Ive always heard foks talk about using throw lines in the Brazos and Colorado river for flatheads. How exactly are they rigged? I assume your bait and weight are allowed to rest on the bottom overnight. Anybody have any tips or tricks?

I spoke to an old man that told me he would take his line and hook, put it on a fairly limber branch letting the perch about 6-8 in below the surface and let him swim. No weight or anything, and those flattys will come up there at night and eat em. I never tried it tho but it sounds like it be a good way. I've seen flatheads on the surface at night before around big rocks next to holes. So they def come up to feed. If I was ever gonna try it that's what I'd prolly try. This is all Brazos by the way. Hope it helps!

the line on a limber branch with the bait just under the surface does work ... i have also used bicycle inner tubes tied to tree trunks to hang a line to ... and i still have my bank poles for areas of banks with no trees ... drive a steel rod into the bank at a 45% angle and slide a stalk of pvc pipe onto it with a line attached ... all of these methods have a big live bait just under the surface ... i have used the bank poles with out a boat ... i fished the clear fork of the brazos north of breckenridge

The answer is probably obvious to this question but in which direction do you angle the 45 towards, the water or towards the bank? Like I said its probably common sense just figuring if its leaning into the water direction, could it be pulled off the rod by a big catch... thanks

We fish the Colorado and in the evening we'll go set out our lines. Mine are 10'-20' long with 2-3 8/0 tuna hooks each. I put a seven pound weight in the end. I'll tie the line to a limber limb and bait each hook with a perch about as big as your hand. Then I'll stretch the line out with the bank down stream and let it go. I tie my stagings far enough apart so if you get more than one fish they don't tangle. Check your lines first thing in the morning, because a shaking limb is an alarm for every river rat within a mile. On some parts of the river I tie my lines under water for that reason.

Several years ago, on Rayburn, I tried tieing my lines to willow branches and having my perch just under the water with no weight. Crows landed in the willows, pulled my lines up in the tree and ate my live perch. Moved the bait deeper and added a little weight. Much better results. If they are available, mudcats make excellent bait, and will live forever. Good luck

This is what we have always done. If the river is in flood stage, we use only one hook to keep the trash off the line.

Location of your lines is the most important thing. Look for overhanging roots or undercut banks. If you have a large hole on the river you fish, set you lines at the upper end of the hole. We have found yellas feed upstream from where they rest. The best locations for us were under a big tree with the roots hanging in the water with the bank undercut. You have to place your lines so they can't take them back under the tree and tangle with the roots.

throw lines are best connected to a 7 1/2 foot pro angler "TEX" Elliott cat rod and an abu garcia reel!

This was the way we use to set our lines in the rivers in Kansas and did fairly well. Unless there was a strong current then we had to put some weight on them, but still kept the bait close to the surface.

towards the water ... 10' of 3/4 PVC will bend over & touch the water ... never had one pulled off the stake

Thanks for the replys foks. I feel a little better armed.

Does anyone know if the blues are thick enough to mess with on the brazos around College Station or should I just focus on the Ops? Ive got some good looking spots scoped out so I may just chunk some juglines one afternoon and see whats home.

Any kind of steel rod used for anchoring line to will get you a nice fine if found by the game warden.Have been there and done that.

littering fine? Seems it would only be littering if you didnt intend to come back to get it the next day.

As freeman said, any kind of steel rod or rebar can get you a fine, not only for littering but as a boating hazzard as well.

As freeman said, any kind of steel rod or rebar can get you a fine, not only for littering but as a boating hazzard as well.