Who here likes to catfish??

[azpredator@work]

 

 

 

What is your bait of choice on those big flat heads

I've caught 90% of mine on green ear sunfish. They are soft compared to bluegill and the flatheads seem to prefer them. Small carp are awesome, but difficult to catch.

You do know there is not such thing as a green eared sunfish right? I use all panfish, green sunfish, bluegill, redear, tilapia, etc. Anything that is legal. I've found Tilapia to be the best on the lower river were they are legal.

I grew up fishing Oklahoma waters on summer break. Half the folks call them green ear sunfish half call them green sunfish. Same as some folks calling a 10pt coues a 4x4. Didn't think to get too technical...I've landed more than 60 over 20 lbs on "green ears" while only 2 on bluegill so I wanted to pass along that tip.

 

Op: What early tag did you draw?

[Havasuhunter]

I was just jabbing you a little on the Green Sunfish. I know there are many common names for different species in different parts of the country. In TN they call stripers rockfish, like on the East coast, white bass Stripe, and Yellow bass yeller stripe.

I caught a 42lber on a green sunfish here at Havasu myself, but always find bluegill to be better. Tilapia are only legal below Parker dam, so haven't used them here, but on the lower river they are the hottest bait.

Bullheads make a great bait in waters that have them too, flatheads suck them down like they are starving. AZ has some of the best catfish fishing ive seen anywhere in the country. Its amazing some of the states farther east have any with the commercial fishing, trotlines, jug lines, limb lines, etc.

Ive heard the Salt river lakes are really good, if they are anything like the CO river, I believe it. Besides the flatheads we catch some monster channels here too. Its very common to get bit while flathead fishing and catch a 10-20lb channel.

 

Good fishing,

Brian

[ivhunter]

wow, awesome flatties!! down here in the IV lots of guys hit the Alamo river for them. I've caught a few but never really target them. I might have to put it on my bucket list to catch a monster flathead. I have a few killer tilapia and bluegill spots over hear.. keep the pics coming awesome stuff

[Havasuhunter]

wow, awesome flatties!! down here in the IV lots of guys hit the Alamo river for them. I've caught a few but never really target them. I might have to put it on my bucket list to catch a monster flathead. I have a few killer tilapia and bluegill spots over hear.. keep the pics coming awesome stuff

I used to fish the Alamo all the time. Caught some 30-40s out of there. I heard it sucks now, but you never know. If you go target them PM me and I'll tell you some spots. We used to C&R them because that place is nasty. Those are the most bright flouresant yellow flatheads Ive ever seen. Thats a place they prefer tilapia too.

[PelaPapas]

That's Bad ss!

 

Very cool pics!

[Big Browns]

How do you rig your rods when you use live bluegill or Carp? I'm assuming you use a large slip sinker so you can keep the fish on the bottom or do you use a large bobber and float them threw a large pool?

 

Thanks,

Adam

[KeithV]

spooby i love to catch catfish thats what i fish for most of the time i have been to roosevelt twice this month and have been skunked for flatties but i am persistant and will get one . We use to chase them at san carlos a bunch, but thats over now. my flathead rig got stolen so im in the process of gettin new stuff. We have done ok here on the gila but its really low and hard to find a good hole. those are some killer fish congrats.

[naturebob]

I like any thing that smells like fish..............BOB!

[idgaf]

I like any thing that smells like fish..............BOB!

Old swamp cooler pads? Old dishwater? Powerbait?

[coueswt]

Great Flatheads. Do you eat those big old cats? Thanks for sharing.

[creed_az_88]

Those big ol flathead are delicious. Talk about a out a ton of meat too. There's some consequence that comes with keeping those big flathead though. Arizona waters are only so big, so if everybody that catches the big egg layers keeps what they catch, then eventually the flathead numbers are going to dwindle, if they haven't Already.

[GreyGhost85]

the people i know that get after it usually only keep 1-2 a season. i know a lot of the old timers say they have caught state record sized cats but they always throw them back. they are very good eating, especially the belly meat

[spooby]

Great Flatheads. Do you eat those big old cats? Thanks for sharing.

I catch and release all my flatheads over 20lbs. I keep one every now and then under 20 as they taste better and my wife and step son love eating it. I'm not big on eating fish.

 

All fish I catch get tagged and released as myself and a select few others have a permit to tag flatheads in pleasant and bartlett. I have tagged 70 + fish from 5 lbs up to 65lbs in bartlett. Catch and release will keep our water full of trophy flatheads but selective harvest is necessary for a healthy population as well.

 

I've habe had 3 fish I've tagged caught already that have been reported and they are averaging 2 to 3 pounds a year growth. It's still early in on research but with that alone a 30lb flathead is around 10 years old. With more time and research I hope to find out how long a flat takes to get to 60lbs +.

 

Hopefully I'll have time to start guiding again next year and share the love I have for catfishing. In the end we all wanna do what we love for a living right?

[spooby]

Here's a couple more pics. For those who are asking about rigs, I use alot of different rigs depending on different factors but Carolina rig is my go to rig. Keep it simple.

 

There anyone that would be interested on a guided trip if I did start guiding again?

[naturegirl]

I'm very jealous