to the flathead fishing this weekend?
Going to focus on feeder creek mouths?
Wood along the main channel?
Edges of the main channel?
Since the water’s been so cool, anyone seeing ripe females yet? None on P3/4 that I’ve seen.
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to the flathead fishing this weekend?
Going to focus on feeder creek mouths?
Wood along the main channel?
Edges of the main channel?
Since the water’s been so cool, anyone seeing ripe females yet? None on P3/4 that I’ve seen.
You’re the guide, you tell us.
I had no luck the couple times I hit feeder creeks earlier, but who knows. So what is your thoughts BK?
i’ts probably the right thing to do, but i’d hang in there until at least sunday for the effect to fully grab on.
it takes a couple of days to happen and a couple to taper off.i’m thinking saturday will be best on the creek mouths. the bigger creeks happen fist, then the smaller.
if i had a bigger boat that would do river runs, i’d head for the rush mouth tonite for at least a troll by/scan.
one thing, this cold may not last long enuf to really have an effect. they seem to be able to get one days relief by suspending in thermoclines. graph will tell you. cats behave differently tho. not as much suspended behavior as i understand them.
Sorry Brian, the weather is getting to me. 
August spawn this year? 
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Will Catfish spawn this late in the year?
I think some spieces absorb their eggs after a certain time period.
No prob Puglsy, I preferred it from you…wink wink.
Flatheads do absorb their eggs. The actual spawn takes place between 74 and 80 degrees (well at least in Tx where the study was done).
On a side not Flatheads absorb the walleye eggs too. 
BK – so do we know if they will spawn later in the season if the water temps don’t make it up by a reasonable time?
On the Middle Minnesota, the bite has been pretty poor all around. I’ve worked every kind of structure I can think of, everything from creek mouths,current seams, and shallow gravel flats. I figured they might be in the shallows to get a break from the raging current, but finding anything under 8 fow is pretty hard, unless you want to fish flooded corn fields and flood plain trees.
I plan to go to the lake instead..
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BK – so do we know if they will spawn later in the season if the water temps don’t make it up by a reasonable time?
I don’t know the answer to that question although I would “think” so.
From the paper I read, they talked about flood, drought and lack of food. I’m going to guess that anything else that would put stress on the flat would make them not spawn.
I’m going to have to dig through my pile of research papers and see if there’s anything more about this topic.
Goat, they have to be somewhere and eating…right?
I don’t know if this will help, but all of our cats have not been coming from the “traditional” spawning areas. In fact there’s been three of us fishing those areas and I only know of one 8-10 pounder coming out of there.
Bigger bullheads in what I would call extremely fast water has been the ticket…but we’ll see this weekend if things change.
How much weight to hold the bullies down there? May have to check the tackle box..
i’m thinking that the creek mouths are going to be pretty tough to fish, as the water will probably be flowing up into them, versus out of them.
I would say target specific backwater and low current areas.
you know of some places. 
Agreed, they gotta be eating something- just nothing I’m throwing at them. We’ve been trying cut bait, stink, suckers, bullies and combinations of all of the above. Gonna try my “when all else fails” spot from shore this weekend and sleep in the back of the truck until I hear a clicker run.
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How much weight to hold the bullies down there? May have to check the tackle box..
I’m still getting by with the trusty 4 ozers.
Phigs, have you been out since last weekend?
If what you say is true, Goat might be mistaken for a scarecrow this weekend. 
I’m looking at the 4th of July weekend for the next time I can get out to fish. Goat and I had some luck last year in high water conditions on the 4th, so let’s keep the streak alive!
It’s coming all to quickly.
I have a SUPER Secret July 4th spot for daytime flats. Just haven’t had any luck there in the last 6 years over the 4th.
Must be so secret that even the fish don’t know about it. 
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How much weight to hold the bullies down there? May have to check the tackle box..
I might add the line out alarm on the 7000’s sound like a 6500. zzzt….zzzzt….zzzzzzzzt…zzzt.
Thanks, I’d forgotten what mine sounds like 
BK…this can not be good. I’m starting to watch this forum more often than in the past. Can’t be a good thing. You know what I prefer to fish for. 
think it will be like everything else this spring–still going as normal, just the intensity turned down to 2.
With the water coming up, even for your flats, shallow and zero flow would be the name of the game—least that’s what the food will be doing.
An ole riverrat like you will stratch the head awhile, but in the end, think you’ll figure it out just fine.
I think the next week of Flathead fishing is going to suck. Period. Im guessing the water temps have dropped 4-5dg, and the fish will react accordingly.
With this muddy rising pool we have here on 8 the answer is………. Purchase a keg instead of the halfer for the weekend 
Good luck to you diehards 
I hope to get out at least once but I don’t plane on playing in the flow we are expecting while pitch black out right now. Especially in my floater 
Be safe
I caught a channel cat on Sunday that still had eggs in her yet. I was surprised to say the least.
Down here on 18 we’ve seen years when the channel cat spawn ran from Memorial Day weekend all the way thru labor Day. They never all spawn at the same time.
For flat heads I’d go as shallow as I can and still have my bait in the water along the cut banks.
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How much weight to hold the bullies down there? May have to check the tackle box..
No matter the condition,I use 5 oz. I want them pinned where I put em Up to 7 oz with baits over 9 inches with the high flow
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I think the next week of Flathead fishing is going to suck. Period.
Boy Was I wrong……….. 
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They will lead you to the promised land.