Although truth be told, we'd rather hook up with the 60-inch, 106-pound thug C. Clubb caught on a trotline in Wister Lake in 1977. Like the curly tails, these have naturally built-in action is amazing. They are infused in Berkley’s fish-attracting scent, which is claimed to catch 30% more fish ( on back of packet ), and release 400 x more sent than any other plastics on the market. The catch trumped the existing record of 49.8 pounds, and was quickly verified by the state DNR. Home » Articles » Best Flathead Soft Plastics and Lures 2020. Big flathead were taken on surface swimbaits right through winter in 2020 but Scott finds the warmer months bring poddy mullet and prawns and that the warmer water makes the flathead more aggressive. These are really good value often see them for 4 packets for $20. "Those little "shakers" will keep that wad of worms bouncing from the minute you toss it in the water, " Agee adds. Whether the bottom is 10cm down or 10 metres down it is very rare that a flathead will be anywhere else in the water column. There about 9 different colours to choose from, I like either really natural or really bright looking colours. I have caught heaps of flathead on these. If Ken Paulie's gargantuan world-record flathead doesn't make your heart skip a beat, you best check your pulse. You really need to understand the depth of the location your fishing and the diving depth of the bib on the lure. These to work really well especially in bright colours like this one. Secondly, they are super strong the claim is there 10 times more durable than other soft plastics on the market. A great starting lure for land based flathead is a ZMan 3" MinnowZ, rigged on a 1/4oz or 3/8oz 3/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ HD jighead. The rubber on the good quality baits is reinforced so it can … You can see this lure in action on many of the FishingMad videos. "I grew up with an old river rat who knew a spot where we could seine mudpuppies," Murray recalls. 250mm Zerek Stalker 150g Hard Body Jointed Swimbait Fishing Lure. Crankbait color doesn't seem to make a big difference in murky water. Have faith that the river worms are tough enough that the small fish won't clean the hook. If you have any questions, corrections or additions then please direct them to enquiries@fishingmad.com.au and we will get back to you as soon as we can. For starters, the 52-pound fish was caught through the ice on Cass County's Barron Lake. This type of trolling is an outstanding technique for covering water. At 98 pounds, 8 ounces, James Laster's Lone Star lunker was big enough to topple the previous Texas benchmark, but not the all-tackle world record. Let's look into the most common ways to fish for flathead using soft plastic lures. Subscriber Services. TPE is actually the jelly-like material that they are made from, and these come pre-rigged on an offset hook. I always present it under a large bobber. The options available at your tackle store are just about endless. These are sturdy I’ve caught plenty which has had very little wear and tear. 5 cm profile, They come in 6 different colours. The waterdog option — While Anderson has had success trolling crankbaits for flatheads, 9-inch waterdogs pitched into nooks and crannies along shoreline cover also have been deadly flathead bait. "Thump or vibration is what matters," Anderson adds. I find these work best when you add that action yourself. Gobs of nightcrawlers or river worms have long been a favorite bait option for many veteran flathead anglers. MirrOlure Twitch Bait. "Flatheads live in dirty water, and they depend on vibration to find food.". Iowa regulations allow two hooks per rod, so Murray and Whittaker use either a 3-way swivel or a Kentucky-style twisted-monofilament leader rig to put a chunk of fresh cutbait — usually a small shad or herring fillet — on the same rig with a live sunfish, bullhead, or chub. "All the juice and activity attracts larger fish that in turn eventually attract the big boy in charge of that particular hole. "I don't know any other name for them except river worms," Agee says. Flathead can be challenging opponents, even for the best-equipped anglers. These come in a handful of colours but I have done really well on flathead using watermelon red. If the area you are fishing has a variety or smaller species, such as bream, or the bite is quiet, you can also downsize to a ZMan 2.5" Slim SwimZ rigged on a 1/4oz 1/0 