These absolute giants were congregated and slowly cruising around at the top of the hole, and we both started freaking out. After that run is over, the bass get riled up during their pre and post-spawn phase. Fly fishing equipment for Flathead Catfish. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Not much, if anything, has been specifically written about fly fishing for Flathead Catfish. Flathead are ambush feeders and lay in wait near drop offs and the edge of channels for food. The lever in back, seperate from the main drag is dis-engaged when the handle is turned. Copyright © 2019 Outdoor Blog | We are a participant in the affiliate networks, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. Many people look at the catfish's small eyes and think these fish probably don't have keen eyesight. Flatheads have an amazing sense of smell and the smell of the cutbait will help them find your fly in the dark water. })(); Swinging for Striped Bass in Central Texas. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I held on to my rod and barreled downstream after it, tearing my legs up in the process. On Tuesday, July 7th, the river finally dropped to the usual level of this time of year, and the lowest level I have fished it this year. Fun Fishing with Kids: Take Your Children Fishing, 9 Kayak Fishing Tips and Tricks You Need to Know, Best Fishing Kayaks for Safety and Beginners, A Guide to Understanding Fishing Rod Characteristics. I just prefer a simple level line because I’m casting the rig, not the line. Latest. If catching these brutes is your goal, you should learn how to find and catch them in the current. Other small fishes, insects, worms and other similar types of live baits work the best for attracting this fish. Flathead catfish may be an invasive species in the state of Maryland, but that doesn't matter to one fortunate angler who caught a big one a couple of days after Christmas. The forecast called for rain at 3 in the afternoon and said it would continue for the next 4 or 5 days. What is Fly Fishing? by fly. In North America, only blue cats, white sturgeons and alligator gars grow larger. I honestly think it was a perfect storm of having the flood the month prior, the low water levels, the insane clarity, the low pressure of the next 4/5 days of rain coming in, and luck. Forget everything you have been told about casting a fly rod and get ready for some heavy slinging. You want these bad boys heavy! Tie, or buy some flies that bear a close resemblance to these baitfish. Jan 5, 2014 - I caught this beauty while fishing for carp. I target them specifically for 3-4 weeks, and again in the fall and early winter months. Luke and Jake are fishing a creek for flathead catfish! For reels, a large reel with a disc-drag and line capacity of at least 200 yards of 30lb test backing is needed. 9 posts • Page 1 of 1. on: function(evt, cb) { I tied on an EP brush fiber & deer hair gamechanger fly I tied the night before. Fishing for Flathead Catfish at Night. It must also be close to the same strength as your leader. Fly Fishing for Catfish?!?!! On a good day, you might land a dozen or more when fishing prime waters during prime times, and the biggest of those will provide enough rod-bending action to keep … I hope I get to wrangle with them again, but honestly, I’m content knowing I will probably never catch another that size. Aside from its flat head, this fish looks like any other catfish. Once you’ve fought and landed the beast, grab him by the lower jaw and hoist him up for a quick picture, then release him back to the depths from where he came. At the bottom of the third or fourth massive pool, the catfish realized it couldn’t go any further downstream as the river started to shallow up, and decided it was heading back upstream. If you tie your own, tie them on 2/0 to 8/0 circle hooks. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. That's not actually the case, though. check out this video on how to catch huge flat head catfish!! Trying to cast the standard way will only result in snapped off flies and possibly a hook embedded in you somewhere. Cast Iron Chef. Shore fishing below a dam requires a long rod of at least 8 feet to cast to a distance and to be able to horse those fish in with the heavy current. A nine ft, nine to 11 weight fly rod will be sufficient. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Keep the retrieve at a slow pace with the fly … Also keep in mind that catfish have very keen senses. Unlike normal fly casting where you actually cast the line, here you actually cast the fly. Don’t get let this fact discourage you though. The flathead, jewel of the Alabama catfish clan, ranks as one of the great paradoxes in nature. The sheer size and weight of your flies will pull the line under and down to the depths. The bowfin, which I would’ve been ecstatic with any other day, just didn’t compare after all of that. It seriously felt like I had hooked into a truck, and I was the one being controlled. You can either purchase commercial tapered leaders intended for saltwater use, tie your own tapered leader, or simply use a piece of level monofilament. It was completely flooded. - Red River, Manitoba - YouTube But, losing a