02-25-2012, 11:39 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Channel cats and flatheads are definitely different in their habits. You can catch channel cats under the ice in the winter but once the late fall water temps drop below about 55 the flatheads settle to the bottom and go dormant.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]This happened even in the waters of southern Arizona. Winter water temps usually drop below 50 and the flatheads "disappear". But when the water warms up again in the spring they come off the bottom and start feeding again.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was once fishing in early February below Horseshoe dam, near Phoenix, AZ. I was bottom bouncing a jig in fairly deep water, picking up the occasional largemouth or crappie. I snagged up and began pulling to free my jig. The snag was heavy but it slowly came to the top. I expected to see a tree branch or maybe a discarded shirt or something. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that I had fin-hooked a snoozing flathead...about 30 pounds or so. As mentioned in the video, it was covered with silt that was streaming off its back as I pulled it closer. The change in water pressure and increased light must have aroused it. It suddenly turned and powered down...tearing the little jig free from it's pectoral fin. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are guys in some flathead states that learn where the flatheads winter and go after them with snag rigs. Real sporting.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you fish for flatheads you need to know that they are also not like channel cats in the feeding department. They eat only live food...fish, crawdads, crawlers, etc. Best baits are small fish from their natural surroundings. That usually means small bluegill or other sunfish. But I have heard that small squawfish work well on the Snake. Ditto for small carp and suckers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Flatheads will hit dead baits if you are moving or dragging them. They also hit jigs dressed with strips of cut bait from other fish. It has to have the appearance of live food. But, as has been mentioned, lots of flatties are taken on bass lures...plastics or hardbaits. It is surprising how visually oriented they are in relatively clean water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]This happened even in the waters of southern Arizona. Winter water temps usually drop below 50 and the flatheads "disappear". But when the water warms up again in the spring they come off the bottom and start feeding again.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was once fishing in early February below Horseshoe dam, near Phoenix, AZ. I was bottom bouncing a jig in fairly deep water, picking up the occasional largemouth or crappie. I snagged up and began pulling to free my jig. The snag was heavy but it slowly came to the top. I expected to see a tree branch or maybe a discarded shirt or something. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that I had fin-hooked a snoozing flathead...about 30 pounds or so. As mentioned in the video, it was covered with silt that was streaming off its back as I pulled it closer. The change in water pressure and increased light must have aroused it. It suddenly turned and powered down...tearing the little jig free from it's pectoral fin. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are guys in some flathead states that learn where the flatheads winter and go after them with snag rigs. Real sporting.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you fish for flatheads you need to know that they are also not like channel cats in the feeding department. They eat only live food...fish, crawdads, crawlers, etc. Best baits are small fish from their natural surroundings. That usually means small bluegill or other sunfish. But I have heard that small squawfish work well on the Snake. Ditto for small carp and suckers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Flatheads will hit dead baits if you are moving or dragging them. They also hit jigs dressed with strips of cut bait from other fish. It has to have the appearance of live food. But, as has been mentioned, lots of flatties are taken on bass lures...plastics or hardbaits. It is surprising how visually oriented they are in relatively clean water.[/#0000ff]
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