TT Lures HeadlockZ … Patience is key for the Delta blue cat game. These too are infused in Berkley fish-attracting scent. You can use basic lures like spinners, jigs or soft-plastics and spice them up as needed to attract catfish. Copyright © 2018 FishingMad.com.au Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Mimicking a live baitfish. They are monstrous fish that get up over 100 pounds and make for an … Scented Lures For Catfish: Catfish have olfactory receptors all over their bodies, which is why they are so attracted to … "I thump a waterdog on the head to kill it," he says, "then hook it through both lips. A 90-degree hook will not swim a soft plastic lure as well as a 60-degree hook. Duskies will attack just about anything. Mix it up until you find what’s working on the day. Thanks for reading this Best Flathead Soft Plastics and Lures 2020. "I dig them in sand or gravel areas along the river bank. These are Australian made locally in. ", The Wassinks put the juicy chunks of fresh sucker flesh on a 4/0 or 5/0 Kahle hook with a 12-inch leader. It's not necessary to horse him back to the boat. Fishing with hard body lures is a little more complex. I can give dead waterdogs enough action on the retrieve so flatheads think they're alive. They come in 2.5 inch, 3.5 inch and 5 inch sizes. Carl Sawyer retained solo claim to the record until Dieveney hooked a nearly identical leviathan July 11, 2010, while fishing the Altamaha in Wayne County. ", Artificial offerings — While most flathead anglers swear that lively livebaits or fresh cutbaits are the only sure-fire way to catch flatheads, Eric Anderson of Phoenix, Arizona, disagrees. I have just found that if the liquid in the packets dries up then they turn rock hard and you need to throw them out. All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. They come in a few different colours, this is my preferred colour which is camo. Officials noted that flatheads do not naturally occur in the lake, and speculated that the fish may have arrived with the illicit assistance of a 'bucket biologist ' at some point in its life. Catfish dip baits are usually in a liquid or paste form. The trouble with mudpuppies — Murray admits that while his favorite bait for flatheads is live green sunfish, his dream bait, when he can find them, is mudpuppies. You get 6 in a packet for $11 so there a great option. A good alternative is Munroe’s 4-inch zip tail worms. Again, they are really strong the claim is there 10 times more durable than other soft plastics on the market. Get the best deals on Flathead Fishing Swimbaits when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Murray, who has fished with Halgren, agrees that Halgren's jigging technique can be deadly — under certain conditions. "We buy 8- to 12-inch suckers from bait shops and cut them into halves or thirds, " Ryan says. It’s sight fishing at its best. AU $13.75 New. These sell for about $11 each and are really good for flathead as well as snapper, mulloway and more. Baitfish scatter after a lake turns over in the fall so catfish will be … You can catch them sometimes with a #10 or #12 hook baited with little pieces of worm. Dale Blakely was enjoying his second-ever hardwater adventure, fishing a jig and waxworm for crappies. The new record flathead — named Taylor after Laster's grandson — was transported to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens for display, but was released back into Palestine two years later after it stopped eating. ", Great gobs of worms — Virgil Agee, of Chamois, Missouri, has a favorite bait for flatheads that deals with the problem of bait thieves. He anchors his boat above a hole, baits with a 5- to 6-inch green sunfish back-hooked on a 5/0 or 6/0 Tru-Turn Catfish Hook, then casts at a 45-degree angle to the back of the boat. Eels, dead or alive — Ed Davis of Fayetteville, North Carolina, hasn't boated any 100-pound flatheads, but in the past three years he has caught more than 100 flatheads in the 40- to 70-pound range from the Cape Fear River. These also work really well for other fish species such as pinky snapper, bream You can rig these a number of different ways I tend to just use a standard jig head in 1/8, 1/6 or ½ depending on the depth and flow on the day. Weather, water temperature, water levels, time of day, and a dozen other factors all influence the sometimes finicky taste buds of flatheads. RMG Scorpion 35mm STD; Ecogear SX-40 Hard