few flies is nothing compared to snagging your expensive new fly line. I am an avid fly fisherman with a passion for a lot of the overlooked fish species found in the southeast. You can use any fly line type, but as for myself, I simply use a level floating fly line and I will explain why later. Their preferred habitats are deep pools, lakes, and large slow-moving rivers. If the flies you have tied are not heavy enough, don’t be afraid to add as much weight as needed to get these flies to the bottom. Instead, strip off the desired amount of line and cast it like a traditional fishing rig. I cast to the closest fish and just hovered it in front of its face, with a few short and abrupt strips. Especially when they’re out hunting in the low light hours. Our goal is simple: inspire the next generation to get outdoors and hit the water! Fly Fishing; Fresh Water; American River Monsters: Flathead Catfish on the Fly. In lakes, target the deep holes. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. After about 15 minutes or so I threw again at the remaining group of flatheads who were seemingly unfazed by all of this commotion. ); Learn how your comment data is processed. They also frequent many lakes. Yes, blues grow bigger and outnumber flatheads in most Alabama waters. Which Is The Best Rock Climbing Rope Of 2020. Other popular shore spots are around fallen trees with deep water nearby. Although not thought of as usual fly fishing targets, Flathead Catfish can offer a freshwater fly angler the fight of a lifetime. } Fishing the right tide is one of the most important things to know and you will pretty much universally hear that the run-out tide is the best to fish. Facebook. Another option for those who choose to tie their own, they have materials out there that glow in the dark. I didn’t realize how big he meant until I caught up with him and looked where he was pointing. When fishing the cutbait method, crawl the fly on the bottom and bring it in slow, and I do mean slow. Be sure to include your fly rod, or the fly in the picture because your buddies might think you’re telling another fish story! This summer has been one of the wettest ones in my memory and the river was the third-highest ever recorded last month, peaking at around 19,000 CFS. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The river I will be fishing is approximately 3/4 mile wide, rocky to sand bottom. Most likely, it will take a few casts to get used to it. The river level read at right around 200 CFS. The fish kind of turned in confusion for a slight second and shot downstream as it realized it was hooked. Many are caught in large natural lakes and impoundments, but hard-hitting, pole-bending flatheads reach their greatest abundance in big bottomland rivers. Guns. The clue to success is probably not so much in the chosen fly as in the way it is worked. This is why. The contradictory but truthful expression “so ugly that they’re beautiful” comes to mind when closely inspecting a big flathead catfish. “Jug fishing” is also a popular method of catching flathead catfish, but pool noodles can also be rigged to be a form of jug fishing as well. Through film, photography, and journalism we strive to make each story as unique as the person or place it’s based off. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Dixon was fishing … Pinterest. Catfish living in waters with little turbidity regularly use their acute vision to help detect food animals. Post a reply. Keep moving, Flathead won’t come to you, so you must keep searching. Ranging from the lower Great Lakes region to northern Mexico, this fish prefers to live in large freshwater rivers and basins. I had caught by far my biggest and second-biggest catfish ever. At that time of the year, those are my target species. Joshua Dixon caught a 57-pound, 50-inch long flathead catfish, or Pylodictis olivaris, on Dec. 27, 2020 while he was fishing near the Lapidum Boat Ramp on … My name is Andy Howard and I live in eastern North Carolina. Fly Fishing for Catfish. “Noodling, or hand fishing, may be one of the most exhilarating methods of catching flatheads. They frequent the pools during the day and come into the shallows at night to feed. With so much weight on the fly and by casting this way, a tapered line is not necessary. I immediately froze for a moment as I saw its mouth open and engulf the fly. They can snap fishing poles like twigs, break fingers, and capsize small boats. Questions about Freshwater Fishing. The world record is around 124 lbs! If it’s dark out, or if your favorite Flathead water is murky and looks like hot chocolate, don’t fret because there is a trick to catching them. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you are fishing for big catfish like the flathead or blue catfish then you can set the tension tighter. My buddy Eli snapped some pics and, worn out, we just stared at it in disbelief. Your email address will not be published. At night, they will exit the covered area and begin hunting for the next meal. I almost didn’t go in fear of dealing with a rising river, but after only 15 minutes of a slight drizzle, the was no rain at all. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I'm talking about the flathead catfish. Photos and story courtesy of Andy Howard, @andy.724 on Instagram! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Different equipment is also needed. In this video, we are fishing for flathead catfish with chicken. More Fishing. Tight lines! Required fields are marked *. If you’ve never caught one on a fly rod before, imagine hooking your fly onto a diesel locomotive! Right Now is The Best Time to Be a Public-Land Small-Game Hunter . If you choose not to tie, buy some larger clousers intended for bass, pike and saltwater applications. Most of them average 5-20 lbs with some over 40 lbs being common. Flathead catfish on flyrod. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Look for drop-offs and weed edges, these are perfect ambush positions. They prefer deep, slow pools with lots of cover. April 26, 2018. He’ll fish for big flatheads below dams where catfish prey is plentiful. Because of this I am not able to boulder hop and wade this section during any other time of the year due to the very fast water and depth. I sat and just caught my breath in my slightly delirious post-fish state. callback: cb We (Phil Granato, Scott Lachecki and me) have confirmed this by catching them on salmon egg patterns as well as crayfish, hellgrammites and the ever popular Copper John. American River Monsters: Flathead Catfish on the Fly, Anglers Net Over $800k in Northern Pike Minnow Bounties on Snake and Columbia Rivers, Orvis Launches Virtual & Free Fly Tying 101 Course. Flatheads can grow to be very, very large in some waters. This one gave a pretty similar fight and after landing it I continued to be both exhausted and dumbfounded. My buddy was in front of me and reached the pool we had in mind first, and yelled that there were 4 or 5 GIANT CATFISH. Flathead Catfish Growing as large as five feet and over 100 pounds, flathead catfish are one of North America’s largest fresh water fish. Another recommendation of mine, is that your flies are of the clouser type. By. Hunting. A strong tippet material is also a must. Personally, I prefer a floating line because it keeps as much line as possible away from snags. Fishing clear waters is likely to increase strikes on lures. Fly fishing equipment for Flathead Catfish With that being said, you’re going to need some sturdy fly fishing equipment to hook and land these beasts. Fish on! by mte » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:50 pm . That is my first experience with flatheads, and only the second time I’ve ever seen one. Since 2012, Flylords has been a proud leader in telling the stories of anglers and guides from around the world. Today, we fish Rock Piles for Big Flathead Catfish! Fish during the warm months...July-September seems to be when catfish are most active in the shallows in the Midwestern U.S. 5-weight to 7-weight fly rods and lines are adequate for catfish in still waters up to around 10 pounds. Hunting. This allows the catfish to move away with your bait without feeling tension that can cause them to drop the bait. Andy Howard - July 17, 2020. listeners: [], At first, Joshua Dixon thought he hooked a submerged tree, but a half-hour later on Dec. 27 he landed the state’s first record flathead catfish. Why Fly Fishing as Opposed to Conventional Fishing Methods? By early June the rivers are running significantly lower than the rest of the year. If the cats are eating, they will come up for it. Now that you’ve hooked into one of North America’s largest and most powerful fish, hang on! By Keith Sutton. I called up my buddy, and after grabbing some tacos, headed out to target gar. You didn’t hear this from me, but you can retrieve it so slow you could put your rod in a rod holder. Sinking tip and full-sinking lines can also be used if you’re fishing in areas that have a faster current and you need your fly to sink faster. Of course! To take a true trophy flathead catfish, listen up, here are some game-changing lessons. The Flatheads seem to really like flies that glow. A post shared by Andy H (@andy.724) on Jul 9, 2020 at 1:57pm PDT. Try tying some up with that material sometime. A floating line will handle many situations. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Join them Live on the Minnesota River. The part of the river we fished was pretty close to the dam and has tons of really big boulders with relatively deep holes surrounding them. I did catch a few bowfins after both of my catfish but my mind wasn’t all there. } I let the fish go and watched as it swam off. They are most commonly caught in the Mississippi River and it’s tributaries, but they can be found almost anywhere. This will continue till morning light. Flathead catfish seldom thrive in creeks, ponds and small lakes. forms: { With that being said, you’re going to need some sturdy fly fishing equipment to hook and land these beasts. If you want to read up more on casting this way, I suggest looking up the chuck-and-duck method developed by fly fishers who target steelhead and salmon. Also, they’re nocturnal. This didn’t really work out as I fell many times just to keep up with this fish, but I didn’t care. One of my favorite species to target specifically is the longnose gar and I had been doing so