1st Flathead

I always wanted to catch a flathead but until recently never gave it a real good effort. So today I lauched at prescott and soon after dark I had a fish run with the sucker, I reeled the line tight and hooked the fish. After a great fight I netted my first Flathead- went 32″- not sure how much it wieghted though. I have to thank who ever suggested cutting the tail fin off to make the sucker fight harder, I think I heard about it hear at some point in time. That trick and a sharp 0/9 circle hook seemed to work well. Definetly going to have to try and catch some more.

What pound test line did you use to land that Cat? I recently switched to 20″ test to be ready in case of hooking a big cat. Congrats on the flathead, that’s a good size fish.

eleclady

80lb. power pro on my muskie rod. Didn’t want to risk a good sized fish wrapping me up in a snag.

HOLY COW!! What did you say you were fishing for? (sharks) . I never could understand why people get such big lines when all reels have drags on them. I would be scared of breaking a pole ,especially with power pro and big cats. I fish for muskies with 20 lb power pro. FF

All reals have drags but if you are fishing flats in the timber… you better not have your drag set to lose or you will NEVER drag them out

Mav is right. Many times when flathead fishing your very close to timber and you need to drag them straight back to you or they will be gone. I usually lock my drag down as tight as is will go. Then its you against the fish. Getting a very green, PO’d, 40 lb flathead next to the boat can be a wet and wild experience!! You need heavy equipment.

I used 30lb power pro for skis once. Too many baits lost when line that thin digs in on a backlash and pop.. the bait goes sailing. With superbraids it is best to pick the line by diameter not strengh (80lb. is 17lb. dia. I think)Plus as the other guys said give a big fish an inch in heavy cover and its over. I use 50lb. for heavy cover largemouth bass.