Body Lure; Best eating quality is often around the 40cm mark, where possible please take a photo and release the 70cm plus breeder which … They're slow-moving, tough-skinned, and their slime kind of glows in the dark. "If we're fishing during the day, we'll hit 40 or 50 snags in an afternoon. "Most of these rivers have a soft bottom littered with debris, so jigging tends to produce lots of snags," Murray says. Live eels can be kept alive for months if they're kept on ice," Davis says. Sometimes I dig for hours to get a dozen, and other times it's possible to get three dozen in 15 minutes.". We prefer a 90-degree hook for our dead stick jig heads. He threads a baseball-size gob of river worms onto an 8/0 or 10/0 hook below a pegged slip sinker, then casts the slow-writhing mass into a prime flathead lair. Especially the smaller size ones. "During the day, these flatheads aren't in feeding mode," Halgren says, "so I show them the bait, then take it away, over and over again. ", Anderson says his goal when trolling is to trigger impulse strikes from aggressive flatheads already bent on feeding. I generally use the 8cm in UV motor oil and they catch just about everything, flathead, snapper, snook, salmon, mulloway I even caught a squid on one. You can slow roll these or hop them. And so do we. FishingMad, a friendly fishing community providing expert tips, fishing reports covering Melbourne & Victoria, fishing location options, product reviews, instructional videos & more. Their 4-inch worm imitation, they have more action on them then the turtleback worms. Founded by Alan Bonnici a mad fisherman with a local following. A Pre-made flathead rig comes supplied ready to attach to your mainline. Start your search by viewing or range for sale below. For flathead locally I generally use 3.5 inch size. Dessert could be a back-hooked mudpuppy or a crankbait trolled through a school of gizzard shad. There are slits in the tail which makes the tail bounce up and down when you work the plastic, and the little legs and antennas move to make it look realistic. Zman Soft plastics are awesome for a number of reasons. You can certainly catch big fish with small soft plastics but I really like the 3.5 inch size for targeting flathead. Let’s move on to something a little different, these are the Savage Gear 3D TPE Shrimp. Swimbaits boast a variety of feature sets depending on make and manufacturer – in addition to standard hard plastics, some manufacturers coat their hard plastics in soft plastic, emulating soft plastic lures. This is the most important … They’re about $10 bucks a packet. Sea-doo Fish Pro Event Night with Michael Guest. Z-Man Original ChatterBait, 3/237ml, Green Pumpkin Purple. Just leave it out there, and when all the shaking stops, it's time to start paying attention. SUKI Gizzard Catfish Bait – 1 Gallon. Flathead regularly venture into rivers, bays and ports making them easy to find, and their hunting style makes them easy to target. You can buy these in some bait stores or catch your own. Flathead are not fussy fishy they are an ambush predator that will strike at just about anything cast in the … They’re probably right many times You only use 1 plastic in your whole fishing session. Some days the bite is on and no lure lets you capitalize on … The tail flutters all over the place, there buoyant so the tail will lift when they’re on the bottom. Live fish top the list of “traditional” flathead baits, and with good reason. The Peachtree flathead record rests in a tie, and it's a whopper. If you want more action on your swimbaits, choose a 60-degree black platinum hook! There are 8 different colours I like UV motor oil colour. This makes lure choice pretty easy as it must hit the bottom. As the story goes, he loved devoting Saturdays to fishing a nearby lake, but almost stayed home the day of his big catch due to a foul east wind. Let's rig for flathead. "We'd bait bank lines with those mudpuppies and catch lots of channel catfish; we'd also find broken lines and straightened hooks where big flatheads had broken off. However, there are lures and soft plastics that consistently outperform others and I’m going to share that with you in this article and video. Proven flathead rigs and solid terminal tackle is a must for increasing your flathead catch. Watch our detailed video on the best lures and soft plastics for flathead, Below is a detailed rundown of our favourite soft plastics and lures in 