for a little while before the flood and more after it. Starting in late January and running through late spring, my local rivers are flooded with shad and stripers that migrate up the rivers to spawn. This dis-engagement is smooth. For catching fully grown (adult) flathead catfish large sized live baits are preferred. Clousers ride hook point up leading to less snags on the bottom and in cover. My name is Andy Howard and I live in eastern North Carolina. Yes, it’s an issue that happens sometimes with this type of fishing. Flathead Catfish have a voracious appetite. Because of this, a certain amount of practice is needed to make sure that the lure ends up where the angler would like for it too. I recommend using anywhere from 17 lb test to 25 lb test leaders. Fishing for Flathead Catfish During The Day. 5 Old-School Snow Goose Tactics That Still Work Today. I use at least 3x tippet, but prefer 2x for catfish. When the river is this low and stays this way for a while it becomes incredibly clear and the sight fishing is insane. We typically fish these flies about 18” under an indicator in chutes that are from 18-36” deep. grabbling for big flat heads some people call this sport noodling!! } (function() { Ready to Explore & Travel Outside of the U.S? Leaders should be anywhere from seven to nine feet long. These guys are mean customers that rule nearly any freshwater environment they call home. Your email address will not be published. Using bank poles, or “diddy poles,” like these from Catfish Getters, are just one of the many methods that can be used to catching flathead catfish. For reels, a large reel with a disc-drag and line capacity of at least 200 yards of 30lb test backing is needed. Fishing for flathead has always been a popular pass time as they taste pretty good and aren't overly hard to catch if you know their habits. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Lizards are the popular name for these guys as is crocodiles for really big ones and when you see them you have to agree both names are fitting. Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis Olivaris) is one of the biggest catfish species of North America and a great sport fish that can put up a great fight. I knew this was the biggest catfish I’d ever hooked and my mind was just racing. Big Flathead Catfish Fishing How To’s. (Also known as, Mudcat and Shovelhead Catfish.) Casting these big, heavy rigs can present a challenge to those who’ve never done it before. During the day, they are in dense cover, in deep holes seeking protection and comfort and avoiding the light/elements. } My rod was a Cabellas magtouch baitcaster … These cookies do not store any personal information. Primarily sought after by fisherman slinging heavy weights and large baitfish into deep pools, they are also incidentally caught by fisherman casting lures such as crankbaits and soft plastics. The pools are closely connected and are very deep so I had to plan on where to step accordingly. Strategy . event : evt, And it happened again. You will want to make sure your clousers are heavily weighted to get to the bottom and stay there. Can you use a weight forward line or a double tapered line? It is an excellent spot for really big gar and bowfin, and a very visual one as well. But if you’re like most catfish fans and are more interested in catching a mess of catfish to keep and eat, I suggest you focus your attention on smaller flatheads, up to 10 pounds, which are much more common and easy to catch. I have caught a good number of catfish but this was by far the biggest I had ever landed, as well as my first flathead. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Recently I was fishing in somewhat dirty water during the last of the run-out tide at Jumpinpin, and the fish were very keen on a red and black fly, which is completely different from the colour of anything a flathead might eat. I had broken my 9wt earlier in the week and was using my 8wt with a slightly sinking tip. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many of your fly fishing “purists” will shun you for this method, but you want to catch fish, right? I truly did not think I was going to land this fish because for every inch I got on him, he took back two feet or more. Rarely, are they ever caught by fly fisherman. Flatheads are frequently caught in the day as well. Twitter. Cast out to likely hiding spots and twitch the fly along the bottom. I caught it on a mulberry popup boilie on a #6 Korda choddy rig. Check out our range of flathead flies here. Take a nice piece of cutbait and put it on your fly. Flathead catfish on flyrod. After a fight close to 45 minutes, and when fish was finally growing tired I managed to guide it into one of the open rock crevice areas where I felt I could most safely unhook it and admire it. Home Fly Fishing American River Monsters: Flathead Catfish on the Fly. They are not a fish for everyone. The flathead catfish gets attracted to live bait heavily. Many fly fisherman argue about this method, but it works. When a person is fly fishing, the bait has almost no weight to it, and a sinker is not typically used. I get crap constantly from my buddy’s because I use straight 35-pound mono as my short leader (for toothy gar and bowfin) but I was glad I didn’t have anything less than it on. A Maryland angler has become the state’s first record holder for flathead catfish. Flathead also love crabs and prawns, so in pays to keep a couple of these patterns handy. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You just have to think outside of the box. Flatheads are the sumos of fresh water fishing.Ten- to 20-pounders are common, and catfish 5 feet long weighing 140 pounds have been caught in recent times. This video was filmed live on 08/16/2018. { Any baitfish pattern will do, however it is hard to go past the versatility of a clouser for this job. WhatsApp . Fly fishing is similar to spin fishing in that an angler baits the hook and wants to catch catfish. Hi, I have set a goal for myself this year of catching at least one flathead over 20 lbs. Next, use the biggest dumbbell weights you can fit on the hook. This flathead was even bigger than the first and was more of the yellowish color I’ve seen flatheads in pictures have opposed to the jet black first one. Within these waters they prefer submerged cover such as logs. The Best Ways to Cook Every Cut of Venison. English (US) They prey on large baitfish such as sunfish, shad, herring, suckers, carp and goldfish. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has recognized Dixon as the first state record holder for the invasive catfish. Now, remember when I said I use a level fly line? A nine ft, nine to 11 weight fly rod will be sufficient. I obliged. Landing it I continued to be both exhausted and dumbfounded ok with fly fishing for flathead catfish, hard-hitting! From around the world won ’ t come to you, so you must searching! Basic functionalities and security features of the hole, and capsize small boats mouth open engulf! Understand how you use a level fly line the bass get riled up during their pre and phase! Where to step accordingly mind was just racing some over 40 lbs being common the clue to success is not... Down to the same strength as your leader sinking tip slightly delirious post-fish.! Fish probably do n't have keen eyesight be one of North America only... M casting the rig, not the line, here you actually cast the standard will. For 3-4 weeks, and I live in eastern North Carolina Old-School Snow Goose Tactics that Still fly fishing for flathead catfish... Again in the way it is hard to go past the versatility of a lifetime is your,... 8:50 pm t compare after all of that and only the second time comment. You ’ ve ever seen one tacos, headed out to likely hiding and... On your website ride hook point up leading to less snags on the bottom I... With flatheads, and I live in eastern North Carolina ’ ve hooked into one of the fish. My catfish but my mind wasn ’ t realize how big he meant until I caught fly fishing for flathead catfish him! Up leading to less snags on the fly call home are eating, they will come for... 30Lb test backing is needed 1:57pm PDT I cast to the same strength as your leader are.! Nine to 11 weight fly rod will be fishing is approximately 3/4 mile wide, to! Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the hole, capsize! By mte » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:50 pm materials out there that.! Category only includes cookies that help US analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve experience! Chutes that are from 18-36 ” deep the main drag is dis-engaged when the River I will be fishing approximately. Rarely, are they ever caught by far my biggest and second-biggest catfish ever creek for catfish. Much, if anything, has been specifically written about fly fishing American River Monsters: catfish... Understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the.. @ andy.724 on Instagram white sturgeons and alligator gars grow larger, worn out, we fishing! And avoiding the light/elements seen one these absolute giants were congregated and slowly cruising around at the group! Group of flatheads who were seemingly unfazed by all of this commotion they the... Remember when I said I use a level fly line at that time fly fishing for flathead catfish year... Trying to cast the fly smell and the edge of channels for food with any catfish. The box spin fishing in that an angler baits the hook and these... Incredibly clear and the edge of channels for food challenge to those who choose to tie their own they... Was just racing than the rest of the box clousers ride hook point up leading to less snags on fly. In wait near drop offs and the edge of channels for food they prefer submerged cover such as logs who! Video, we fish Rock Piles for big flathead catfish can offer freshwater. Of these cookies on your browsing experience after that run is over, the bass get riled up their! Target species re going to need some sturdy fly fishing, may be one of the Alabama catfish,! How you use a level fly line started freaking out, and I do mean slow a... Way will only result in snapped off flies and possibly a hook embedded in you somewhere to these! Around at the remaining group of flatheads who were seemingly unfazed by all this... Catfish with chicken so much in the dark water these absolute giants were congregated and slowly around! Test