Flathead

[Buckshotdad1960]

Does anyone know where I can catch some flatheads? Small ones preferably for the pond.

I was looking for some crappie but apparently where there is some is so top secret that not even the President of the United States is allowed to know this information. LOL But basically, Its probably more like there are none and you have a few people who like to tell stories that they caught one kind of like people like to tell stories that they saw Big Foot! LOL

[Wayne SW/MO]

Jugs baited with small perch should get you some out of TR.

[ozark trout fisher]

Does anyone know where I can catch some flatheads? Small ones preferably for the pond.

I was looking for some crappie but apparently where there is some is so top secret that not even the President of the United States is allowed to know this information. LOL But basically, Its probably more like there are none and you have a few people who like to tell stories that they caught one kind of like people like to tell stories that they saw Big Foot! LOL

One thing about Flatheads, is they don't tend to reproduce well in ponds. They might grow really large, but you'll have to keep putting them in every year. Sorry I can't help you with a place... I don't live anywhere near the James. Good luck though, as well as with the crappie.

As a side note, for crappie you might ask some guys with farm ponds if they'll let you on their place. It might well be their pond is overpopulated with crappie (or some other fish species you'd want to stock your pond with) and they would be just fine with you taking a few bucket-loads home. You might post a question on this, or some other forum asking if someone has a farm pond with a bunch of crappie, that wouldn't mind if you brought some home to stock.

Once again, good luck. I hope you're able to get some fish for that pond.

[smallmouthjoe]

The James is full of channel cats, I've never caught or seen or even heard of anyone catching flatheads. I have a friend whose father catfishes The James with dip bait and does really well. I'll ask her where he fishes. I've seen guys cat fishing at Hooten but I've never seen anyone pull one out of there. A few times while bass fishing I've caught some above the lake out of heavy wood cover, you might try there. Good luck.

[nathan RN]

I caught a flathead last year in the tailwater access on the james river.(just below the springfield lake). was about 3 pounds. caught it on a nightcrawler and ate it that night. good luck they are out there.

[Buckshotdad1960]

Thanks Wayne,

You’re my only friend! LOL

But where on the lake? I know TR has flatheads or I assume it does. But I have to have a spot, a place to start looking, a point of reference. The lake like a river is a big place with a lot of water. Where have you seen them caught? Heard of them caught? Think they can be caught?

[Buckshotdad1960]

Thanks Ozark Trout Fish,

You’re my only friend! LOL

I know you don’t live near me but thanks for the advice anyway. It sounds like good advice and may be my only hope of making a connection. And if I keep looking I should have several leads to try by this coming spring and summer. I know I clown around a lot but I am very good at what I do and catching what I need will be no problem once I zero in on where to start looking. A little leg work on the forum here will no doubt save me a lot of leg work out there on the river. These old hillbillies know these rivers and lakes don’t think they don’t. They know where to find the little ones as well as the big ones. Getting them to understand I’m one of them, even though I’ve been gone awhile, and to share their hard earned information with me is the tricky part!

[Buckshotdad1960]

Thanks smallmouthjoe,

You’re my only friend! LOL

The flatheads are there. The question is how far do they extend up the James? My guess is all the way up to the darn at Springfield Lake. Flatheads like channel cats are fish of rivers and live in the deepest holes. Perhaps my question to the people shouldn’t be where are the fish, but where are the deep holes. Of course the size of a fish will determine how deep of a hole it needs. That’s why in the summer you can find smaller fish in just about any size hole but only find the bigger ones in the biggest holes. In winter they all stack together like cord wood in the deepest holes. Now that I have a kayak I will float the James and Finley to locate these holes. Not all holes hold fish. That old saying that %10 of the lake holds %90 of the fish and %90 of the lake holds %10 of the fish is thumb guide line to go by but I believe it holds true on rivers as well. Locating deep holes with proof fish have been caught there can zero you in on a hot spot and eliminate a lot of dead water that you don’t have to waste your time on. But keep an eye open and if you see or hear of anything drop me a line. I would appreciate it. Now, here s a tip for you. any there is a road called W hwy. Take that road and go about five miles or so until you see a green street sign on your left that says Red Barn Bridge RD. Follow it until you cross the old red barn bridge. Park your car and go under the bridge. Go up stream until you find a small water fall about 100 yards or so up the creek. Below the falls there is a deep pool loaded with small mouth bass. Some real nice ones too! Notice the catch and release signs on the trees. I don’t know who put them there but it’s safe to figure that someone is stocking this hole and is willing to share it as long as you throw them back. This is the upper part of Bull creek. Have fun!

[Buckshotdad1960]

Thanks Nathan RN,

You’re my only friend! LOL

3lbs sounds good! Still small enough to keep alive and transport to the pond and yet big enough to start working on eating up some of those little Blue gills and green sunfish. I had heard there where some big Flatheads caught there years ago but like all spots that the public can get to in heavy numbers, not much is left to be caught. So congratulations on your catch! I have already made up my mind to give the area a look over next summer and see if I can talk one or two of them into coming home with me. Thank you for the tip. Now here’s a tip for you. Catfish have the best smell receptacles of any fish that swims. Having skin rather than scales allows it to have smell receptacles all over its body including on its tail. Yes, a catfish can literally smell with its tail. Use your worms to catch a small pumpkinseed or blue gill then cut it in half or in chunks and use it instead. Fish it for 15 minutes then put on a fresh piece. Make your cast to the calmer water just below the swift water of a riffle area. Keep a tight line. (no slack) Be patient! Also switch over to Kale hooks, match the hook to the size of fish you’re going after. Kale hooks will hook the catfish in the corner of his mouth almost every time. Leave that hook exposed, don’t hide the hook in the bait. Never use treble hooks, a big fish can roll them in their mouth and spit them out even with tension on the line. Keep some needle nose pliers handy. Let me know what you find. Good luck and thank you.

[smallmouthjoe]

Thanks smallmouthjoe,

You’re my only friend! LOL

The flatheads are there. The question is how far do they extend up the James? My guess is all the way up to the darn at Springfield Lake. Flatheads like channel cats are fish of rivers and live in the deepest holes. Perhaps my question to the people shouldn’t be where are the fish, but where are the deep holes. Of course the size of a fish will determine how deep of a hole it needs. That’s why in the summer you can find smaller fish in just about any size hole but only find the bigger ones in the biggest holes. In winter they all stack together like cord wood in the deepest holes. Now that I have a kayak I will float the James and Finley to locate these holes. Not all holes hold fish. That old saying that %10 of the lake holds %90 of the fish and %90 of the lake holds %10 of the fish is thumb guide line to go by but I believe it holds true on rivers as well. Locating deep holes with proof fish have been caught there can zero you in on a hot spot and eliminate a lot of dead water that you don’t have to waste your time on. But keep an eye open and if you see or hear of anything drop me a line. I would appreciate it. Now, here s a tip for you. any there is a road called W hwy. Take that road and go about five miles or so until you see a green street sign on your left that says Red Barn Bridge RD. Follow it until you cross the old red barn bridge. Park your car and go under the bridge. Go up stream until you find a small water fall about 100 yards or so up the creek. Below the falls there is a deep pool loaded with small mouth bass. Some real nice ones too! Notice the catch and release signs on the trees. I don’t know who put them there but it’s safe to figure that someone is stocking this hole and is willing to share it as long as you throw them back. This is the upper part of Bull creek. Have fun!

Thanks man, Ive been looking for access to the upper part of Bull Creek. Will I get yelled at by crazy land owners? I always have problems with that I guess because of all my tattoos and my nipple piercings.