Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

[mobyjaws]

I recently moved to NW Arkansas and caught my first two flatheads while bluegill fishing. It tasted fantastic! Any tips on how to catch more of the ugly things? I caught them on a cane pole with worms from the backyard. I had 3 spinning outfits out that were baited with everything from chicken livers to fairy dust and only managed a few small channel cats. The cane pole (fiberglass 13') out fished everything. Low-tech is good sometimes. Thanks for any tips. MJ

 

[dooma_Flatchy]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

The only time I have ever caught flathead's I was using live bait, bluegills and yellow tail shad . I have never caught them on cut bait. I think they like live bait better.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

Well, if AR weather is anything like IN. They should be starting to spawn right now. They'll bite anything, I caught a buch of them with a crank bait on rip rap last weekend. Shallow rocky or hard bottom areas are where they're spawning on. If you're fishing from the bank, don't bother casting out too far because they're right next to the bank.

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

Thanks for the tips. I did catch them close to the bank. All they bit was lively 'crawlers. Live bait only sounds like a good start. MJ

 

[Ripfence]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

Flathead's love shad and bluegill I have also caught them on rat'l traps. I have seen people pull them in with bucktail jigs (like the ones people use in saltwater for stripers). They're aggressive, hard fighting fish and I love to catch them but I usually catch more of them when I am fishing for some other species.

 

[jelbass]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

LIVE BAIT!!!!!! THEY LOVE LIVE BAIT!!!!!! God bless all!
Jelbass

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

It seems they are more like a bass than a catfish. If it isn't moving, they aren't eating it. Thanks, MJ.

 

[Kajun37]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

the trick to flatheads is LIVE BAIT..bluegills or live shad is best...drop on over to katmasters dot com the best site for catfishing!

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

the trick to flatheads is LIVE BAIT..bluegills or live shad is best...drop on over to katmasters dot com the best site for catfishing!

Thanks. Great site. I'm originally from Pensacola and my dad lives over in Mexico Beach. I haven't been that way since before the hurricanes (7 years now). I probably wouldn't recognize anything. How's the flounder fishing? MJ

 

[Husker100]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

Live bait is the key! My favorite bait is a creek chub.Try goldfish and carp also.When the water temp rises don't be afraid to fish at night.I fish for flatheads in the Missouri River and all my monsters come at night.Good luck!

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Flathead Catfish! Any tips on catching them?

Best flathead bait hands down is small catfish.
Cut the fins off, use a 8/0 or 9/0 truturn just below the dorsil fin.
Next is goldfish.