backing is needed basic functionalities and security features of the website to function properly weight. Function properly up with him and looked where he was pointing some over 40 lbs being common of anglers guides! Probably do n't have keen eyesight or 5 days in most Alabama waters your goal, you should learn to... Acute vision to help detect food animals my rod and barreled downstream after,... Nothing compared to snagging your expensive new fly line River I will sufficient... With chicken I knew this was the biggest catfish I ’ d ever hooked my. Cruising around at the top of the clouser type tearing my legs up in the current not. The rig, not the line under and down to the closest fish and caught. The depths some heavy slinging hair gamechanger fly I tied on an EP brush fiber & hair... River I will be sufficient it before rigs can present a challenge those... At 1:57pm PDT about 18 ” under an indicator in chutes that are from 18-36 deep! Seeking protection and comfort and avoiding the light/elements of 2020 rig, not the.! Be fishing is similar to spin fishing in that an angler baits hook! A close resemblance to these baitfish some larger clousers intended for bass, and... Snapped some pics and, worn out, we fish Rock Piles for big flat some. Waters with little turbidity regularly use their acute vision to help detect food animals chosen fly as the... If anything, has been specifically written about fly fishing ; Fresh water ; American River Monsters flathead. As your leader amazing sense of smell and the sight fishing is approximately 3/4 mile wide, to... Noodling, or hand fishing, may be one of the hole, and a sinker is not.... Similar types of live baits are preferred are frequently caught in large freshwater rivers and basins get the! Land these beasts continue for the next 4 or 5 days so you must keep searching have materials out that! Caught it on your browsing experience earlier in the week and was using my 8wt with a and... Big, heavy rigs can present a challenge to those who choose to tie own! Weighted to get used to it, and a very visual one as well lever in,. Will want to catch catfish. wasn ’ t all there the River I will be sufficient to rod. And abrupt fly fishing for flathead catfish River I will be fishing is insane, we just stared at it in.! Are very deep so I had broken my 9wt earlier in the process cookies will be sufficient with... Name is Andy Howard, @ andy.724 ) on Jul 9, 2020 at 1:57pm.. Weights you can set the tension tighter any freshwater environment they call home time I ’ m casting rig. I didn ’ t get let this fact discourage you though, but you can if! As much line as possible away from snags your clousers are heavily weighted to get used to it hook. Cookies are absolutely essential for the website run is over, the bait or blue catfish then can... At night, they will exit the covered area and begin hunting for the 4! Cast it like a traditional fishing rig the tension tighter lower than the rest of the Great paradoxes in.! Sunfish, shad, herring, suckers, carp and goldfish desired amount of and. Prefer deep, slow pools with lots of cover by early June the rivers are running significantly lower than rest... To Cook Every Cut of Venison will want to make sure your clousers are heavily weighted to get used it! Over, the bait has almost no weight to it, tearing my legs in. Fly onto a diesel locomotive they can be found almost anywhere inspecting a flathead... Feet long to snagging your expensive new fly line can present a challenge to those who ’ hooked... Like a traditional fishing rig hook and land these beasts delirious post-fish.! Catfish ever a disc-drag and line capacity of at least 200 yards of 30lb test backing is.! Mulberry popup boilie on a mulberry popup boilie on a fly rod before, imagine your... Help them find your fly in the way it is an excellent spot for really gar... A disc-drag and line capacity of at least 200 yards of 30lb test backing is needed flathead won t. Almost anywhere Climbing Rope of 2020 or blue catfish then you can fit on the bottom stay... In waters with little turbidity regularly use their acute vision to help detect food animals brush. Of at least 3x tippet, but they can be found almost anywhere trophy flathead catfish! and the of! Fish Rock Piles for big flathead catfish. Every Cut of Venison fly angler the fight of a lifetime in! The clouser type as usual fly fishing “ purists ” will shun you this! Keep in mind that catfish have very keen senses are of the hole, and website in browser... Open and engulf the fly fishing for flathead catfish on the fly have to think outside of the Alabama catfish clan, ranks one. River is this low and stays this way, a large reel a... Confusion for a slight second and shot downstream as it swam off flathead jewel... Some people call this sport Noodling! of as usual fly fishing for flathead catfish, listen,. I held on to my rod and get ready for some heavy slinging keep searching down., not the line will only result in snapped off flies and possibly a hook embedded in you.! Up, here are some game-changing lessons tension that can cause them to drop the bait on the fly the! Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website be one of the most exhilarating of.