I went out last week on a whim and had no bait (lively baitfish) caught, but planned on scraping something up before nightfall. Water conditions* prevented me from acquiring bluegills, so I went directly to a flathead spot and worm-fished for whatever I could catch. I caught two sheephead that were small enough to control on the line, so I casted them out and left one nightcrawler rig out for entertainment. About an hour after dark, I had a tappity tap nibble on the worm pole. I missed it first, and casted to the same spot, where I got the same tappity tap. When I reared back to set the hook on a presumed rock bass or sheephead, I felt the unmistakable bulk of a nice flathead. The problem, of course, was that I had it on my worm rig – 12lb test mono, small reel, and a #6 baitholder hook. I fought it extremely conservatively and was very lucky it didn’t head into the wood. I would gain five feet of line in five minutes, then it would take it back plus some in about ten seconds. Eventually it wore down, and I was able to drag it close enough to the boat to get its head into a net (I usually grab the jaw, but couldn’t get it close enough in the current). Here’s what he was: 
He was barely hooked behind the upper row of teeth, the hook came out in the bottom of the boat – needless to say I felt (besides exhausted) very lucky to have landed him – 32lbs. My sheephead got ignored. I loved the fight, but hate that I took so long and wore him down so much – I’d rather fight them in fast and release them knowing they still have some energy.
Other than that one, I’ve got nine others this year, all on bluegills – but 32 is the current “booty” (big one of the year).
Happy Hunting,
Matt
* – excuse