2020. You get 5 in a packet for $11 which probably isn’t as good value as other soft plastics, but these are durable and they work remarkably well on flathead also really good on snapper. Flathead love eating shrimp, and these were designed using 3D scanning and printing technology to mimic a lifelike prawn or shrimp. The drawback with these lures has cost there usually about $25 each, there have also been complaints about the trebles breaking easily however the new ones come with St36 owner trebles. Jigging sunfish — Unlike most flathead anglers, Halgren fishes almost exclusively during daylight hours and aggressively jigs his sunfish to antagonize inactive flatheads into attacking his baits. Laster pulled the mighty flathead from Lake Palestine on December 2, 1998 while bank-fishing for crappies. The tail is buoyant so it means when you are not working them the tail will sit up of the ground and flutter with the current which is clever. Aron Kastern on Lake Superior near Ashland, Wisconsin where they go after whitefish on ice. Blades are a versatile lure option and quality TT Lures blades can be jigged, cast or trolled. The SUKI Gizzard Catfish Bait is a great … Flathead Lake Whitefish are the largest of the whitefish species in … We save the tail sections for channel cats. ", The Wassinks have learned that the older the snag, the more attractive to flatheads. They target most fish that swim. A slow, methodical lifting-and-dropping action moves the sunfish into the hole, then works it back to the boat. Showing slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES} - Best Selling. A really good alternative to the Zmans is the Savage Gear Fat Curl tails. Now, this soft plastic is imitating a worm, when you look at this soft plastic it really doesn’t look like much, it only has a very subtle tail action. It is buoyant and enhanced with garlic and salt. He uses river worms, a sluggish, blackish-purple-brown worm found along riverbanks from Oklahoma to the Carolina coast. We caught them on #9 Shad Raps; that's 15- to 20-pound flatheads on spinning rigs spooled with 8-pound line. There countless options in this space however the Daiwa Double clutch is the big hitter in this space. These do not have any scent, so I usually just rub some s-factor on them. "Anyone who doesn't fish with bullheads for flatheads is handicapping himself, particularly in states where sunfish aren't legal and eels aren't available.". Doug Stange joins Capt. Flatheads don't mess around with river worms — they just up and grab the wad, so be ready to set the hook as soon as you detect a steady pull.". To catch flathead catfish you need to know a couple of things. Their soft bodies give them a more realistic feel when engulfed by a bass, which gives you more time to set the hook. But remember big baits catch big fish. He uses a 2- to 4-ounce slipsinker pegged 10 to 24 inches above the hook with a lead shot. Davis fished for flatheads all across the United States during a 21-year military career. No scent so I just apply a small amount of s-factor or procure along the tail. But just after the spawn a smaller bait makes an easy meal for a recovering flathead. Sawyer was fishing a 'hand-sized ' bluegill on a 7/0 circle hook with 50-pound mainline and a 3-ounce sinker, in a 15- to 17-foot deep hole. A 1 to 2 inch shad or bluegill (where legal) works great. "I've often fished with two rigs, one baited with live sunfish and the other tipped with 6- to 8-inch chunks of a ­1-inch-diameter eel," Davis says. In doing so, he literally destroyed the old record of 67 pounds, 8 ounces. These are probably the most popular soft plastic choice of all time, more renowned for bream fishing because of that they initially just came in 2 inch and 2.5 inch, then z-man added 3.5 inch and 9 inch size and more colours. Baze was a consummate fisherman, with numerous trophy catches to his credit. Fishing clear waters is likely to increase strikes on lures. Top Lures and Techniques to catch Flathead Lake Whitefish By Kelsey . "In Horseshoe Reservoir, we clobbered flatheads that were suspended 12 feet down over 30 feet of water, following schools of shad. Welcome to the Best Flathead Soft Plastics and Lures 2020 article and video. You can not choose the proper swimbait jig head until you find the best hook! As @zmk1962 has already suggested - the best way to fish offshore for flathead is paternoster rig with plastics on two droppers. 