Texas Fishing Forum

flathead fishing on grapevine

Posted By: lamar44

flathead fishing on grapevine - 07/31/22 10:17 PM

been wanting to catch a flathead on grapevine. any pointers would helpful. thanks
Posted By: SwampHunter

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/01/22 04:06 AM

Good luck ! We have been after one for the last month have fished all over the lake , caught everything except a flat 😂😂
Posted By: lamar44

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/01/22 04:57 PM

i have been fishing g vine for over 40 years now and i can't hook a flathead . caught ever thing but one. was hoping for some advice.
Posted By: Dan90210 ☮

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/01/22 09:11 PM

Not sure how much you know about targeting Flatheads. I would suggest look up some of El Gato Azuls posts about targeting flatheads on Lewisville. That info will apply to the Vine as well.

The short of flatheads is get heavier gear than you think you need. Go up the creek and find some deeper holes with log jams near them. C-Rig some big live baits. Bluegills are great. Bullheads and carp are awesome as well but might be harder to get. Night time is better than daytime for sure.

I have caught 5 flatheads on the Vine. Only one was on a "catfish tactic". The biggest one. Was 30lbs and hit a threadfin shad fished on the bottom. Was really targeting eater channels and was amazed I got him in... especially in a Kayak. It was a sled ride for a long while. The rest were on crankbaits or jigs while bass fishing. The trend being they like moving stuff more than dead stuff. Live bait my friend.

Good luck! Flatheads are cool fish. True brutes. Top predator in any lake is the Flathead IMO.
Posted By: bronco71

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/01/22 09:41 PM

[Linked Image]
caught under a school of white bass on my 6'10" MH spinning rod and reel with braid. Was a great fight, rod and reel did a great job! Too big for net so my nephew pulled it into the boat...
Posted By: Rowdy

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/02/22 02:48 PM

You guys, that's is a great fish, and one of those life long memories. I always like to drag something like dying shad critter under those schooling bass. Never once have I caught a catfish of any kind and I have always figured they were there. I caught an aligator-gar once that was half the length of the boat I was in and promptly went right through the owners dip net, we cut the line on that after it spooled me twice on the small Shimano Calcutta 50 I was using.

I would have never landed flathead you caught under them either. I actually snagged the gar in one of the pectoral fins as it was on a little George with one shank of the treble hook cut off, which I still like to fish lol. Awesome fish guys and looks like a awesome Triton boat if I had to guess.
Well enough fun for the morning, got to go replace the battery on the wife's Cadillac SRX, it only lasted 4 years too, AC Delco, then, since nobody else but that place was the only one had something that fit. Last time it locked itself in the garage and she just called them to come get it. This time it was a honey would you do me a big favor? I hope I can find something better battery wise than this last one.
Posted By: Outfitter Nomore

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/07/22 01:24 AM

Caught this one on a Pro Angler 8ft crappie rod and 20lb Braid. Was a fun time to say the least. [Linked Image]
Posted By: lamar44

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/07/22 03:11 PM

that is a nice cat for sure.
Posted By: Rowdy

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/07/22 05:37 PM

I am sure on a crappie rig that was a hoot. You won't be forgetting that one. One issue I have guys is getting a pic of anything worthy of it... I usually fish alone and I catch and release them. I have taken pix of just the fish at times but not able to get my fat bud in there with the fish.

I plan on building me a rod rack that is removable for the stern of my boat, and a place I can hang a fish for a quick pic before sliding that fish back in. Need someway to shoot me in that pic, but by myself. Anyone with a way that works?
Posted By: KidKrappie

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/07/22 09:26 PM

When live bait fishing for crappie out there last year it was not uncommon to have one flatty from 10-30 pounds each trip. I have only lost one so far this year but I have not live bait fished as much this year.
Posted By: Rowdy

Re: flathead fishing on grapevine - 08/08/22 03:59 PM

I like to crappie fish as well, really I just like to fish period lol, but I like to fish for everything with artificial bait, except when fishing for cats. But my favorite bait for crappie is a jig. The yellow being the best color at Possum Kingdom when I lived there, old guy that retired from the Navy would take me out and showed me how to fish jigs and that ruined me, not that I was any good to begin with lol.

I just can't imagine how catching and more importantly landing a cat on one of my crappie rigs. Heck dental floss has more strength than the line I use lol...

Those cats on a ultralite rig has got to be a hoot trying to keep it out of all the brush where the crappie are!
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