This trend has been going on for several years now as the pay lakes have been doing some major promotion advertising huge catfish. Catfishing has become popular in all aspects of the sport and i totally understand that some folks don’t have access to the big rivers, thus they go for some action at the pay lakes. But I don’t think we can afford to continue to supply the pay lakes demand, without depleting our natural resources form the KY and IN rivers, this issue also goes deeper than just KY and IN though, other states have the same issue and if the demand is there, commercial fisherman will travel to permitting states to collect these trophies.

I think if this going to work for both parties, the pay lake owners along with the pay lake goers should practice some sort of conservation efforts to help insure that the trophy size catfish population stays strong in our natural water ways. Anglers that fish our natural water ways are already aware of the conservation issues and are taking steps to improve it. But it’s going to take everybody’s cooperation with the conservation efforts to make sure we keep our states natural water ways strong.

The shear brute strength and fight these fish give you are challenging to say the least. Keeping the fish from taking you to a snag once hooked is the challenging part. A forty pound flathead does what it wants, so using good equipment to turn and control the fish is a must.

Understanding there patterns and feeding habits much like deer hunting, figuring out where and when to intercept them.

Flatheads are loners and very territorial and their habits of ambush feeding is somewhat different that other catfish species however they are also an opportunist when it comes to feeding as is all catfish, but their appetite tends to be a bit more finicky than the other catfish species.

Most folks think flatheads can only be caught at night but for the guys who chase the flatheads will tell you different. Flatheads can be taken in the day; you just have to put the bait in front of them where they hold up during the day which is generally heavy cover. Flathead prefer live bait over the dead bait, however they will take a piece of fresh and I mean fresh cut, still bleeding piece of cut bait.

A flathead catfish will take up residence in or around a good baitfish attracter such as rock piles or log jams and they will protect and ward off any competing flatheads. Generally the bigger fish calls the shots.

Other good ambush points are tributaries that feed the main river, scour holes, drops and ledges along the river channel and docked barges, flathead will lay tight under the barges and wait on an unsuspecting prey to pass by for the ambush.

Flatheads will tolerate current but prefer some slack water. I will generally target eddies, current breaks and current seams in the spring and summer when there is current flow. These types of places allow the flatheads to rest and take advantage of the food that washes by them in the current.

The equipment required for targeting the flathead catfish  is a medium heavy seven foot rod, either a bait cast or spin casting combo which ever you prefer, spooled with at least 65 lb braided fishing line. The heavy pound test will help you pull the flathead away from cover or possible snags.

I use the 65lb test braided mainline and  I use a 50 lb. mono leader with a #9 Mustad demon circle hook. If I do get snagged the leader will break before the mainline keeping me from having to retie the whole rig again, I just replace the leader and hook and I’m fishing again quickly.

The best rig for search for monster flatheads is the slip rig /Carolina rig, it allows the flathead to take the bait and feel little resistance. I like to use a short leader and at least a 4 oz egg or no roll sinker, the heavier weight and shorter leader helps keep the lively baitfish from swimming of into nearby cover getting you tangled up.

The bite of the flathead is not at all like other species of catfish, and I think this is why a lot of anglers miss them.

The first indication of a flathead bite might be a short subtle pull of the rod and a pause if the fish is interested after that you will get another slow pull with a shorter pause, this is when you should carefully pick up the rod and get ready. As the fish takes the bait and you feel a strong steady pull as if he’s just swimming off which it is, this is when you just start reeling, slowly putting pressure against the fish and let the circle hook do its job and hook up. Setting the hook while using a circle hook is not recommended, you will lose the fish every time if you pull back hard and to set the hook.

The bite may even be more subtle if you happen to put your bait close to one that is tucked in cover. A lot of times when that happens the flathead will move out take the bait, you will see that initial pull down and that’s all, giving you the indication that he didn’t take the bait. But you have sit on that spot and had no action and you decide to move to another spot, you start reeling in your rods and the one that got that subtle bite but no commitment you thought, has a fish on the other end.

What happens is, you have put your bait close to where it’s laying and it eased out took your bait and just backed back into the cover only moving a bit, the flathead is the dominate fish and is at the top of the food chain and doesn’t have to swim away from home with the bait like other species do. Usually the fish that you catch like that have swallowed the hook.

