I love flatheads but man are they hard to find and catch in my lake. An elderly gentleman that constantly fishes for them says big shad are the best bait. He jug fishes for them. I would think if you are casting a rod out you would want a harder fish such as goldfish or perch so they have a better chance of staying on the hook. If you can gently place the bait out with your cast or juglines, shad probably is the best option..... just my two cents.

Live sunfish. Bluegill etc!

Live bait. Spring time when they're wakin up, they'll eat FRESH cut bait. Big slabs of shad have worked for me. If i'm targeting them, I'll have one or two with that presentation out there. Big Shad, and Green Sunfish are my go-to's. Below that is kind of wash of whatever you catch in your net. Bluegills are good but don't live as long as the greenies for some reason. Flatheads just like them better. Idk why, I'm not a biologist. I've caught them on small buffalo and Drum also. I've heard that they really like Yellow Bass too. I wouldn't know personally because that's a no no. This is all river fishing. I don't really try to target them in lakes other than tossin a couple LB's out while catchin blues.

A while back I caught a green sunfish and I thought it was a crappie. Do the two resemble each other? Had vertical stripes on it. Catching sunfish won't be hard this time of year as they are on the banks. Are you guys using circle hooks under the top fin? Any weight?

Green Sunfish are sleaker than a blugill, with a bigger mouth. My fav Flathead hooks hands down are- Gamakatsu Oct Cirlce in 8/0 and Team Catfish Mighty Wide in 9/0. Shad through the nose and everything else in the back 2/3ish toward the tail.

Thanks!