| Catfish fishing is an exciting experience for just | | | | the way to September. Remember if the water |
| about any angler, especially those that are new | | | | temperatures are anywhere from about 58 to 75 |
| and fresh to the fishing experience. It has long | | | | degrees, you should find it easy to catch flathead, |
| held a place of happiness with many anglers as | | | | particularly if you remember to fish the bottom |
| their favorites. | | | | when or where the fish are out of direct sunlight. |
| One of the first things that you will notice about | | | | Particularly if you are fishing for large flathead, it is |
| catfish fishing is that there are many great | | | | always productive to capitalize on the fish being |
| species out there to enjoy fishing. We highly | | | | territorial by fishing with live bait such as smaller |
| suggest giving any and all of them a try because | | | | fish that inhabit their territory. Shad, carp, and |
| each offers a new experience and provides you | | | | other types of fish that would feed on the eggs |
| with a different method to catching them. | | | | of the flathead are good choices. |
| Before you start fishing for catfish, take the time | | | | Another difference when fishing for flathead |
| to find out what type of catfish you have in the | | | | catfish is that flathead do not tend to get as large |
| location you will be fishing. It pays to learn this so | | | | as some other species of catfish. Don't let this |
| that you can tailor your bait, your fishing | | | | make you think they will not give as good a fight, |
| equipment and even your fishing line to those fish. | | | | because the opposite is often true. These fish are |
| Many people see a very large difference in the | | | | ferocious, energetic fighters able to give any |
| way these fish behave, others do not. | | | | angler a respectable tousle. |
| The main differences in catching flathead catfish is | | | | Most fishermen tend to believe that nighttime is |
| the flathead species of catfish are not always in | | | | the very best time to catch catfish. Those |
| the same locations you will find other species of | | | | accustomed to fishing for flathead cat will likely tell |
| catfish. Another difference is that flathead tend to | | | | you different stories depending on which catfish |
| live their whole lives near the same places. | | | | angler you are speaking with and the areas in |
| Spawning grounds and territorial habitat are often | | | | which they are accustomed to fishing. Some will |
| in the same small area of water. | | | | tell you that, as is the case with most catfish, the |
| This makes flathead catfish very territorial, and | | | | best time to catch flathead cat is at night. Others |
| they will defend their home territory from any | | | | will say it is during the daylight hours that flathead |
| other fish including other flathead. This tendency | | | | will be the most easily caught. |
| to remain in one small location makes flathead cat | | | | Fishing during the day is particularly productive for |
| aggressive biters, and makes them respond very | | | | the months of May into the earliest part of June |
| well to live bait, since any other living creatures | | | | and in July all the way into September. Just |
| they very likely will view as interlopers, causing | | | | remember, if you are fishing during the daylight |
| them to aggressively defend their territory. | | | | hours, to fish the bottom of your fishing hole, |
| Flathead are even know to eat other catfish. | | | | paying particularly close attention to submerged |
| The best months to catch flathead are May | | | | structure, slow moving areas such as coves, and |
| through the earlier portion of the month of June | | | | use live bait when it is at all possible. |
| and then the catch picks up once more in July all | | | | |