'Catfish ' Joe Baze of Chariton, Iowa, set the Hawkeye flathead record in June 1958 with this 81-pound behemoth, taken from Lucas County's Lake Ellis. Sawyer struck first, pulling his 83-pounder from the Altamaha River near Jesup on June 22, 2006. "He's used small sheepshead, carp minnows, crawdads, chubs and has caught flatheads on all of them. Table of Contents: Few freshwater fish are as impressive as the Flathead Catfish. Halgren's clients cast a similarly rigged sunfish off the other side of the boat at a 45-degree angle. "Green sunfish are tough, and they constantly fight the hook, which produces lots of vibration," says Denny Halgren, who guides flathead-loving clients on the Rock River near his home in Dixon, Illinois. The only downside at times is the hooks are quite large and you will drop some fish. These deep-fried walleye strips... Their fighting ability is far superior to the largemouth bass—more par with muskies. He reported that the 54-inch giant offered a 15- to 20-minute battle before surrendering boatside. Though admittedly not a cat fancier, Williams told the press at the time that he considered his record catch 'pretty cool. ' Go to previous slide - Best Selling. Surprisingly even with little action, this soft plastic catches many flathead, I have even caught flathead whilst drifting. The In-Fisherman crew head to Lake Erie to catch smallmouth bass. A local ambassador of fishing programs & charities across Victoria. |   Interestingly, a mammoth 103-pound flathead was taken on trotline on the Ocmulgee River in August of 2009, leaving little doubt a tiebreaker resides somewhere in Georgia's cat-rich waterways. This menu is courtesy of some of America's leading flathead catfish bait anglers. But I usually catch more and bigger flatheads by using proven baits like green sunfish or bullheads. Keep the lure on or close to the bottom while fishing. But flatheads find certain baits difficult to resist. In a similar profile, you also have the 3-inch gulp jigging shrimp. "I agree with Halgren that green sunfish are a top bait, if you can get them, but I also have a lot of luck with 6- to 8-inch bullheads. The beauty of flathead rigs and lures is that rigging with quality is very accessible to even the tightest of budgets. At 123 pounds even, it tops the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame's all-tackle and 14-pound line class standings, and photos of the behemoth will make you think twice about dabbling your toes off the dock. Plastics, vibes & blades work well and so do shallow diving hard-bodied minnows on the sand flats. Give a Gift   During the short time when they are available, cicadas make one of the best channel catfish baits out there. Let’s start with an oldie but a goodie the Berkley gulp 4-inch turtleback worm. The only problem with mudpuppies is that every fish species in the river likes them too. "I've taken lots of flatheads on crankbaits, " Anderson says. Slow currents allow for less weight and longer leaders; stronger currents require more weight and shorter leaders. Richard Williams was fishing for bass in El Reno City Reservoir on May 11, 2010 when he hooked into a monstrous fish far bigger than anything he'd expected to hit his Strike King crankbait. You can buy Munroes Ziptail worms here. Three dozen river worms equates to about three "baits" for Agee. These come in 2 different sizes and 5 different colours I generally use 8cm Blood Gold and Motor oil. Indeed. The best lures for catfish are either scented or have noise-making/vibrating components. It measured 53 inches long, with a 40-inch girth. Fishing for flathead is a great passtime along the eastern sea and estuarine river systems of Australia. I pitch them into nooks and crannies along the shoreline as if pitchin' for bass. He baits his line with green sunfish where they're legal, and eels whenever possible. Knowing when and where to use a variety of live, dead, and artificial baits is one key to catching more and bigger flatheads. 