Monday, July 4, 2011

5 Things You Must Know About Flathead Catfishing

By John Garrett


Sports fishing has caught on in recent years, with one of the most popular being flathead catfishing. Many veteran anglers consider the flathead catfish to be a worthwhile foe, thanks to its aggressive behavior and voracious feeding habits. Despite the challenge, the effort pays off at the dinner table. People consider flatheads to be more delicious than the regular channel, especially if you happen to land a big one.

This uncertainty can cause a lot of frustration, but once you get the hang of it, you will surely take it as an exciting hobby. Apart from a delectable meal, the flathead catfish is one of the most difficult to catch.

Size and description
The flathead catfish is distinguished from other catfishes by their flat heads, yellow underbelly and mottled brown body. When you are fishing in rivers and lakes, expect flatheads that weigh around 40 to 50 pounds. You will notice a protruding jaw that protrudes its upper jaw, flat eyes and oval shaped body. Its tail fin is a bit notched and straight edged.

Habitat
Most flatheads can be found in freshwater basins. They prefer running water, and hide under some kind of cover such as rocks, submerged logs and tree roots, and brush piles. Since these protective covers are often found near the water's edge, fishing can be a bit of challenge thanks to the strong undercurrent. One useful trick is to cast the line or net at the inside bends, where the current is less strong.

Flathead diet
Because of their vicious diet, flatheads can be detrimental to some species of sunfish. In small water formations, the entire populations of sunfish may be wiped out as flatheads commonly feed on them. These animals also eat bream and have perch as one of their favorite foods. Flatheads aren't picky and will grab any fish food that will come its way.

Like other species, flatheads are attracted to light, which can be useful in baiting them. They often feed from the bottoms of lakes or rivers, so it's a good idea to properly position your bait and make sure you bring enough line. They also prefer live bait, so use small fish baits like bluegills, shad and minnows, suspended either from the trot line or a pole. To preserve the bait, use an insulated cooler with frozen water to maintain the proper temperature.

Fishing gear
While conventional rod and reel may work well for flathead catfishing, you can also follow techniques often used by successful anglers like bank poles and jugs or do throw-lines for the catch. Try a size 7 or 8 for hooks. Flatheads have wide mouths so bigger hooks will definitely come in handy. Ask the expert fishermen in your neighborhood for more catfishing tips. They usually have valuable fishing techniques that have been proven through time.




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