The best baits for flatheads are live shad or pan fish. I prefer the shad when available, however they will die quicker when hooked. The pan fish are easy to catch and will stay alive on a hook a lot longer than shad. In current in rivers, I like to hook the baits through the nose so they are always facing the current but in non current situations like lakes I will hook  the bait in the tail portion at the top near the dorsal fin. Sometimes I will cut the bait to make it bleed and create a scent trail.

In the summer months I will target the flatheads at night simply because of the heat factor, fishing shallower water around cover.  But as the fall season rolls around and the water begins to cool, I will target them in their deep water lairs throughout the day.

The bite of a flathead catfish can be subtle at times but the fight will absolutely be powerful and full steam ahead.

Nobody ever goes out and catches these records intentionally, its just something that happens when you least expect it.

Some anglers like myself that fish more frequently than others will fish for years and never catch a state record, it always seems to be someone that just gets lucky and stumbles up on it.

So if you like to fish, why not be prepared when you stumble upon your fish of a lifetime.

RECORDS BEING BROKEN — BUT STILL NO WINNER
IN THE MUSTAD® HOOK A MILLION PROMOTION

Auburn, NY (March 2012) — Mustad®, the world’s largest-selling fish hook brand, is hoping its Hook a Million promotion will deliver $1.4 million in cash to lucky anglers who set new world and state records.

Since the promotion started, there’s been an amazing run of big fish caught by anglers who have not been registered in the promotion. Three remarkable catches in three months tell the story:

• World Class Yellowfin Tuna: In January a 430-pound yellowfin tuna, the largest ever recorded, was caught on a Mustad® Demon® Perfect Circle hook near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico by Ronnie Tegland. The fish didn’t qualify as an IGFA World Record because two anglers touched the rod. Ronnie was not registered.

• State Record Largemouth: In February, Arkansas angler Paul Crowder caught a 16-pound, 5-ounce largemouth bass to set an Arkansas state record. Paul was not registered and unfortunately, the fish was not taken legally and the state record was rescinded.

• State Record Walleye: Jim Zimmerman of Wisconsin may have wished he had registered in the Mustad Hook a Million promotion. On March 11 he caught a 15.08-pound walleye that has been certified as a new Illinois State Record.

Registration in the Mustad Hook a Million promotion is FREE. To qualify for big cash awards, anglers must register in advance and simply catch the new record on any Mustad hook. There’s still plenty of time to register. The promotion runs through September 30, 2012 and includes 10 of the country’s most popular fresh and saltwater fish. These include Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, White Crappie, Coho Salmon, Striped Bass, Kelp Bass (Calico Bass), Red Drum (Redfish), Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout) and Yellowfin Tuna. It’s open to US residents 18 & over and to participate, anglers must use a Mustad hook and register only once at least 24 hours in advance of fishing.

For details on Mustad’s Hook a Million promotion and to register, visit http://www.mustad.no/www2010/?page_id=3957

Current seams are created naturally by the obstruction of the water flow. Major structural elements in a river that create current breaks include points, wing dams, eddies, backwaters and deep holes. The diagram shows a cross section view of how current is diverted by a point extending into the main channel.

Obstructions such as points and humps have developed on the river bank or river bed that will cause the water flow to slower, creating a seam between the fast flowing current and the slower diverted water. Most times holes are created on the back side of these obstructions creating eddies [dead mostly slower water] the water is funneled from the tail of the Eddie towards its head creating a whirlpool effect. Current seams and particularly eddies can concentrate drifting food. Small forage fish will use the current seam to pick through the drift, in turn these current seams will also attract the trophy catfish as they feed on the forage fish.

The one key element that must be present to make this type of spot productive, water flow or current! But another important aspect of catfishing the current seams is to figure out how each structure break effect’s the water movement and then how the fish relate to each current break in the relationship to the different water levels or flow.

During low water flow this large hole is normally not used by the fish because the water moves so slowly above it that there is no current for the fish to need it. But, during high water when the current is really moving, this spot is used by the fish as the current seams will provide food that washes downstream and collects in the eddies and for shelter (a current break) for the fish to conserve their energy.

