Woodiesmacker, I'm the one that questioned your gloves because of these two sentences:

"...your gonna need some leather or deerskin gloves to grab him in the gills." followed by "...if u can, let the fish go cause a fish that big deserves to live free in that pond."

I was sharing some insight given to me several years ago by a TPW Fisheries Biologist. Back when "Catch and Release" was just starting to be whispered. He was simply laughing at the prospect of the program having any value, given what he had witnessed with guys dropping LMB's in the bottom of their carpeted boats, putting their foot on them to extract a lure, keeping them out of the water for five or ten minutes to weigh measure and photograph it....He felt that most novices who handled a fish, then released it, was performing the equivalent to tossing him in the trash can...Cause the fish is dead, even if he swims off.

I was merely saying that if you are planning on releasing any fish, be very careful gill grabbing him in the first place, and don't ever use gloves. I only use gloves if I plan on lipping a big blue. Even then you risk him developing a fungus infection around the mouth everywhere your gloves touch him.

But, since I have done like brace_seal, and gone to the lip grippers, I don't need the gloves, and try to minimize even touching any fish I plan on releasing.

There was no intent to cause you distress. I merely like to every now and then share this good piece of information I received several years ago. Because I know many people have the best of intentions, but if not done properly, it's a waste of effort and good meat.

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Mike
www.WhiskerKitty.com

Personally, I would put one of the perch under a cork with only a small split shot for weight & let him swim around.

sorry for getting guys. you are right not to handle him in the gills if you gonna release him. all fish i plan on releasing i try my best to keep them in the water (unless the hook is in there jaw bone or thick tissue). i like circle hooks and i recomended them because of the higher release rate because there less likely to be swallowed. a 1 1/2 ounce weight is ok, before you do anything cast were it looks like some structure is with just the weight, no hook, and see where the bad snags are. if you can identify it as a flat if you see it again use just sunfish as bait, about 3-4" inch ones. if its a blue then use cut shad 3-4". good luck and go catch him.

Brace dunno if this has been said but use your clicker with a perch or anytype of fishing for big yellas.
they will always pull on it two, maybe four or so times and pull out line.
It's the hardest thing to do but be patient and let him take it until he"goes on with it"
You know you got em hooked and he wasn't just sucking on the bait.
Good lUck and chasing yellas takes alot of patience , so expect some biteless nights but the reward will be well worth the wait.
dunno if this applies to your area, but beware of Gar as they can fool you sometimes into biting like a yella does. Sucking on it ,pull , little more biting, pull nad then wham. You'll know if you been gar bit.

Brace, it's okay if you view this as being the same as a date with a super babe, so long as you be sure and remember to give that old yeller a big wet frenchy to thank it for a good time before you turn it back.

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Mike
www.WhiskerKitty.com

good luck at him. be ready and dont fall asleep. also do u got and ground rod stake/ rod holders to put in the ground?

so you get a bite?

hey any luck????????????????????????????????

did u get a thing??????????

honestly if ur fishing for flatheads ur best bet will be in the summer or early to mid fall to catch him. good luck.
ps: if u need any help trying to get him give me a hollar, lol

so when u trying again?

sent you a email brace_seal, did you get it?