Big Flathead(s)

[waterpossum]

A friend was by Buds Baits in Carthage today and saw a picture of a very recent Flathead catfish out of Ft. Scott Lake that weighed 86 lbs and the owner said a 76 lber. had been reported caught at Stockton. Anybody still fishing exclusively for flatheads on Stockton???

[slab slinger]

I use to limb line the rivers and trot line the lake but never broke 50lbs on flats outta Stockton. Not saying they arnt in there and maybe in Good numbers. I don't know. Have seen several 30 to 50 pounders taken from Stockton so there's gotta be some real giants in the lake also. That's a fish of a life time where ever your from. Congrats to him.

Haven't done much rod and reel fishing for big flathead at Stockton it takes a big bait, big equiptment, and alot of patients fishing for trophy flathead. You are pretty much fishing for one bite all night and it may or may not happen.

Have had good sucess rod and reeling big flats at Truman in the Osage River but it's pretty much a one Big fish per night thing. Flatheads are real territorial fish and if they can't eat it they will run it off. So if you catch a big one it's time to relocate. Think of it as one fish per log jam or log littered river bend.

Good luck if you chase the giants and please post pics of them. I have a solft spot for giant Flatheads.

[slab slinger]

Big black perch and Bull heads are my fav big flathead baits.

[waterpossum]

I use to limb line the rivers and trot line the lake but never broke 50lbs on flats outta Stockton. Not saying they arnt in there and maybe in Good numbers. I don't know. Have seen several 30 to 50 pounders taken from Stockton so there's gotta be some real giants in the lake also. That's a fish of a life time where ever your from. Congrats to him.

Haven't done much rod and reel fishing for big flathead at Stockton it takes a big bait, big equiptment, and alot of patients fishing for trophy flathead. You are pretty much fishing for one bite all night and it may or may not happen.

Have had good sucess rod and reeling big flats at Truman in the Osage River but it's pretty much a one Big fish per night thing. Flatheads are real territorial fish and if they can't eat it they will run it off. So if you catch a big one it's time to relocate. Think of it as one fish per log jam or log littered river bend.

Good luck if you chase the giants and please post pics of them. I have a solft spot for giant Flatheads.

I have never really fished for them. I've caught a few by accident over the years. I would never keep a big one, but am intrigued that apparently there is possibly some big ones still around. I think there is still a few old timers up around Taberville that still catch some every year. Your right, black perch is the bait of choice for most people

[straw hat]

I use to fish for them with rod and reel on Stockton. I did day time fishing only as I figured once God turned out the lights it was time for bed. lol

I used mostly live bluegill or big shiners. My best was a 35 lber. Not bad for day time.

[Walcrabass]

Here is a fish story for you Flathead guys. ( I am one of you ). Bud Leeson was running a line on the Osage and was trying to pull in an enormous Flathead. After figuring out how he wanted to put it in the boat he began pulling it to the surface. Upon getting it to the top and before he could get a gaff in the jaw it pulled off. Bud said it might have been an 80 pounder or more.When he pulled in the line it had about a 7.5 pound channel cat that was swallowed about half way. The digestive juices had pretty much bleached the skin and he tool a picture of it. It was pretty amazing. Some time after that I read where catfish were one of the favorite things for big catfish to eat. That is when I started using bullheads for bait. I cut off the pectoral fins with side cutters and hook them under the dorsal fin. They live forever on a trotline. Catch some big cats too.

Nothing better than Flathead steaks fried in a skillet. Let them cool and put in the refrigerater for 24 hours. Then bake them in the oven. Knockout delicious !!!!! Making me hungry.!!!!!!!

[waterpossum]

From all I can gather this is about the time of year that they start spawning. Used to see a lot of heads on the fence posts when you turn on RA to Cedar Ridge. I guess whoever was catching them is no longer around.