So the trick is to know when each spot (or spot within the spot) is productive and when the fish will use them and only fish these areas during the correct water flow
If the flow is slow, the seams will just disappear and seem nonexistent and therefore not productive!

In a nutshell, understanding where the catfish hold at during the different water levels and current speeds on this particular seam will help you catch them. When the flow changes the catfish will change so you should too.

Early in the season, the best spots are often close to the shoreline and shallow. We can usually see the actual current break which looks like a ripple on the surface or current seam which looks like a line on the water with fast moving water on one side and still water on the other side, unless wind is blowing hard up river then they are hard to spot.

Generally, aggressive fish are on top of the point or in front of the current break where inactive fish may be behind or in the hole.
Start out by anchoring directly upstream of the current break and pitching a Carolina rig baited with shad or skip jack out and let the current sweep it until it settles on the bottom along the seam. If the fish are not cooperative move downstream a bit into the seam itself.

However setting up or anchoring on these current seams can sometimes be tricky, boat placement is crucial.

If you anchor too far out in the fast side of the seam, this will cause your bait presentation to drift further out into the main current away from the seam, and if you anchor too far in on the slower side of seam, (the Eddie) will cause your boat to spin in the whirlpool effect the eddy produces. There is a fine line between these two transitions, once you find your positioning you will drastically increase your chances of hooking into a trophy catfish.

Current seams and eddy’s are not limit to guys who only fish from a boat, bank anglers can also fish these types of spots as there are many different size current seams created naturally from river bank erosion. Small points and cut away banks all create a current seam even in small rivers and streams. Setting up on a point with moderate current flow and casting your rig out, allowing the current to sweep it into the seam is the same as anchoring a boat on it.

BONUS VIDEO: How to cut bait for catfishing in current.

Humminbird has just launched an exclusive sonar accessory that will give anglers a unique detailed view their surrounding area. The Humminbird 360 imaging accessory.

This New technology is similar to the side imaging, in the way you read or interrupt it; only it provides a complete around-the-boat 360 degree, underwater image.

The 360 Imaging has the ability to cover a 300-foot diameter circle from around the boat.

You will have several options when viewing 360 Imaging; you can view the entire 360 circle or break it down in ¼ segments.

For example, you can select the front view segment and see what’s in front of you, or select just the rear or either sides.

Split screen viewing is also available so the image can be displayed with a chart or traditional SwitchFire™ Sonar.

The 360 Imaging accessory includes a (TDS) Transducer Deployment System that attaches to the boat transom.

The TDS lowers the transducer below the bottom of the boat and outboard, ensuring an unobstructed underwater view.

The 360 Imaging performs best when used while stationary or trolling up to 7 miles per hour.

This sonar accessory is exclusively compatible with current Humminbird Side Imaging-equipped models that are Ethernet-capable.

Here are some other key features of Humminbird’s 360 Imaging accessory:

The ability to mark GPS waypoints anywhere on the 360 Imaging screen
An audio alert is given when the boat nears a waypoint within casting distance.
Capable of recording video and screen captures
Four sonar speed settings
Zoom in feature on a Specific area.

Sorry guys but this accessory only works on the ethernet ready 798 SI, 898 SI, 998 SI AND 1198 SI units!

Just think of the advantages this is going to give a tournament angler.

being able to see what’s coming up in front of the boat and make course adjustments as we’re making a drift or when we’re anchored up stationary, allowing us to view what’s going on up to 150 ft from the back of the boat, receiving real time updated underwater images.
Watch in real time as bait balls or fish go swimming by.

The suggested retail price of Humminbird’s 360 imaging is $1,999. And availability is expected later this summer.

Let the rod and hook do the work for you. Do not jerk back to attempt to set the hook like one would do with a regular J style hook.

It’s important to use a fast action (Soft ) tipped rod when using circle hooks, a stiff heavy action rod is not recommended.

Once the fish has taken the bait allow the rod to load heavy before attempting to reel it in assuring a solid hook up.

