Flatheads ?

[mazola]

I have been fishing Stockton for a few years now and have yet to catch a single flathead. I have used everything from liver to live finger size perch. I always catch channels and a few blue and they are most always keepers. I mainly fish mutton creek area and surrounding, dont have trouble finding fish.....just no flatheads. Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

[straw hat]

Your question breaks my heart. lol July is the best month for flatheads and my wives car is in the garage, on top of that it is hotter than ... well its real hot. They are just finishing their spawn right now and there will still be a few up shallow(less than 10'). The rest will be running a little deeper and holding tight to cover during the day, especially on deep rocky banks. With this heat your best chance is at night. They will come up shallow and runn the banks looking for food. Most people use small perch on limb lines or trotlines. I like using large shiners. Are you day fishing?

[mazola]

I usually fish for cats at night. I have run jugs a few times and had some luck. I just have yet to catch a single flathead. I guess the channels must be the dominate species on the lake?

[straw hat]

Absolutely, a LOT more channels than flatheads. And flatheads are solitary fish who feed only on live bait. I really feel like they prefer soft finned bait like shiners or goldfish compared to perch but that is just me. Concentrate on the bank edges and use live bait and it is just a matter of time. Good luck.

[Walcrabass]

Mazola/ Straw Hat,

Nice to hear that someone is still interested in Flatheads.Many years ago I hunted for them with a passion at Stockton Lake.The last time I fished for them was about 5 years ago and our biggest one that weekend was pictured at Mutton Creek Marina for a long time. Look for long sloping Gravel points with standing Timber.River and Creek arms were always best for me. Towards the dam from CC about 2-4 miles is a good area. This time of year they should be between 15 and 30 foot deep. String your trotline from tree to tree in the direction of the slope. Tie under the water to a tree and go straight down to a large weight. Take the line to the other tree, pull tight, tie on another large weight and come straight up the tree with your line and tie under the water again. By tieing under the water you eliminate a lot of thieves to your catch and also a lot of Bass fishermen cutting your line. I never put more than 5 hooks on a line. If you catch two or three at the same time you'll understand why. Use a gaff to bring up the line and a shorter gaff to bring the line and hooks to the boat. With 30 and 40 pound fish they can run a hook in your hand and literally pull you to a watery grave. My favorite bait was what we called Black Perch. They have a bigger mouth and usually a yellowish belly with tiny black spots. Remember that a Flathead is a huge predator and they seldom bite anything dead. Tie a loop in the line with a huge brass swivel where you want a hook. Set the line about 3 feet from the bottom. Remember that a Flatheads eyes look upward and they literally have "Trails" they travel close to the bottom. They will die quickly on the lines this time of year so be sure to run them every evening and morning. One other thing. If you can keep them alive in a stock tank or something for about a week they will taste better. Hang them up by their heads and cut the tails to let all the blood drain. Good Luck and enjoy those Catfish steaks.

[straw hat]

Great info walcrabass. It gets my catfish fever up!1 The weatherman says there is a chance that this heat wave will end toward the middle of NEXT week. Maybe I can get a trip in then.

[mazola]

Thanks for all the input. I will keep on tryin the live bait and try some different locations. If I dont get any flatties at least theres all them hungry channels that like me.