Get your answers by asking now. Flathead catfish do not appear to reach 100 lbs as often as blue catfish, yet this pattern may be obscured by the fact that flathead catfish are more challenging to capture. The fish was seized by Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. Therefore, when wing dikes are fished, focus your efforts on the upstream side. Outdoor Life may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. All rights reserved. These narrow rock structures on navigable rivers direct current into the main channel to reduce erosion. Channel, blue and flathead catfish are common lake residents, as are their smaller bullhead cousins. Big catfish also like outside turns of channel bends, channel junctions and deep channel edges near dams. Other times, a difference in the rocks does the trick. Flathead catfish can reach sizes in excess of 100 pounds but much smaller specimens have been encountered in the Chesapeake Bay region. Expand your connections to what's under water; ICAST Fishing Gear Guide. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Even with beefy tackle, hooking a 100 + lb flathead in these circumstances would result in “heartbreak” more often than not. Simple to make and grill, these BBQ Venison Burgers are the ultimate food to serve at your... More adjustability and improved balance make these nine compounds even easier to shoot. Consequently, catfish baits must pass close to elicit strikes. While blue catfish willingly consume dead bait, flathead catfish prefer live prey, which makes fishing for them more complicated. Virginia dominates the blue catfish list, and has produced three of the top five biggest blue catfish ever caught. Target blue catfish in winter. Examine each area, and fish those offering the most attractions. A Bonnier Corporation Company. Give a Gift   Look for big-river holes directly below dams, near outside bends and near tributary mouths. You can use this bait right after you make it, but it works best if you allow everything to marinate a couple of days in the refrigerator. While flathead catfish have the reputation of being the second largest North American catfish species, they aren't much smaller than blue catfish, and flathead catfish can reach almost 6’ in length. He purchased the fish at the St. Louis fish market. Target riprap this summer for some of your best shots at channel catfish. Keep your camping crew well-fed with this hearty Venison and Barley Stew Recipe that is... Field-proven big-game arrows for lethal hunting results. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 24, Bethesda, Maryland. His clients almost always catch bigger blues; they almost always inquire about the possibilities of catching a big flathead. Heavy wind produces a chain reaction on fertile lakes. Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. All such structures are trophy cat magnets you can find with sonar. 1. It was weighed on cotton scales in front of multiple witnesses the next morning, but probably had lost a significant amount of weight since it had been out of the water for several hours. These are the prime feeding sites, so they usually hold bigger, more dominant cats. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Still have questions? The Missouri River allegedly produced another blue catfish weighing 242 lbs in 1868, though again, information is limited. Imagine swimming alongside this Mekong giant catfish, which was caught in the Mekong River in 1986. Try your luck at trophy cats on this excellent border water. Fishing. 6 Answers. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Finding the right spot can land you to huge cats like this. Anglers who consistently catch big catfish know how to analyze structure and cover to find the best holes. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. In large bodies of water across the U.S., I often hear the same stories about “catfish as big as Volkswagens” or my personal favorite: “commercial divers saw catfish so big, they refused to go back down”. As another long lived species, flathead catfish have the potential to grow to impressive sizes. They're especially productive in large, shallow lakes. A big flathead nearby will watch the little fish, and if nothing disturbs the smaller fish, Ol’ Jumbo knows it’s safe to go out and eat. This consists of a 1- to 3-ounce bait-walker sinker tied to the line, with a 2- to 6-foot hooked leader tied to the sinker's top eye. Work your catfish bait accordingly. Large channel cats, especially, like this habitat. The world record brown and black bullheads, in fact, came from lakes. It is quite possible that there are more big flathead catfish out there than we think. 0 0. hill bill y. Lv 6. Regardless of how it was caught, it’s undoubtedly one of the most impressive flathead catfish ever seen. Interestingly, only three fish over 100 lbs have been caught in rivers, the rest were captured in reservoirs. Cats abandon these structures only when oxygen levels fall too low, such as when a pond stratifies in summer. Field skills: If you want to go long, start training with these tips. South Carolina, Tennessee, and Missouri have all produced blue catfish in the 130 lb class, while Illinois, Texas, and Alabama have all produced fish at or exceeding 120 lbs. The average length is about 25-46 in (64-117 cm). You want the eddy current to pull your rig beneath the raft's outer edge. To order autographed copies, visit his Web site at www.catfishsutton.com.). “Your letter requesting shipment to you of a large Mississippi catfish was received this morning. Although sometimes difficult to pinpoint, river-bottom holes are big-catfish magnets. As another long lived species, flathead catfish have the potential to grow to impressive sizes. By Keith Sutton. Texas dominates the flathead catfish “top ten” list, with five listings. If scattered trees or stumps exist around the perimeter, fish them carefully. Cast your rig upstream and allow it to drift past these honeyholes. The note that accompanied these specimens suggested that fish of this size were commonplace at the time. If cats are present, they'll usually bite seconds after your bait touches bottom. As the fish swims frantically trying to escape, the barb of the hook is buried under the skin and the fish is captured. Dr. J. Steedman, who was chairman of the Missouri Fish Commission, sent a 150 lb blue catfish to the US National museum in November of 1879. Forget finicky flatheads and boorish blues. A bait-walker rig with cut bait works great. The next largest flathead catfish was caught in Elk City Reservoir, Kansas 1998. Graham, K. 1999. Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 60(2005):152–156. Around Bone Broth. Subscriber Services. Trophy cats usually stay near deep water falling into the channel. Catfish that feed on baitfish follow, too. Blue catfish grow indeterminately and can live for over 30 years, so large sizes are possible. © 2023 by The Mountain Man. Both of these fish would be world records today, yet appeared to be common in the 1800s. For consistent success, especially on unfamiliar waters, we need more information: We need to know where, specifically, hungry catfish are likely to be. It's a situation every catfish angler should exploit. Now pour the packet of Kool-Aid powder into the container with the hot dogs and add enough water to cover all.