River Flatheads:
Through out the years I have learned that fishing for river flatheads is a real challenge.Rivers are constently changing by the day and sometimes the hour.Rain fall and dam out flow,control water levels and temperature of rivers.The change in structure such as sunken logs being swept away by high waters is a challenge by it's self.

Flathead seasonal movements:

Early spring soon after ice out flatheads migrate sometimes as far as 70 miles to their spawning areas in fast current areas behind the current breaks such as large boulders or log jams.As the water warms the male builds his nest site.A hollow log would be the best nest site,beaver bank dens and soft clay shorelines provide good nesting sites.The best nest sites intice the biggest females.The female lays her eggs and the male takes over defending the nest even from the female.A male can beat off a female over twice his size.The female will roam with in a hundred yards of nest sight feeding giving anglers an easy oppertuity to catch a monster.This time of year I mainly fish 6 ft. deep flats above or along 10 ft. holes just above mid-pool.

When summer takes hold water temperature raises pushing flatheads deep,I focus on 15 to 30 ft. of water even though flatheads will go as deep as 60 feet.To make this simple take your river break it down into sections or pools and focus on the deepest water available in each stretch.Flatheads will still feed on the flats above the hole or shorelines parallel to hole or bargecuts.Flats produces large numbers of fish.

Fall feast starts in mid-September the rivers are stable and starting to cool.This is when flatheads load up for the winter.Fishing is unreal the same fish you were catching in the spring will put on 10 or so pounds by fall.They will gourge themselves until winter sets in.This time of the year is a flatheads most vunerable time in it's life,they will turn into eating machines.Giving all catmen an oppertunity to catch a trophy cat.I continue to use a summer pattern for fishing.

Winter flatheads will be schooled up in the deepest available water with minimal current.Sluggish but catchable.Finesse jigging or small baits will produce fish if you can handle the brutal cold.I call this time of the year the off season.Ice fishing is possible but here in Pennsylvania maxium hole size is 10 inches a flathead won't fit do to it's large flat skull.

River structure:

I rate large boulder feilds as number one for the Allegheny River.Sunken timber,fallen trees and log jams as number two.Rip-rap alot flood control dams hold large numbers of flatheads.Barge cuts and other man made channels provide deep enough water to prevent sunlight penetration.Try to focus on odd cuts along the shore line a flathead will feed there sooner or later and it will probably be a MONSTER.

Flatheads are super sensitive to light,I wouldn't consider using a lantern only a small flashlight for rigging rods and can also be used to steer fish away from snags.I always read and here people say fishing is excellent on a night with a full moon,not here they are the worst nights the fish will stay tighter to cover.The best nights are during the new moon faze,overcast nights and during thunder storms.Another condition to look forward to is when the river turns becomes real muddy almost the color of chocolate milk it brings the cats out of the wood work.Also gives you a couple extra hours to fish.Normally I get runs from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am during clear water conditions during muddy conditions I have had runs as early as 7:30 pm to as late as 8:00 am.

Bait

Flatheads are predator catfish.Live natural baits are the best thing to use if you want to catch them.I use a few different baits such as blue gills,pumpkin seeds,green sunfish,perch,shiners and the absolute must rock bass.I like using large bait anywheres from 6 to 14 inches long,the livelier the better.Small flatheads between 2 to 7 pounds will choke themselves to death just to eat a 12 inch bluegill that is the only bad thing about large baits.

Equipment:

I use a 9 foot medium action rod with a spinning reel capable off holding 150 yards of 50 pound line.I mainly use 25 to 50 pound Trilene XT and 30 pound Trilene Big Game line.I recommend these lines for river fishing do to rocks,braided lines are good but no match for rocks.It will make you sick when you set the hook and your braided line breaks like 2 pound mono.It lacks the stretch of monofiliment line causing it to be super tight at hook set and what ever it hits will cut it like nothing.

The rig:

I use a slip sinker rig,with 1 3/4 oz. to 3 oz. sinker and top it of with a 5 ot. Lazar Sharp hook.I also use a split shot or bead above my knot for a little extra protection from the sinker slamming into my knot.In super snaggy areas I use a break away rig,instead of running the line through the sinker I run it through a snap swivel and attach a piece of 6 pound mono to the sinker and hook it to the snap. It will save you some hooks and fish for the price of your sinker.

I hook my bait through the nose of large bait and through both lips on small bait.Tail hooking works also.

The set-up:

After hooking my bait I select a spot and cast it out,when the bait has settled to the bottom I tighten up the slack and loosen up the drag as much as possible (but not to loose just enough to keep the bait and current from spooling the reel)and pull it back to my favorite rock and wait for the run.