HOW TO USE CIRCLE HOOKS
Resist the urge to jerk or set the hook when the bite is first detected.

Allow fish travel with the bait before applying slow steady pressure. In order for a circle hook to work properly the fish must pick up the bait and make a turn away. Every living creature is protective of food, and its instinct to grab the food turn and move away and find a safe place.

Just like a dog or cats reaction, throw them some food and watch what they do. GRAB IT,TURN AND MOVE AWAY. So with this imprinted instinct also within catfish the circle hooks are very effective.

Most any catfish rig will work when using circle hooks its more about allowing the fish to hook themselves and not getting hurry, jerking and pulling it out of the fishes mouth.

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Even a small catfish call pull your rod and reel in water if you just have the rod leaned up on the side of your boat. Having a fish take your equipment doesnt make for a good day on the water.
Use them when anchoring, drifting or trolling.

Fishing rod holders

What is a rod holder?
A fishing rod holder allows you to fish several techniques while your hands are free to do something else until the fish strikes.

Mounting the rod holder securely to the boat will give you the confidence in knowing that when you turn your back, a fish will not be able to pull your equipment into the depths.

Some Rod Holders have duel positions allowing the angler to choose the angle of attack for the particular situation.

You can use your rod holders for trolling, achoring, drifting.

When the rod is positioned in the rod holder, gravity takes over to keep it place. When the fish is hooked, the pressure of the fish keeps your fishing pole secure, the harder a fish pulls, the tighter the rod is held in the rod holder. Just remove the rod from the holder by lifting the rod tip up and out with the rod fore grip and feel the fight.

Fishing Rod Holders

Why Do I Need a Rod holder?

Rod holders are an important part of the equation when you’re setting up a fishing boat. The most obvious reason being, the angler doesn’t have to physically hold the rod themselves to wait for a strike. This in itself can be a chore without the use of a rod holder, holding a rod in hand for hours will cause fatigue and can take the fun out of the fishing trip, especially in bad weather.

The use of one or multiple rod holders will allow the angler to keep their attention on other factors that can make them more successful like the electronics and boat control. Spreading multiple rod holders out across the back of the boat will help keep your fishing rods organized and lines tangle-free. This puts your rods within easy reach when the fish strikes.

Whether trolling drifting or anchor fishing, rod holders offer anglers with simple solution to a common problem, allowing an angler to up his odds by employing the many different fishing techniques when out on the water.

Not only that, but they come in pretty handy when you take a day to just relax, grab a sandwich and a drink with confidence in knowing your pole will be fine while you patiently wait on the fish to find your bait.

Rod holder choices

How to choose a good rodholder
Rod holders come in a wide range of shapes and sizes along with a variety of different materials being used in the manufacture them, such as steel, plastic and aluminum..

Steel is probably the most durable in terms strength with aluminum being similar but coming in at a close second for durability, leaving you with both being respectable choices when deciding on your rod holder purchase.

The non-metal materials used to manufacture rod holders are extremely tough and resistant to breaking, but simply cannot hold up against the metal rod holders in under certain circumstances.

So which one is Best Rod Holders?

There is not going to be a definitive answer here, as they will all work.

However my suggestion for purchasing the right rod holder for your application would be determined on the conditions you would use the rod holder.

Anglers who spend a lot of their time fishing big water, heavy current or waves and put in a lot of hours with their equipment, is to choose one of the metal units for best results.

For the anglers who fish smaller water and only use their equipment periodically, one of the high-quality non-metal rod holders will work fine and will provide excellent value.

Rod holder features

Options for multiple uses
A Look at Options and benefits:

Some models of rod holders can only be set in one position, leaving little options to the angler as to how they can fish.

If you are an angler who likes to employ several techniques of fishing I would not recommend the single action types of rod holders.

Instead look to the manufactures that produce the all in one multi angle rod holders, like Monster Rod Holders. They also produce a unique multi position rotating swivel base that gives anglers an additional option to the way they fish.

Multi position rod holders can be adapted to certain situations that will better suite the needs of most any angler.

More options for the use of rod holders include THE ROD RACK.