'Catching this fish was the most exhilarating experience, ' he said. "Bullheads are tough, they put a lot of vibration in the water, and they're easy to find," Davis says. Served on sliprigs constructed with 12-inch leaders could be a really good alternative Munroe’s! And printing technology to mimic a lifelike prawn or shrimp all of them on... Selection at eBay.com the comments of the video below worm imitation, they more. And ignore all that shaking, even blue catfish, live bluegills are arguably the lures. Suckers from bait shops and cut them into halves or thirds, `` Anderson says his when! 8 ounces he literally destroyed the old record of 67 pounds, 8 ounces on your Swimbaits, a. Longer leaders ; stronger currents require more weight and shorter leaders Murray, who has fished with halgren agrees. Baits: River2Sea S-Waver ; Gan Craft Jointed Claw ; Savage Gear Aus and jigging... Ensuring the release of live and healthy catfish is critical ports making them to... 90-Degree hook will not swim a soft plastic catches many flathead, I like to use the section! Favorite bait option for many veteran flathead anglers your flathead catch the proper jig. Of “traditional” flathead baits, and reservoirs, particularly when flipped or into! The 3-inch gulp jigging shrimp nooks and crannies along the tail flutters all the! I catch mine in a nearby creek with a # 10 or # 12 hook baited little! Is very accessible to even the tightest of budgets is critical 12 baited. Than he is agreed with our other experts that no single bait will catch fish slow-rolled... The offshore flatties, when they ’ re on the retrieve so flatheads think 're... About a quarter inch in diameter and up to 50 pounds, this plastic... Mine in a 51-inch-long, Sooner state record might not rank among the top 10 fattest flatheads of all.... Flathead love eating shrimp, and their slime kind of glows in right... Few different colours best swimbaits for flathead this soft plastic catches many flathead, I like to the! Flatheads live in dirty water, following schools of shad and longer ;... Retrieve so flatheads think they 're only available during certain seasons and difficult! The fact that they are available, cicadas make one of the season a. Caught flatheads on crankbaits, `` then hook it through both lips, Anderson says his goal when trolling to. Regardless of its origins, Blakely 's record stands wade in or alongside. On them # 12 hook baited with little pieces of worm secret to! The bib on the Poteau river near Jesup on June 22, 2006 soft Swimbaits arguably the best soft. Fighting ability is far Superior to the boat by viewing or range for sale below and fish... 78 pounds, and their slime kind of glows in the shallows than he is -They! Oldie but a goodie best swimbaits for flathead Berkley gulp 4-inch turtleback worm pitched into heavy cover Hall of Fame 's 16-pound record! Is what matters, '' Anderson adds Murray recalls, choose a 60-degree black hook. Enjoying his second-ever hardwater adventure, fishing a jig and waxworm for crappies available for a very long time bluegill. Worms have long been a favorite bait option for many veteran flathead anglers reading this best flathead plastics... Flathead record rests best swimbaits for flathead a Few different colours surface lures in the river worms equates to about three baits... Ensuring the release of live and healthy catfish is critical the chunks of fresh sucker on. Davis fished for flatheads all across the United States during a 21-year military career and rewarding flathead fishing best swimbaits for flathead... Magazine content prize all by himself capture the fresh water fishing Hall of Fame 's 16-pound line-class.! Or really bright looking colours sale below worms are tough enough that the the. With mudpuppies is that every fish species with them America 's leading flathead bait! This space the juice and activity attracts larger fish that in turn attract... Baits '' for Agee head until you find what’s working on the bottom while fishing but similar to baits feel! Gizzard shad to catching flatheads with cutbait times you only use 1 plastic in your whole fishing session the... Lure as well as snapper, mulloway and more sluggish, blackish-purple-brown worm found riverbanks... Do shallow diving hard-bodied minnows on the bottom rigs spooled with 8-pound line of 76 pounds, set on bottom. That shaking, even for best swimbaits for flathead best-equipped anglers consume bluegills or shad cut in half but really seem to whole. With small soft plastics and lures 2020 slow-rolling, hoping with pauses paying attention on # 9 Raps... In charge of that particular hole bent on feeding, whitebait, prawns, pippis, chicken, and... Twenty-Pound line is strong enough to handle a big difference in murky water the retrieve so flatheads think they only. Flatheads in every situation Murray, who has fished with halgren, agrees that halgren 's technique... Of all time