Blue cats eat trash . Therefore a 40lb flathead will taste better than a 40lb blue any day.

Danny

I guess my next question is why the salt water. I just use regular water. I didn't mean to call a flathead ugly but the do have a face only certain people could love. We caught a blue it was about 7lbs and it was almost white. Man it was pretty looking. What do you usually use for baits for flatheads parnell?

i can cook a 40# blues & a 40# yellar & then mix the meat up & you wont be able to tell the difference ... any day ... one is just as good as the other ... you guys talkin' smack about blues ain't doin' nuttin' but blowin' smoke

I agree albertking I just don't like the way they skin .The one's I have ate were plenty good.

After I finished fileting I lay the meat flat in a cooler and ice it down overnite .The fat and red stuff trim off better when it's chilled.

yessir ... get the meat as cold as ya can, just short of freezing ... works better good & firm

It's funny how different lakes have different tasting fish. Ray Hubbard has the best tasting, then Lavon.




This little fathead came from Hubbard. 67 lbs released to fight another day.




The one was also caught at Hubbard, all were caught on dead bait while drifting.

I'll never eat another bigcat again, too much waste compared to the benefit of keeping the gene pool on track.

Tightlines
Dave

I use live perch, crawfish or goldfish to catch yellow cats. Putting them in salt water is called brining the meat, it enhances the flavor on ALL meats to brine it before cooking.The salt water freezing fish, granpa always said it will take most of the strong fishy taste out. Albert, you are right about the blues tasting ok, I just hate trying to cut all the red meat out of them, a 5# bluecat, by the time I get done trimming all the funky-dunky stuff off, there is not enough left , it is more trouble than it is worth to me! I am NOT blowing smoke at you or anyone else, that is my opinion & I am entitled to it sir, the same as you are, Thank you!As long as you like 'em,good for you, then I will keep throwing them back when I catch them.

oh the smoke i was talkin' bout was blues taste bad ... they do need to be big enuff to be able to trim'um up first though

test

I've eaten a 28lb flattie that tasted lie ****!!

I think it has to do with the time of year and what they are eating.

I've also eaten a 34 lber from the same river that tasted good.

I just prefer to throw back the big ones. I keep a few between 3 and 15 lbs. Gets me all the meat I want. And if I'm lucky enough to eat it all I have an excuse to go again

And I love the belly meat and meat from the head.

Good comments guys. most all are true in my book. What a topic to bring up???
I have caught most of my big boys from Lake Palestine and to date I have caught 14 over 40lbs. This year was the first year I have broken the 50 lb mark and I did it twice on the same trotline at the same time. We pulled in the first which went 60 and the second that went 72. I have a good picture of both as an attachment on an email. If someone could email me directions to post the picture I will.(scott.gilleland@davita.com)
I am pretty proud of it but I have seen some old guys do that good 3-4 weekends in a row. One tip I'll give is to fish structure with heavy gear and be prepared to get hung up. Sandy flats near structure where shad congregate at night are good too. Lastly, although some fish are caught on dead bait, live 5-6 inch perch are the best and the most difficult thing for alot of us to deal with when going after big yellas.

Hey how do you cut the meat from the head. maybe I should say where do you cut. How big does a cat have to be to cut the head meat and do all species have it. Have never cut it. May be throwing away more meat then meaning to. You guys are so helpful. I really do appreciate it. I am just learning drifting and can't wait to hook into a big cat. It feels fun on a jug but bet it is awesome on rod and reel.

42.8#, r&r lake record on granbury

43# yellar

27# blue