2014 Flathead Photo Thread

Put out my bullhead traps yesterday. Picked up 10 nice 7″ – 10″ bullies so far today. I’ve been baiting the traps with chicken liver and dry dog food and it seems to be calling them in. It is an easy way to fill the bait tank – my pond is only a few blocks away and I can check it every few hours. Checked them twice today and had 5 nice bullies each time. Won’t take long to have a nice cache of bullheads on hand.

Cat fish season is officially on. Picked up my first St Croix channel cat of the season on Sunday to wet my appetite. Now it is just about time for some flathead fishing. St Croix is dropping and No Wake is off and the water temp is 60 degrees. I’ve got bullies in the bait tank and the Twins are winning.

Brian – Open up that Flathead Photo Thread. I’ll have a nice one for you any time now.

Consider it open!

I’ve had bully’s for a week and all I have to show for it is one of them scaly fish.

I’m showing 58 below Dam #3…my ears are quivering because I know the only thing between me and a flat is Thursday!

Wait a minute! There isn’t a twins game tomorrow! You can’t go out!

Just rub it in why don’t you!

I told you – the flatheads are on the move. 1st St Croix flathead of the year. Not real big but a nice fish – measured 37″ X 23″ for 60 KOTC points. Caught him at 2215 on a bullhead. Only fish of the night but now we know they are there. I’m after them now!!

Nice ice breaker Steve. And he’s off!

What’s your water temp up there Steve? Nice looking flattie no matter what time of the year. Thanks for getting the blood boiling down this a way. Might have to try the Cedar this weekend.

L8R…Ken

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What’s your water temp up there Steve? Nice looking flattie no matter what time of the year. Thanks for getting the blood boiling down this a way. Might have to try the Cedar this weekend.

L8R…Ken

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Water temp was 63 degrees last night. Water is still extremely high and out of its banks. River is in No Wake status so you have to putt-putt from spot to spot. Lots of current too. They are still there and hungry, just a little hard to find.

Good temp for sure…they’re gonna get more active now. I hear ya about the extra water. One guy once told me that when the water is high it just means…”more water, same amount of fish”. I guess I wouldn’t mind a little ‘no wake’ on the waters I fish…I hate skiers and skidoos…so inconsiderate of others.

Good luck Steve.

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Consider it open!

I’ve had bully’s for a week and all I have to show for it is one of them scaly fish.

I’m showing 58 below Dam #3…my ears are quivering because I know the only thing between me and a flat is Thursday!

Wait a minute! There isn’t a twins game tomorrow! You can’t go out!

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BK I’m thinking about trying below the Fountain City dam tonight. My money hole is too hard to reach from shore right now. I’ve never had luck at the dam. Any tips?

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I told you – the flatheads are on the move. 1st St Croix flathead of the year. Not real big but a nice fish – measured 37″ X 23″ for 60 KOTC points. Caught him at 2215 on a bullhead. Only fish of the night but now we know they are there. I’m after them now!!

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Way to go Steve! I got myself some Bullhead’s to try a few spots after work this weekend, hopefully they are up in the flooded trees near the Boomsite wayside beach.

12#, 9#, 5#, & 1#. My Secret spot is producing. No big girls yet.

was able to get out a couple times last wk and put sum flatys in the boat.
heres my bud 1st decent flatty

no bigguns yet but nice to get the monkey off our backs

Nice fish Phil.

I was thinking about hitting the high bridge. These are the same conditions, same time of year when our group was catching them like panfish down there. However that area has changed a lot since then.

This is Amy Smith, my cat fish team mates girl friend and partner in the Twisted Cats Outdoors Jack and Jill tournament held at LaGrange, Missouri on the Mississippi today. It weighed in at 35 pounds, won her Big fish honors and helped the team win First place overall. Congrats to Amy for the nice flattie.

Congrats to both you and Amy!

1st high water flathead. 15#+ 31″!

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Evan_peterson12 wrote:

1st high water flathead. 15#+ 31″!

How did it taste?

nhamm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Evan_peterson12 wrote:</div>
1st high water flathead. 15#+ 31″!

How did it taste?

Tasted like hickory smoked freshwater lobster!

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Great photo’s! I have never caught a flat head catfish. We only have channel cat’s here in Vermont. But flat’s are on my bucket list.

With the closed ramps and no wake it’s been a tough year so far.

The good thing is we are still hooking into pre spawn flats and the river is moving towards awesome conditions. Sunday the temp was 73 degrees (only).

There’s going to be some big walleye eaters posted here over the next few weeks.

Andrews first of the year…

And his second…

I notice a hicky on that second one. Get’em now while they are riled up.

Why do you think Andrew was smiling so wide??

Brian Klawitter wrote:

With the closed ramps and no wake it’s been a tough year so far.

The good thing is we are still hooking into pre spawn flats and the river is moving towards awesome conditions. Sunday the temp was 73 degrees (only).

There’s going to be some big walleye eaters posted here over the next few weeks.

Brian, I wish you put up reports more often! Thanks for the info. I got a little one 2 days ago. The 4AM hour seems to be when they have been most active this year.

Andrew’s second flat is a monster! Awesome! Inspiring of a road trip, really!

15# Male with bite marks on it. :O Out of the hole I caught a 61#er & a 55#er.

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8#er. 1st flat landed this year that has actually fought like a true Flathead Catfish.

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Forked Whisker. That must happen frequently in the flathead world.

Evan_peterson12 wrote:

8#er. 1st flat landed this year that has actually fought like a true Flathead Catfish.

Mr. Evan if I may, only assuming you are keeping most those flats with them being in your house and stringer in the other, and with the size to them I would be very cautious of mercury poisoning. The DnR guidelines give you a certain amount recommended, but seeming some of them are larger fish, and much older than your typical fish at those sizes they have had much more time to accumulate the icky stuff that can get you pretty darn sick. Maybe I’m off my data but still use caution.

Nice fish by the way!! Wish we had a bigger population up this way.