A rod rack is simply a stationary bar that is mounted to the rear of the boat to install several rodholders for rod managment. Rod holders are spaced equally aross the rack to maintain some orgianaztion in keeping your line from becoming tangled.

ROD HOLDER MOUNTING OPTIONS

Mounting rod holder to your boat.
Mounting a rod holder permanently to your boat can have both positive and negative results; it will depend on how you use your boat. If you use your boat exclusively for fishing the permanent install will be positive, however if you use your boat for fishing and family uses, the permanent install can put a damper on family fun, as they may get in the way.

Using low profile mounts will allow you to remove the rod holder easily while the boat is in family mode. Other choices include rail bases that attach to either a round or square rail that is permanently, attached to your boat.

Permanent drill mounts can be attached to your on most flat sturdy surfaces, providing a “near-flush” install. The hardware is simple to install, and will usually involve only two- to-four holes being drilled, causing minimal “damage” to your boat.

TIP: For a stronger more durable contact drill smaller pilot holes for the install hardware

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Pay out schedule for the 2012 APC/Monster catfishing tournament

These numbers are based on 40 boats- However the Percentage of payback and number of places paid will not change regardless of the total amount of entries. Only 5 places will be paid whether we have 20 boats or 70 boats.
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1ST PLACE – 50% PAYBACK = $8000.00

2ND PLACE – 25% PAYBACK= $4000.00

3RD PLACE – 12.5% PAYBACK=$2000.00

4TH PLACE- 8% PAYBACK= $1250.00

5TH PLACE- 4.5% PAYBABACK $750.00

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APC/MONSTER TOURNAMENT EVENT ITINERARY

JUNE 14TH

REGISTRATION MEETING 5-7PM/ SNACKS AND REFESHMENTS WILL BE ON HAND

7:15 9PM HUMMINGBIRD INSTRUCTIONAL HOW-TO CLASS/ HUMMINGBIRD

WILL BE CONDUCTING A HANDS ON INSTRUCTIONAL

CLASS WITH LIVE SIMULATORS,

LEARN NEW TRICKS WITH YOUR HUMMINBIRD.

JUNE 15TH

OPENING CEREMONY 5:45

TOURNAMENT FROM 6AM-3PM, SCALES OPEN AT 12 PM

RED CARPET MEDIA COVERAGE 6PM-7:30PM PHOTOS, MEDIA COVERAGE, TV,

NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND OUTDOOR WRITERS

WILL BE INTERVIEWING ANGLERS.

ANGLERS DINNER 7:45PM-9PM

JUNE 16TH

TOURNAMENT FROM 6AM-3PM, SCALES OPEN AT 12PM

5 PM DECLARE THE WINNERS AND SPONSOR PRODUCTS GIVE AWAYS

6PM ANGLERS DEPARTURE

RULES AND REGISTRATION
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REGISTERED ANGLERS

Catfish are like any other fish in the fact that they have very specific movement or migration patterns. These patterns are heavily influenced by the change of seasons.

The key to successful catfish fishing all year long is being able to identify their habits during the particular season you are fishing in.

Like all living things, catfish have biological clocks programmed into them and length of daylight hours will trigger certain movements also.

Spring weather changes bring on the first movement of the season. Catfish will begin to stir from there wintering patterns as the days get longer and the water begins to warm with two things on their minds; food and the spawn.

Catfish will leave the wintering holes and begin to move towards the spawning grounds. In rivers they will move up river or into the tributaries, feeding heavily in preparation of the spawn.

If the option to move up stream isn’t available, catfish will seek out shallow or wood laden or rocky banks instead.

During the pre-spawn, catfish will often hold up in deep holes close to the spawning beds. Once the spawn is on, the males will move into the beds and stake their claim to certain spawning beds prepping them for the female to lay her eggs.

Once the female is finished here business she will leave the nest and the males will protect the nest until the eggs have hatched.

After the business of reproduction is over, catfish will slowly make their way back to deeper waters.

Typically the catfish will be a little sluggish and not as active immediately after the spawn, they will need a few days to recuperate from the rigors of the spawn before they will again begin to feed heavily.

Once they have recuperated from the spawn, catfish will begin to feed more aggressively. In early summer, the catfish are fairly aggressive about food. They will begin to occupy deep water flats, humps and other underwater structures.

