Was fishing for crappie today on lake Proctor and with it being such a light winter i decided to try some brush piles in about 3 1/2 ft of water. Instead of Crappie i hooked into a 20 pound Flathead. I played with him for a min but he snapped my 6 lb test with ease. My question is what was this big of a fish doing in such shallow water this early? Is it possible he has a hole in that area? Is anyone else catching them that shallow?

I caught one really shallow Christmas week. You can only pattern fish to an extent. There is always going to be a couple of those suckers that are caught in a place where they aren't SUPPOSED to be.

Warm sunny days will warm shallow mud flats and rocks bringing bait and fish shallow. On the days where the shallows are warmer you'll catch plenty of cats, bass, etc...crappie not so much because of their sensitive eyes

Eric

Shallow water was warmer with the crazy winter we have been having. From everything I've read they will remain active & feeding as long as the water temp. Is above 50 degrees.

The recent rains have move allot of "food" out of the creeks into the main lake bringing allot of fish into pockets to feed.

Thanks for the info guys!! After that encounter i'm bringing the heavy tackle out!

years ago had relative catch a 25lber on a cane pole while bream fishing. You just never know the Flattys

Brush-Pile/Anydepth/Crappie=
Yellowcats.

that flathead was fishing for crappie also..i have caught alot of fish up to 50lbs in water that would not go above my knees

Some flatheads start their spawn in late January and head for shallow water. When I target these from Jan through mid-April, it's always in 3-5 fow against shoreline structure. Boat ramps are prime areas.

Spooley that is what i initially thought was this guy is trying to spawn. Im going to head out Sunday and hopefully catch some bait and try in that area again.