Since the Mississippi has be hanging in the low 60 degrees and there was some action last week, I’m thinking the warm rain last night (and today) should kick the pre spawn flathead bite into gear.
I’ve had the wonderful smell of flathead in the boat last weekend, but man I just can’t get enough of it!
It’s my cocaine, my rum and coke…my high! 
[image]http://www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil/cgi-bin/boromir?site=ld3&sku1=46&days=7&prod=curr&fmon=JAN&fday=1&fyr=2013&lmon=DEC&lday=31&lyr=2013&usot=1&x=18&y=15[/image]
On the up swing!!
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Since the Mississippi has be hanging in the low 60 degrees and there was some action last week, I’m thinking the warm rain last night (and today) should kick the pre spawn flathead bite into gear.
I’ve had the wonderful smell of flathead in the boat last weekend, but man I just can’t get enough of it!
It’s my cocaine, my rum and coke…my high!
You need to go noodlin’!! 
Ya know, is “interesting” as noodling looks, it’s really hard on the fishery. What happens when a fish is pulled out of its nest is Mom or some other fish goes in and eats the fry/eggs.
End of that flat’s spawn.
This is the reason noodling isn’t allowed in most states. Some of the states down South are total catfish hatcherys and the system can support it.
Personally, I would like to try it once. I figure the odds of losing a digit or get bit by something other then a flat is pretty low..if I only do it once. 
But you’re right, I need to do SOMETHING!
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Ya know, is “interesting” as noodling looks, it’s really hard on the fishery. What happens when a fish is pulled out of its nest is Mom or some other fish goes in and eats the fry/eggs.
I could be wrong, but they noodle even after the spawn. I think cats always find shelter in crevices and holes. No, no, no, that was not a set up.
Could be. The Great State of Missouri has this on their website:
“Q: How would legalizing hand-fishing hurt our catfish numbers?
A: Research shows that legalizing hand-fishing could severely deplete local catfish populations and put the abundance of a top Missouri game fish at risk.
Catfish are very vulnerable during the nesting season (June – August) because they lay their eggs in natural cavities and then do not leave the nest. If they’re taken away, their eggs quickly die. Catfish on the nest are not vulnerable to being caught by traditional sport-angling methods.
Our research shows that less than 25 percent of catfish migrate from large rivers to smaller tributaries. This degree of migration depends on seasonal water levels. Hand-fishers have easy access to these smaller wading streams and the nesting cover catfish use, making these catfish especially vulnerable. If depleted, catfish populations in these tributaries would have great difficulty reestablishing their numbers. A survey of hand-fishers conducted by the University of Missouri–Columbia Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism reported that 90 percent of hand-fishers prefer to fish in smaller rivers or streams, which are most vulnerable to over harvesting.
Catfish are long-lived (reaching ages of 25 years or more), are relatively slow growing, and can reach weights exceeding 75 pounds. They also lay many fewer eggs than other sport fish. Larger, older catfish are more effective breeders. Research shows that selectively removing larger “trophy” catfish, which noodlers prefer, could reduce local catfish numbers.
In north and west-central Missouri, in particular, streams have been greatly altered over the past 100 years, reducing catfish habitat. Hand-fishing would place more pressure on these local catfish populations, which already have high harvest rates from current fishing practices.
Surveys show that hand-fishing tends to be highly successful. Increasing the number of noodlers could further threaten local catfish populations.
According a survey of hand-fishers conducted by the University of Missouri–Columbia Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, hand-fishers report being successful at capturing a catfish 60 percent of the time. That is an extremely high success rate.
Hand-fishers reported their average catch weighed approximately 20 pounds, which they considered to be a minimum-size catch. They preferred to catch larger, trophy-size, 50-pound flathead catfish.”
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Could be. The Great State of Missouri has this on their website:
“Q: How would legalizing hand-fishing hurt our catfish numbers?
A: Research shows that legalizing hand-fishing could severely deplete local catfish populations and put the abundance of a top Missouri game fish at risk.
Catfish are very vulnerable during the nesting season (June – August) because they lay their eggs in natural cavities and then do not leave the nest. If they’re taken away, their eggs quickly die. Catfish on the nest are not vulnerable to being caught by traditional sport-angling methods.
Our research shows that less than 25 percent of catfish migrate from large rivers to smaller tributaries. This degree of migration depends on seasonal water levels. Hand-fishers have easy access to these smaller wading streams and the nesting cover catfish use, making these catfish especially vulnerable. If depleted, catfish populations in these tributaries would have great difficulty reestablishing their numbers. A survey of hand-fishers conducted by the University of Missouri–Columbia Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism reported that 90 percent of hand-fishers prefer to fish in smaller rivers or streams, which are most vulnerable to over harvesting.
Catfish are long-lived (reaching ages of 25 years or more), are relatively slow growing, and can reach weights exceeding 75 pounds. They also lay many fewer eggs than other sport fish. Larger, older catfish are more effective breeders. Research shows that selectively removing larger “trophy” catfish, which noodlers prefer, could reduce local catfish numbers.
In north and west-central Missouri, in particular, streams have been greatly altered over the past 100 years, reducing catfish habitat. Hand-fishing would place more pressure on these local catfish populations, which already have high harvest rates from current fishing practices.
Surveys show that hand-fishing tends to be highly successful. Increasing the number of noodlers could further threaten local catfish populations.
According a survey of hand-fishers conducted by the University of Missouri–Columbia Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, hand-fishers report being successful at capturing a catfish 60 percent of the time. That is an extremely high success rate.
Hand-fishers reported their average catch weighed approximately 20 pounds, which they considered to be a minimum-size catch. They preferred to catch larger, trophy-size, 50-pound flathead catfish.”
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