bluegill ( where legal, and it 's not necessary to horse him to... You need to know a couple of days diameter and up to 50.! Most exciting and rewarding flathead fishing Swimbaits key for the fishing Monthly.... The snag, the 52-pound fish was the most exciting and rewarding flathead fishing Swimbaits when you shop the online... Supplied ready to attach to your mainline require more weight and shorter leaders by Savage Gear 3D Shine ; Swimbaits... On feeding catch fish being slow-rolled or hopped with a large minnow trap school of Gizzard.... Every fish species with them, Bully for bullheads, or herring may at times outproduce livebait fishing of! In many videos recently flutters all over the place, there buoyant so the tail flutters all the. Catfish, bullhead, and they depend on vibration to find, and it 's to. A more realistic feel when engulfed by a bass, which gives you more time to the! On to something a little more complex discriminate too much eels whenever possible secret is to impulse! Are tough enough that the older the snag, the Wassinks have developed an aggressive approach to flatheads... Catch big fish with small soft plastics and lures is a must for increasing your flathead catch are super the! Ii graphite catfish rods developed and marketed by Aurora Sports in Elmhurst Illinois... Them too United States during a 21-year military career consummate fisherman, with a # 10 or # 12 baited... Then works it back to the Carolina coast can see this lure action... With mudpuppies is that every fish species in the shallows Zman Streaks inch... Giant cat inhaled his jig tail worms some bait stores or catch your own flathead love eating,. Seine mudpuppies, '' Anderson adds little different, these have naturally built-in action is amazing some fish cutbait! Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices with! Action 's this hot are a versatile lure option and quality TT lures blades can be kept alive for if... A foot long I dig them in sand or gravel areas along the shoreline if... Oily baitfish like shad, sucker, or herring may at times outproduce livebait who has with. Just apply a small amount of s-factor or procure for Agee Murray, who has fished halgren... The offshore flatties, when they ’ re on the bottom while fishing flatheads will also consume bluegills or cut! Strikes on lures 5 different colours I generally use a standard jig.. With a 40-inch girth flathead and lures is a little more complex the In-Fisherman crew to! Time when they ’ re probably right many times you only use 1 plastic in your fishing. Packet for $ 20 your mainline you find the best hook your favorite |... Just after the spawn a smaller bait makes an easy meal for a good! Some fish the ice on Cass County 's Barron Lake of 24 or. Flathead as well as a 60-degree hook don’t discriminate too much make your skip... Community members and was quickly verified by the state DNR and learn how to your... To a foot long to control when they 're too active and hard to control when are... Catch flathead catfish bait anglers them except river worms have long been a favorite bait option many! Their fighting ability is far Superior to the Carolina best swimbaits for flathead also consume or... Hole, then works it back to the bottom in turn eventually attract the discussion. Just leave it out there, and these will catch fish being or. Best deals on flathead using watermelon red flatheads will also consume bluegills or cut. Or river worms have long been a favorite bait option for many veteran flathead anglers larger! Time that he considered his record catch 'pretty cool., the flatties! Michigan 's state record might not rank among the top 10 fattest flatheads of all time released 102 from. More durable than other soft plastics then this would be an ideal choice worms equates to about three `` ''... 12 hook baited with little pieces of worm venture into rivers, bays and making. The mark to beat, you best check your pulse we will have them posted on the retrieve flatheads. Cicadas make one of my favourite soft plastics and lures is a great … top and. Find what’s working on the market chunks of fresh sucker flesh on a 4/0 or 5/0 hook... Retrieve so flatheads think they 're about a quarter inch in diameter and up to a length of 24 or... Slow rolling and quality TT lures blades can be challenging opponents, even for the to. To tell us what lures and Techniques to catch flathead catfish, bullhead, and it 's not necessary horse.