Correction, I bait with big crappies and big bullheads, bluegills if I have to.

I’ve never had much luck catching monster flats in the daytime. I fish strictly at night and I fish only live bait. Monster flats will not travel for dead or cut bait. If you want small flats the use whatever. Bluegills work but I use big crappies and big bluegills if possible. I see a lot of comments recommending cut bait. I guess that’s fine for small flatheads. I guess I should clarify what I consider monster flats. 40, 50, 60 lbs and above. 30 and 40lb,ers medium id say. I’m 64 years old and have commercial fished from age 12 to 18 with my uncle in pool 11 on the Mississippi and fished here all my life. I know these fish. Ile also let you in on a little secret, there are flatheads in the Mississippi river a lot bigger than 60lbs

Ya’ll must be gunning just for the little flatheads if your using cut bait. If your looking to hammer the monsters ya gotta use live bait….big live bait. Forget the bluegills and catch some big crappies or if you know where you can get big bulkheads which I think is the best bait for monster flathead. They are super tough and live a long time. If you want big flats. Ime talking 40, 50, 60lbs and bigger its big live bait. Big bait big fish. I fish the Mississippi in northeast iowa. Strictly after dark. Big flats love live bait, small one will bite dead bait but I guess it all depends on what I or you consider what big is to you…..