Fishing For Flathead Catfish

A beginners guide to catching flathead catfish

By Rick Seaman

Nov 6, 2024

Tips For Flathead Catfish Fishing

Beginners

Flathead catfish fishing for beginners and novice anglers. Includes tips which can be used while fishing either from a boat, or while fishing from the bank.

Basic Flathead Catfish Tackle For Beginners

Rod. Start with a 6' or longer, medium heavy to heavy action rod that can handle large fish. When catching flathead catfish, you could easily hook up with a giant on any cast.

Reel. Baitcasting reels work for the vast majority of flathead catfish fishing.

Line. Begin with 30# to 40# monofilament line. Pay a little extra and get decent quality line.

Flathead catfish fishing basics video.

Basic Baits For Beginners

Earth Worms. Worms from the garden can be used to catch flathead catfish in most lakes and rivers. Live worms are also available at most bait and tackle stores, including Walmart.

Sliding Sinker Setup. One of the most effective rigging setups for catfish fishing is the slip sinker rig. Slide a heavy slip sinker up the main line, then tie on a stout hook baited with catfish bait.

3 Important Tips For Beginners

Tip 1. Flathead catfish prefer to hang hold around deeper holes in rivers and the river channels in lakes, which is where they primarily feed.

Tip 2. Fishing from a boat allows anglers to reach water not accessible from shore. However, fishing for catfish can be done from shore and can be even more rewarding for those who like to adventure out along the shoreline of rivers and lakes.

Tip 3. Use good knots and re-tie anytime the knot or line has been nicked or frayed. Always use sharp hooks, if they are dull replace or sharpen them

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Intermediate Anglers

Flathead Catfish Tackle For Intermediate Anglers

Rods. For longer casts and more powerful hook sets, choose a 6' or longer, medium heavy, or heavy action rod. Shimano, Bass Pro Shops, G. Loomis, Fenwick, Lew's and Abu Garcia, among others, all make a variety of quality rods in varying price ranges.

Reels. Baitcasting reels work best for the vast majority of catfish fishing conditions. Shimano Curado, Abu Garcia Revo, Lew's Mach Crush, Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Series and Daiwa Fuego are popular choices, and there are many others.

Line. Line choices include monofilament and braided line. Monofilament line is least expensive and offers a bit of stretch, to help land bigger fish. Braid does not stretch, so be careful not to rip hooks from the mouth of fish. Tighten the drag on the reel, as big flatheads can spool a reel very quickly.

Additional Bait Options For Intermediate Anglers

In addition to live worms, experiment with the following baits to improve your chances for success.

Live Bait. Frogs, salamanders, crawfish, sunfish (where legal) and baitfish all attract flathead catfish. Use a sliding slip sinker setup.

Cut Bait. Fish of most any species will work well for cur bait, especially species that reside in the particular body of water. Shrimp, chicken guts and an assortment of prepared catfish baits can also get flathead catfish to bite.

Prepared Catfish Baits & Dips. The choices are endless. Each one mixing a variety of scents that are designed to appeal to the smell and taste of cats.

5 Important Tips For Intermediate Anglers

Fishing Reports. Read current fishing reports and catfish tournament results from the lake you wish to fish, also review these reports and results from this time last year. Learn how to gain maximum knowledge from fishing reports.

Lake Maps. Contour maps identify creek channels, flats, ledges, drop-offs, and depth variations. This information can help you plan your time on the water, well before you head to the lake.

Focus On Finding The Fish. Flathead catfish travel the river channels seeking the availability of food. Any type of cover becomes a good holding spot for a large flathead, providing an opportunity to ambush food as it flows or swims by. Look for rocks, logs, stumps and undercut sections of the bank.

Keep Baits Selection Simple. Flathead catfish are not very picky, and will eat anything that smells like food. Live (where legal), and cut bait are the primary options for catching big flatheads.

Use Multiple Baits. Once you locate an area holding flathead catfish, try a variety of baits, and added scents to see which entices more bites.

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Record Flathead Catfish

World record: 123 pounds, 9 ounces

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Experienced Anglers

Advice For Serious Flathead Catfish Fishing Enthusiasts

Study the life cycle of flathead catfish, their annual migrations, daily movements, and food sources available in the lake you plan to fish. Our focus here is to assist beginner and intermediate anglers. For those wishing to take the next step, there are a multitude of options for growing your knowledge of fishing for flathead catfish.

Fishing Clubs & Tournaments. You can join and participate, with or without a boat, and learn from some of the better anglers in your area.

Time On The Water. Experience is the best teacher. Spend time locating the fish and experimenting with a wide variety of baits and techniques.

Gather Information Online. Read information on your local Fish & Game Department website. Review websites offered by expert flathead catfish anglers, fishing organizations and local fishing guides. Some highly regarded websites covering flathead catfish fishing include Team Catfish, Tangling With Catfish, and Learn To Catch Catfish.

Have Fun. Fishing for flathead catfish can be very rewarding. Be diligent, but enjoy the process. Fishing is a life-long journey, and you can learn something new every day you spend on the lake!

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Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired bass tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".

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