Flathead Catfish

[thec4ranch]

Looking for some tips on how to find and catch flatheads on a jug line or trot lines. Any and all advice welcome.

[DRow]

were are you fishing? river, lake, ........

[thec4ranch]

lake. I have no problem catching channels, but i want to target big flats

[COPPERHEAD]

Fish with live bait such as small perch or mudcat. Find the cross roads where creeks cross one another. They travel the creeks. Lots of patience is the main thing.

[GR5]

Must use live bait. Perch/goldfish.. Bigger the bait, bigger the fish. Place lines or jugs next to drops where they will in between shallow and deep

[COPPERHEAD]

Forgot to mention use BIG hooks. I use 13/0 saltwater circle hooks.

[thec4ranch]

i use perch and try to fish near creek channel. but no luck with flatheads

[RiverRat1]

Looking for some tips on how to find and catch flatheads on a jug line or trot lines. Any and all advice welcome.

Where are you located? north south east or west?

[thec4ranch]

i use 7/0 circle hooks

[thec4ranch]

Where are you located? north south east or west?

northeast texas

[DRow]

its always been my experiance that big yellas like deep water. and if they are in the shallower stuff they like structure. and i agree with the rest on live perch for bait and the bigger the better.

[chief262]

Big live baits on the bottom. Small carp is the best if you can find them anywhere. Once you catch one, there is usually more around close.

[Texas Grown]

Small carp will work too.


Edit: Chief just beat me out .

[Stolle]

Goggle Eye Perch or Mud Cats always did the trick on the Colorado River for us. We used tight lines and throw lines in the deep holes

[TimH]

We did this along the Mississippi during my stint in La Cross WI and big live bait is key! 6-8" Blue Gil was our choice on circle hooks. If night fishing, we set up in shallow water adjacent to deeper water with cover. Flatheads go shallow searching for food at night. Our goal was to break the WI state record, which we never did, but still boated some 50-60 lb cats.

On my kin folks land along the San Gabriel river, we used the same size bait on drop lines along the bank in deeper pockets. 50 lbs. is the best to date.