A few years back I took my buddy, Hans Raidel, and his oldest
son fishing. Nate had been fishing with us since age 3. Now at
13 he felt confident he could handle the big cats and asked to
give it a try. We were successful and Nate was happy.
This year his younger brother Luke felt up to the task. I met up with Hans and Nate and we were soon setting out on our adventure. I told Hans I had a spot but it was a stumpfield loaded with snags. He understood the hazards of getting hung up as well as the necessity of getting baits where the fish were.
Hans is an old hand at flathead fishing and as we prepared to fish he explained what we were doing to Nate so he would understand how to flathead fish. We took my pontoon and my 14 foot boat to the spot. From the waters surface it looked like a poor place to fish because of rough footing on rocks and mud. I explained to Hans and Nate that there was over an acre of stumps submerged in 6-8 foot of water and the flathead loved the area.
After tying up the boats I began preparing our tackle. I checked the knots and line to insure strength. Any time I had doubts I retied the hooks. I sharpened each hook to insure it would dig into a thumbnail. I checked the drag of each reel to insure it would be set correctly. As we set each rod down pointed toward where we planned to drop them I told Luke the structure I planned on dropping it near.
I took the small boat and set lines from the bank. Then I set lines from the pontoon out near the stumps. Hans and Luke would stay on the pontoon and I would stay on the bank. Luke stayed on bank while Hans explained the part the bank boy played in setting baits. He learned the bank boy must keep enough tension on lines to keep them straight even if wind tries to put a bow in lines. The bank boy pays attention to direction set to make sure the boat boy does not cross another line. When lines are dropped the bank boy assures the reels are out of gear, the line is tight, and the clicker is on. Pointing the rod at the bait keeps resistance to a minimum and helps keep from crossing subsequent lines.
After lines were set I tied the small boat alongside the pontoon and placed the landing net in it. My plan was to get the catman in the little boat to land flathead from deeper water. Rocks and shallow water could result in flathead being released before we could weigh or photograph them so landing in deeper water increased our odds of netting fish.
Hans has fished with me many times and there was no question of who would get the first bite. Hans and I both knew that we would be lucky to get one good flathead run but Luke would be the guy for that fish.
As darkness fell Hans pointed out the differences in the reels and how they worked to his son. Between instructions he pointed out wildlife and fish he spotted. Luke has been along for some flathead fishing but Hans reminded him to let the fish pull tight after the reel was engaged and slam the hook back to set the hook hard. We sat and talked and enjoyed cold drinks.
Hans told Luke that I avoided lights because I believe the flathead avoid unnatural sights and sounds. We talked quietly and listened for the sound we wanted to hear. From the darkness we heard that sound as a clicker started on the deck of the pontoon. Hans instructed Luke to pick up the rod, turn off the clicker and softly feel the spool with his thumb. After being assured the fish was moving smoothly Hans told him to put the reel in gear and lean forward till he felt the line come tight. He gently reminded him to set back hard when the line came tight.
Hans and I both stood to the side of Luke. We heard the click as the reel was set in gear and saw Luke lean forward slightly. He swung back and we were rewarded as the rod bent. I helped Hans into the little boat as we told Luke to keep the line tight. Hans brought the little boat to below where Luke stood and he stepped off the pontoon. I smiled as I watched the pair moving from the pontoon. Luke reeling and the momentum of the fish soon pulled them out over deeper water. In the darkness I could here words of encouragement and sounds of the net being readied. After a short time I heard the hum of the trolling motor.
The pair returned triumphant with a big flathead in the net. We congratulated Luke as we tied the fish up to the pontoon. As the lake quieted we celebrated our success with another cold drink from the cooler. Luke’s excitement as he retold each drag screaming run and headshake of the fight was evident. It was still pitch dark but I knew Hans was smiling.
The rattle of another clicker soon got our attention. I instructed Hans to get it. I made sure Luke was off to the side so that neither my rod nor Lukes pumpkin would get busted.We heard the reel go into gear and saw a deep bend in the rod. I asked Hans if it was a big one and he replied the fish was into some brush. He kept tension on the fish but soon the fish shook its head and the line broke. We agreed that this happens when you fish dense brush and that getting a fish on is more important than avoiding snags.
We sat quietly for several hours before another clicker sounded its alarm. I again instructed Hans to grab the rod. He protested that I should take a turn but I insisted. After a good hookset I put Luke into the little boat as netman and then got Hans aboard. As they moved into the darkness I marveled at our good fortune to hook 3 flathead in a night. I could not see what was happening but the hum of the trolling motor and the thump of a big fish on the bottom of the small boat made me think the operation went smoothly. When they returned I got another rope to tie another flathead for pictures.
I was just getting really relaxed and awaiting daybreak when I heard another clicker. This was on the bank with me and I softly told Hans I had it. I took the clicker off and felt the spool. The fish would move a foot or two then stop. Hans asked me if the fish was still on and I told him I thought so. I waited several minutes until the fish started moving slowly, then put the reel in gear and crossed the eyes on the flathead. Hans heard the whoosh as I slammed the rod back and as I made my way to the pontoon he unhooked the small boat. I climbed in and told him I could get the fish alone and Hans and Luke waited on the pontoon.
I reeled and the fish pulled and soon I was out in deeper water with my fish on a short line. I pulled the boat a bit and sounded twice but was soon on the surface. I slipped the net under the fish and hauled it over the side of the boat. I made my way to the back of the boat and slipped the trolling motor down and went back to the pontoon. I roped up the flathead and told Luke he must be good luck because we rarely get more than one bite a night.
At daylight we reeled in the remaining rods and rolled our sleeping bags up. We gathered all our trash and stowed our gear. We headed across the bay where I had a rope on a tree to weigh the fish.
Lukes fish weighed 43 pounds and Hans fish weighed 41.
My fish also weighed 43. We released the fish and returned to camp. But the story doesn’t end there.
Two nights later I returned to the same spot and caught this fish.
I e-mailed Hans to let him know that I got my hook back.
Catchabiggun,
Robby
