Flatheads are commonly found in large water bodies. They usually prefer a big river and a reservoir as its tributaries. In a river, the fish generally like to be in a deep pool where the water is slow. It is also commonly found in tailraces present below dams.
Where is the best place for Flathead Catfish?
The Flathead Catfish also lives in reservoirs, but is more plentiful below dams of major impoundments. It is usually found by drift piles, submerged logs or fallen trees with hard-bottomed substrates of sand or silt.
Where can I find big flathead?
Flathead will be up on sandbanks or mangrove edges around the high tide followed by drains, weed edges and drop offs on the low. Just be prepared for those bigger flathead to run straight back out at you when they hit your plastic, as they’ll quite often head straight for deeper water.
What state has the best flathead fishing?
Mississippi waters produce many giant cats. One of the best is the state’s namesake river, a trophy-catfish factory running 410 miles along the state’s western border, which produced both the state-record blue (95 pounds) and flathead (77.7 pounds).
What is the best time to fish for flathead?
Flathead can be targeted all year round but there are a few things to take into consideration around tide and seasonal factors. Flathead are opportunistic feeders and as such, runout tide is the perfect time to target them as they lie in wait in deeper water for fleeing baitfish and prawns to be funnelled past them.
What is the best bait for flatheads?
Flatheads feed primarily on live baits. Good hearty and lively baits like live perch, bluegill, sunfish, goldfish or mudcats are the preferred bait for catching flatheads.
What time of year do flatheads start biting?
Best Time of Year to Catch Flathead
The best time to target flathead catfish is from the spring to the fall. Flathead LOVE warm water, so usually around may – august I have my best luck. When the water temp reaches 55, they seem to pick up and start biting.
How shallow can you catch flathead?
If you keep the lure about 10 cm under the surface the fish will find it. The average fish caught on this method in local waters is around 60 to 80 cm, but I’ve been surprised by the ferocity of smaller 40 to 50 cm fish at times.
What should I look for when fishing for flathead catfish?
Flathead catfish hang out in deep cover near the current. When they come out of cover to feed, they will move into the current while staying on the bottom. A good technique for catching flatheads is to drift the bait next to the current in river bends.
What size hooks for flathead?
Depending on the size of your bait, 3/0 to 5/0 will do the trick. The best tip is to go super-sharp, quality hooks. Suicide, light gauge live bait, and circle hooks are brilliant here. Just remember, the worst thing you can do is use a hook too small or too large for the bait.
What state has the biggest flathead catfish?
Oklahoma is best known for big flatheads, like this one caught by Haydn and Owen Williams of Grove.
What state has biggest catfish?
Lake Texoma Texas, 121.5 Pounds, Cody Mullenix
The blue catfish caught by Mullenix weighed in at 121.5 lbs, which was not only a Texas state record but also a world record.
What’s the largest flathead catfish ever caught?
What was the largest flathead catfish ever caught? Ken Paulie caught the biggest Flathead Catfish back in 1998, and he still holds the world record, though some question its legitimacy. The Flathead was over 5 feet in length and weighed 123 pounds.
How do you target big flathead?
Live baits are definitely my go-to when looking for big female flathead, with whiting, mullet, prawns and yabbies all being excellent baits. Flathead love big baits, with sand whiting and mullet over the 30cm mark being the perfect size for larger fish. Rigging your live baits properly is also very important.
Where is flathead in winter?
The reason flathead catches drop in winter is because anglers stop chasing them and instead target other species such as bream and mulloway. Flathead do not migrate, other than to chase a food source or breed in late spring and early summer. They are still there in winter and can be caught on lures.
How do you get flatheads during the day?
Flatheads often cover a large area while searching for prey after dark. Successful fishing depends on being in the right spot at the right time — choose spots wisely or be prepared to wait. During the day, though, most flatheads hold in the densest available cover. Put a bait where they can find it, and you’ll get bit.
Why do catfish like Kool-Aid?
The Kool-Aid will soak into the chunks and some of the liquid will come out of the meat to form a marinade that helps the flavor soak into the meat. This makes the flavor and sweet smell permeate the chunk and means the bait will keep its flavor and smell for a long time in the water.
Are hotdogs good catfish bait?
Hot dogs are a common food taken along on fishing excursions and double as excellent catfish bait. Points to remember when using hot dogs as catfish bait include: Cheaper hot dogs seem to catch more fish.
What attracts catfish the most?
Best Baits for Eater Catfish
- Worms. Worms are classic catfish bait.
- Shad and Minnows. Like worms, shad and minnows have mass appeal.
- Stink Bait. Unlike worms and minnows, stink bait only appeals to catfish.
- Anything from the Fridge. Have some questionable chicken breasts in the fridge?
- Soap.
How do you attract flathead catfish?
A meat-and-potatoes meal for a giant flathead is another fish—a live fish—so that’s what you should use to entice them. Good choices include live sunfish, suckers, bullheads, carp, goldfish, and chubs.
How do you target flathead catfish?
In recent times many people have had success catching them during the day. The idea is to put either a lively baitfish or a fresh chunk of cutbait right in front of their noses. Even with that being said, I have personally caught all of my largest flatheads at night.