Arizona Flathead Fishermen

The time is here.Flatheads will be running up the Salt river at Roosevelt Lake in the next 3 weeks.Are all you Az. guys ready?We should have an iboats flathead tournament,lol.Any body interested?All you need is a boat,some bluegills or waterdogs,and an offshore fishing rod.I know a lot of Arizona fishermen post on here.Let's just talk flatheads,ok?We will go from there.

I AM ON MY WAY!!!!!!!!!

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: Arizona Flathead Fishermen

Let us know how you did. I am planning on heading out to either Roosevelt, Bartlett or Pleasant this weekend and will report back.