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62 pounder

5K views 22 replies 18 participants last post by  coonskinner 
#1 ·
Got this big male on bluegill
last night. Old fiberglass rod
and Penn 209.



Released him to grow and fight again.

 
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#20 ·
tcountyhunter

I catch my trophy flathead from lakes. I work hard dispelling
long held myths about flathead catfish.

One hard a fast rule our bunch has is that a fish weighs nothing
until it is on a good scale. We don't trust calculations or guesses
of a flatheads weight. Any fish that gets away cannot be weighed.
Logs and rocks are heavy but WAG at a catfish you never saw?

We pay no attention to the diver at the dam story:whistle:

Any fish story about an uncles brothers grampa's fish caught 80
years ago are also held with a lot of suspicion.

Big catfish always staying in deep water is also a myth. Anyone
who takes the time to study about the thermocline can quickly
dismiss any fish surviving below the thermocline.

Catfish loving stink baits are a bit of a misconception. Mature
channel cats and flathead over 4 pounds prefer lively live baitfish.
There may be exceptions to this but for the most part the larger
cats want protien (meat) to sustain weight and grow.

I am no longer impressed by how large or shiny a mans rod and reel
are or how big his line and hooks are. I and my friends landing
flathead over 60 pounds with 36# braid and 5/0 kahle hooks. A
teenage girl landed a 35 with one of my Abu 6500 and 20# mono
with a 1/0 hook!



Keeping drags set correctly, line fresh, hooks sharp, and staying calm
lands more fish than oversized tackle.

Moon phase and dog days have no effect on if flathead will bite or
not. Changes in water temperature and aeration along with
barometric pressure seem to have major effects on when they feed.
I have worked at finding triggers for 30 years and still don't have
it figured out with any consistency.

I think I have proven over the years that flathead in lakes grow
larger. They have a more stable environment with areas they can
move to keep from being stressed during high and low
water temperatures. Their food supply is consistently more stable
and large water buffers any polution or runoff effects.

Hooks being straightned out are also viewed suspiciously. I ask the
boyz to put their hooks in a vise and try to bend them using the rod
and reel. According to my knowledge of tensile strength, steel should
be stronger than drag pressure, fiberglass strength, or any fishing line.

Sorry that I am so suspicious but I work hard to catch large fish and
weigh them honestly. I am fine with someone who tells me they
have a "story" that everyone understands is probably ficticious. But
many tales pass my ears just as ghosts or bigfoots stories.
 
#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
tcountyhunter

I catch my trophy flathead from lakes. I work hard dispelling
long held myths about flathead catfish.

One hard a fast rule our bunch has is that a fish weighs nothing
until it is on a good scale. We don't trust calculations or guesses
of a flatheads weight. Any fish that gets away cannot be weighed.
Logs and rocks are heavy but WAG at a catfish you never saw?

We pay no attention to the diver at the dam story:whistle:

Any fish story about an uncles brothers grampa's fish caught 80
years ago are also held with a lot of suspicion.

Big catfish always staying in deep water is also a myth. Anyone
who takes the time to study about the thermocline can quickly
dismiss any fish surviving below the thermocline.

Catfish loving stink baits are a bit of a misconception. Mature
channel cats and flathead over 4 pounds prefer lively live baitfish.
There may be exceptions to this but for the most part the larger
cats want protien (meat) to sustain weight and grow.

I am no longer impressed by how large or shiny a mans rod and reel
are or how big his line and hooks are. I and my friends landing
flathead over 60 pounds with 36# braid and 5/0 kahle hooks. A
teenage girl landed a 35 with one of my Abu 6500 and 20# mono
with a 1/0 hook!



Keeping drags set correctly, line fresh, hooks sharp, and staying calm
lands more fish than oversized tackle.

Moon phase and dog days have no effect on if flathead will bite or
not. Changes in water temperature and aeration along with
barometric pressure seem to have major effects on when they feed.
I have worked at finding triggers for 30 years and still don't have
it figured out with any consistency.

I think I have proven over the years that flathead in lakes grow
larger. They have a more stable environment with areas they can
move to keep from being stressed during high and low
water temperatures. Their food supply is consistently more stable
and large water buffers any polution or runoff effects.

Hooks being straightned out are also viewed suspiciously. I ask the
boyz to put their hooks in a vise and try to bend them using the rod
and reel. According to my knowledge of tensile strength, steel should
be stronger than drag pressure, fiberglass strength, or any fishing line.

Sorry that I am so suspicious but I work hard to catch large fish and
weigh them honestly. I am fine with someone who tells me they
have a "story" that everyone understands is probably ficticious. But
many tales pass my ears just as ghosts or bigfoots stories.
i can appreciate a guy telling it as it is...:biggrin:whats your biggest flathead to date...channel...blue...
 
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