Any place that attracts the forage fish will typically have catfish nearby. In the day time look to the deeper water lairs and as the sun sets look a bit shallower as they will follow the baitfish to the shallows.

Summer temperatures and sunshine will slow the catfish bite down in the shallows, but probing the deep water lairs with some suspended baits will still get successful results.

The catfish will still eat, but the offerings needs to be easy for them to get as they have fed up after the spawn, however catfish are opportunistic feeders and will not pass up an easy meal.

Slow presentations are the best bet this time of year.

Fall is another season of change that triggers their biological clock. The bait fish will make a move to deeper water at this time to over winter and as the days get shorter and the water begins to cool off, the catfish start to feed actively anticipating the long winter ahead.

There are few reasons for this, one of which is the females will need to stock up on food for energy in order to produce their eggs over the winter for next year’s spawn.

As winter temperatures kick in, the catfish movements and activity slows down. The catfish typically find deep areas to reside in throughout the winter months, making them easier to target because they will be somewhat concentrated in the deep water holes where they can find some sort of thermal relief from the cold.

They prefer to suspend below schools of shad or other forage fish if possible. Just because its winter doesn’t mean the catfish won’t eat.

Catfish will eat in the winter; they just don’t invest as much energy into hunting for a meal. Some of the best trophy catfishing occurs during the winter months, because they are the most predictable to pattern at this time of year.

Seasonal changes play a big role in the way you should approach catfish at any given time.

Their seasonal movement patterns are affected strongly from Mother Nature’s moods.

Understanding how and why the catfish moves at certain times of the year will increase your chances of being successful.

Simply put, structure is the contour composition of the lake stream or river bottoms, such as ledges, drops, points, depressions, creek channels, flats and deep holes. Any natural change of the bottom contour is categorized as structure.

Catfish will use these contour changes to navigate throughout the river, lake systems using them as highways to move from one area to the next.

Cover is considered as add on’s to structure or bottom contour! Such as stumps, log jams, bridge pilings or even old sunken boat. Cover can be natural or manmade elements and is either manually placed or has been deposited by Mother Nature.

In addition to knowing the difference between the two elements, understanding that catfish are attracted to certain covers and structures for some particular reasons. Determining which cover or structures are the most attractive to the fish for any given time of year will improve your catch rate.

In the late spring, when the spawn is occurring, a good piece of structure that is located in the deep channel is not going as good due to the fact that catfish have moved to shallower water. The same type of structure near the shore will be a better choice for catfish at this time.

In the warmer summer months, structures which are in deep water can be very good for catfish anglers.
In lakes that produce a thermocline in the summer or fall, look for structures that are above the thermocline of the water, the best structures will provide shade and cooler water that the catfish will seek.

In addition, the baitfish will also be attracted to these types of structure also.

During the fall and winter months, the fish will move to the deepest parts of the area, where the water fairly stable and there is plenty of oxygen. It’s known that deep water structures may be great spots during these times, but there is never a guarantee when it comes to these whiskered adversaries.

Underwater structure plays a big part in fishing for catfish, but it is not the only factor that needs to be considered.

Catfish can be unpredictable however you can make adjustments to increase your odds. Another important part in finding the underwater structures is the food factor. If the structure has no baitfish, the catfish will move somewhere else where the food source is present.
Many anglers will just assume that if an underwater structure is present, there should be catfish down there waiting for their baits, and this is not always true.

Another element to finding a great piece of structure is cover.

Cover is like a bonus when locating structure, if you can locate a piece of cover on some structure, you have again just increased your odds of having a successful day.
Cover on structure will attract baitfish as well as give the catfish an ambush point to feed.

Understanding the migration of the catfish throughout the seasons, as well as the food sources and their locations, will help you find structures that produce good catfish.

Understanding the movements or migrations of the catfish and the baitfish, will help you understand where they will be at any given time, giving you an advantage when it comes to choosing structures to fish.

It’s like a puzzle, all of the factors must be considered together, to help pinpoint structures that have all the elements a catfish is seeking for the time of year and the specific weather and temperatures.