Stuart and I got a quick fix today…

Cloudy water and overcast skys didn’t help…but with the temps at 25…Stuart and I decided to go flathead fishing….with a Marcum 825c.

I have to believe we both learned a lot about sauger and flathead habits in the winter today.

Last year, in the same spot the flats were spread out…facing every which direction. Close together, but seldom touching one another. This year they were so close together it looked like they were huddling to stay warm!

It was amazing! There would be 2-3 around a piece of wood…then about 40 (guess) in one big “pile”, two three fish deep.
You know how your dog lays it’s head on your leg…the flats were doing the same thing to other flats.

It was great to be on the water agian…and even better to be hunting ol’ whiskers!

You’re right Steve! Springs just around the corner!!

Pretty sweet picture there BK- even if it is of a bottom dweller…

Neat pic. Thanks. Sure looks like a very neat camera.
Thanks, Bill

Nice Pic. BK. To bad it wasnt a better looking fish.
Wallster ><((((>

Sure is an Ugly fish. No wonder BK likes them so much…
Jack.

Nice smile

That is the purdy-est picture I have seen the year Brian

Hey,no self portraits

I believe the reason Stuart and I stayed out “hunting” for so long yesterday was because of the temp and because of this units large screen. We set the Marcum between and slightly in front of us and we both had a very good view of the camera. Kinda like watching TV.

We ran into a good size school of smallies in one area.

The channel cats were thick in an area close to the “sleeping” giants. One channel came up an kissed the camera. I wish I would have been ready for a picture of that one. In fact, we had a number of saugers “follow” our drifting camera.

In this second pic there are 7 flats in the picture.

It was tough getting the pile of cats in a photo to say the least. Too many bodys and tails in the way.

Very cool Brian, thanks for sharing.

We thought of trying that noodeling thing,but the water was a little too deep and BK forgot his speedo’s and towel.Next time we will be more prepared.

Cool post, Brian. Makes you understand how they are so susceptible to snagging. Somebody gets right on top of them and drops a jig on them and starts ripping. We need a closed season during the wintering period to protect flatheads.

That’s awesome.

Steve.I fully agree that we need a closed season on these fish.I haven’t seen the snaggers for several years here on P4,but know it happens.We could drop the camera on there heads and they would not move,counted 6 seconds between gill movements on one fish.I know that Brian and I could have set on them and snagged all day if we were those kinda guy’s.

Guys,

You’ve got to get a VCR on that camera. I’d love to have a chance to watch the action.

John

Cool stuff guys. So did you see any movement from any of the flats besides the gills? I am assuming no, since you said you could drop the camera right on their head.

What about the sizes of them? Were the groups generally of similar sized fish or was it a mixed bag?

Thta is pretty cool! Kind of looks like my mother in law sleeping though.

Pug,for the most part the flats would move a little bit,gently waving ther fins and tails.The channels were higher in the water and swimming freely around.Didn,t meen to drop the camera on there heads,but they were so stacked in there we couldn,t help but to clonk a few.

Thats awesome! Thanks for the pics. I am suprised the visibility is that good. I wonder if it would be as clear up here on Pool 2. Those cameras would be a blast to play around with.

Good Stuff guys.

You really need to throw a DVR on that camera and get some video

It’d be interesting to see what would happen if you dangled a piece of cut bait or small minnows above them. I know, I know, we don’t want to be encouraging anyone. But strictly playing devils advocate, there are many here who think flatheads simply don’t eat. I believe that they will still eat anything close enough to suck in without much effort. But I also think they would never move and give up a cozy spot on the bottom.

Brian – get some videotape of this. This is good stuff if you’re presenting info a/b a closed season to the WI DNR. You might even throw a bait down there (if possible) and show their lack of reaction. Some silt on the back doesn’t hurt either.

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It’d be interesting to see what would happen if you dangled a piece of cut bait or small minnows above them. I know, I know, we don’t want to be encouraging anyone. But strictly playing devils advocate, there are many here who think flatheads simply don’t eat. I believe that they will still eat anything close enough to suck in without much effort. But I also think they would never move and give up a cozy spot on the bottom.

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I’m with Pug on this one!
Why the hell didn’t you try catching one!

Well…here is the honest truth.

Dropping a bait down there was the plan.

We had blade baits, live minnows, shad and plastics.
After watching them on the camera, be both agreed that there wasn’t a point. IF they would have bit they would have s-l-o-w-l-y came to the surface. With the exception of thier weight…I would guess a bluegill would have given a better fight.

One thing I did notice Matt, last year every fish had silt on it’s back…this year they were clean.

I’m coming to the understanding (some might say finally) that these fish do move around in the winter and that at some point (not this day) that they do somewhat actively bite. 10,000 walleye guys can’t be wrong.

Yesterday, I would have been shocked if a flat would have opened it’s mouth.

And lastly, there would have been no way of getting a bait down there without snagging one. I’m sure my partner would agree.

My thoughts were to not use hooks. Of course I understand that if they did bite, we don’t want to advertise that. Like you said, you might as well attach a five pound weight to your line, put it on the other side of the yard and reel it in. That’s about how much resistance you’ll get. Woo hoo, that’s sporting.

Certainly not the best video…but the best we could do with the conditions.

Stuart was on the side of the boat controling the camera while I ran the video…It does give a flavor of what was down there….and why they should be left alone in winter.

May not be the best video, but that’s the best video I have seen this winter. The fever is going up a few degrees. It’s hard to imagine those fish taking any bait, although I have seen video of summer cats dormant during the day in the summer in the same state. So I have never worked a camera, what would you estimate the size of those fish to be? They all appear to be very close in size? Those cameras can’t be angled either, eh? It’s be nice to be able to angle it down a little to get a better view from above. I am more intrigued by these fish every time I see them.

Thanks guys! If you ever want to do it again and need a extra hand…

And that noodling one when the menu comes up kind of makes me sick. To me, the flathead deserves a little more sport when trying to catch them. I seriously find it a little demeaning and insulting to the fish…even if it is just a fish.

Man, that is cool.

Brian, how big are the majority of the fish you saw? I can’t judge size at all.

Way cool stuff you guys put together