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