Now that my son is getting bigger he says he wants to go night fishing. This stirs up a lot of old memories for me as a kid growing up on Lake Lewisville when Flatheads were king. I think my son is finally ready so I’m going to start getting everything I need lined up. We catch a few every year by accident but I haven’t gone out and specifically targeted them in 20 yrs. I don’t think much has changed in the world of Flathead fishing in the last 20 yrs other than now there are LED lights and head lamps instead of Kerosene lanterns and most of the Dinosaurs are all gone. Im gonna fish for em the same way I did in my 20s. Wife is leaving town May 16th so that gives me several weeks to get everything I need and get the boat ready for night fishing. I’m going to document our journey along the way and share with y’all our experience good or bad. Hopefully we can hang a few and get my son a taste of that Yella Cat Fever.

Good luck bud. I have never targeted them before and have only caught 1 in my life by accident. From what I understand its a slower paced fishing. Keep us posted.

Hasn't changed since I was a kid.However I upped my game by making slip floats out a pool noodle,small tubing and some expansion foam.......put a live 3-6" perch or shad on below it,toss it out near some underwater ledges and hang on.I weight mine down with a couple ounces of lead and have used more on bigger baitfish.Usually set them from 6 to maybe 14' depending on location.


Good Luck

Thanks guys. I used to use the slip bobber rig up around the log jams during the afternoon and as the sun started to go down I would move to the shallow creek flat just above a deep hole with timber in it. We always did best in May when there was a little current so hopefully I can make it happen.

We used seining net floats as our bobbers back then because big bobbers were hard to get. I like the pool float slip bobber idea. Jam a light stick in it and fish it along side my tight lines at night. Thanks Whistlebritches I will look for some that are pre-fabbed and report back. Surely somebody is selling them in 2021. I plan on looking at what’s out there this eve and buy what I need.. Only things I require are big floats and some extra LED lighting and I will be good to go.

I appreciate the suggestions fellas. Keep em coming!

I ordered the last set of Muddy River Catfish floats off Amazon. They even have a hole to jam a light stick. Be here tomorrow. Gotta love Amazon Prime.

Pool noodle bobbers from Muddy River Catfishing...

https://www.muddyrivercatfishing.com/store/Muddy-River-Catfishing-Bobbers-XL-p196201971

Those giant Flatheads are what gave me the fever when my son was just a little dude. Now he's in his 30s. Time flies...
Good luck Chris. I am looking forward to seeing this story unfold...

Thanks Tim. I got a set of those floats on the way amigo! I think a lot of guys first experience with a big catfish was a Flathead. I’m gonna document the entire experience from getting equipped to picking my spots on the topo map where I want to go scout. Hopefully I can get some good stuff on video so me and my son can look back at it someday and reminisce. All I have are old Polaroids but my son will have high def ultra 4K.

Someone said they are better eating than blues.

We used to eat em 30 yrs ago but I’ve turned em all loose since 1995. I still remember the last one I kept was for a family fish fry. I told my Dad you better enjoy it cuz I’m Catch and Release on all big fish from here on out and I stuck to it. I’m teaching my son the same. I have a Polaroid of that fish from 1995 at home in a drawer somewhere I’m gonna dig up when I get home. I can’t wait to call my dad and ask him if he remembers that. If we catch a dinosaur you can bet the house it’s going back into the lake...

funny you mention it. I've been catfishing "hard" for 13 years. I've never targeted flatheads, and...... never caught one til last Saturday. it was just a lucky catch on cut shad during the daytime. 35# and an awesome fight for the 9 year old kid who hauled it in.

I filleted it because I've always read (mostly on here) about how much "better" a big flathead tasted than a regular blue or channel. well, I couldnt tell the difference. still tasted great, but not "better" to me, and my wife +kids all agreed.

As such, me and mine have agreed that we'd release any more we catch because it truly is a unique/special experience to catch one. I'm not judging anyone else who keeps one.

good luck in your pursuit!

It feels really good to let one go especially when you know it took 25-30 yrs to get that big. This is the last time I kept a big fish. Photo is Circa 1995.

I usually keep one big blue a year,38lb'r back in February(big male)and release all flat heads regardless of size.But I don't judge

We teach the importance of Trophy Catfish Conservation on our boat and have pledged to practice CPR of all catfish over 10 lbs.

Chris,

You need to take a gander at my Catfish Calendar, as to Yellows. The YC days are YellowCat days as per the Calendar. But the full true pattern running in the background is found in my PYC days [Lynn's Personal YellowCat days) , because I bumped into the pattern back in 1981. And I finally realized that it is constant, so that is why I list both now. It does not matter if you run set lines, or R-n-R. But be sure & read my tips in the KEY.

Currently, some who use the PYC & the YC days for set lines, are also using them for R-n-R. One bass fisherman who likes to catch Yellows comes over to the Catfish Calendar for that reason. I know of one who uses the calendar & PYC days on Lake Conroe with R-n-R with a spoon. He noted he quit wasting time during other days.

My two prize Catfish Calendar students there at Running Branch on Lake Limestone, had never caught a Yellow before. After finally listening to my YC advice & the calendar, they caught their first 4 in 30 days. The 3rd was a 30+ on a jug. Their 4th was a 62.4# Op on a trotline. From there, they caught YellowCat fever. I was proud of them. As i am of everybody who finally takes the calendar & applies it.

Anyways I wish you & your son the best in going for Yellows! Just be sure he knows what to expect when a big Yellow dives. It can take you overboard unless prepared.