Ok, it might not have been the biggest Flat pic in this forum…but the curse of the black rod is gone. Tonight was my lucky night! 
I bought a rod from an Auction from IDA last winter. I’ve never caught anything on it…a few bumps that’s it. Didn’t matter what I did, I would never get the fish to the boat.
Can’t post the picture tonight…but remember the flat with the soccer ball in it’s mouth..this picture will compair…
Briank 
As most of you know, I’ve been whining about not finding flats on the Croix ..so far this year. I’ve been fishing places I caught them last Sept without any luck. I’ve moved to many differant areas on the ol’ St Croix. Last night, after reading some posts on spawning, I thought I should be looking for places that a flat would want to spawn at…cracks and crevises. This made me think of rocks and rock piles. We have a dandy rock pile just out of our landing which is were I anchored, tossed out a chunk of cut bait (with my luck this year I was hopeing to get some action) and a bullhead.
It wasn’t very long and I heard the tell tale “thawack” of a hit on the rod in the rod holder. When I looked all I could see was my little bullhead working it butt off. The way he was jiggling my rod, I figured something must be around…but nothing happend. Cleaned up the boat a bit and thought I would cast into the backside of the rock pile.
As I was reelling in my bully, it felt like I was bite, so I left it lay for another few minute…nothing. Brought her all the way in and found I had my first flathead of the year…just didn’t know it.
In the picture…notice where the hook is? The barbies from the bully actually brought the fish in! I know, I didn’t legally hook this one…But hey, I found one…and where there’s one…there’s more (and bigger). 
Excellent job brian 
good thing you finally broke that curse. better be careful, that bully looks to be about 7 1/16 – 7 1/8 inch 
Nice job dude,
Cattin_Addict
CA…If you recall, this was the rod with the secret no roll on it! Any you laughed at me 
Me laugh at someone, i have never heard such a thing before 
I should be free the weekend of the 24th, wanna give it another shot then?
Cattin_Addict
Brian,
Are you sure you didn’t just put a small bullhead in a big bullhead’s mouth and call it a flathead 
. Just kidding, that is really crazy though. Did you let it go like that or did you take the bullhead out? If you did take it out it looks really jammed in there.
Cool pic,
Mike T.
I think that is a good example of how little cats become “BIG CATS”. Big meals!
or could it be that the bully was trying to eat the flat? things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm
CA
Mike, after seeing FlatheadWI picture of a big cat with a bigger bite on it’s back…I thought about using it as bait!
I think what happened was it was trying to swallow it when the line got tight and pulled it backwards…then the spines got stuck in it’s mouth…I released both the bullhead and the flat.
I think that hook weighs more than that flathead:) Good grief it’s huge…Let’s do a hook poll. I use Gamakatsu 8/0 octopus for bigger baits…and 5/0 for the smaller guys. Maybe it’s just me but I don’t like to put a boat anchor on those 5″ bullheads.
Jason.
Brian,
What the hell is that? 10/0 gamgatsus are the ticket. Brian’s hooks are just what you should use.
10/0 Gamakatsu’s here.
Live or dead.
Ya know, it does look big in the picture…but the flat looks big(ger) too.
I’ll have to check but I think all I have is 4/0 circles and 10/0 Gama’s
Went out last night and it was the night of the smalls. I got a 5,7,9 and 11. Had bait early so I messed around with channel catting for awhile – used cut mooneye and got a couple nice ones. Had another real nice one on and it came to the top way out there and started thrashing and sent my circle hook back sans fish nearly all the way to the boat. Still not sold on the circle hooks, but I suck at hooking channel cats, so there isn’t really any better option for me. Anyway Brian, I thought I’d post a picture of the five pounder to make you feel better 
The little feller’s almost cute, isn’t he? Sure did smack the bluegill though – sent him on his way with bluegill in belly.
I use 5/0 Kahles with bullheads and with medium and smaller bluegills. For larger baits I also use the 10/0 gamas. I hook my bullheads through the lips, though – if I was hooking them in the tail I’d go larger than the kahles. I figure they thrash around well hooked in the lips, so it isn’t as necessary to hook them in the tail. I get a great hookup ratio hooking them that way. I’d hook everything that way, but with bluegills they’ll just sit there facing the current and not struggle at all, and we can’t have that, now, can we?
Happy Hunting,
Matt
Mooneyes, sunfish…5 lbs flat…you are a cruel, cruel man Flatheadwi!
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