Walt Matan tells us about the joys of flathead fishing.  

 You’re up against a 4-mph current. You’re hoping your knots hold and that the beast doesn’t snag the motor, anchor line and other rods. Finally, you wonder how the heck you get it in the net by yourself. Forget the net—the fish will bust it anyway. It’s “grabbin’ time.” You grab him in the mouth and hope you don’t get sliced. This is big-boy fishing.

Flathead catfish are at the top of the freshwater food chain. With a mouth the size of a folded over large pizza, these can inhale panfish, rough fish and gamefish with ease. They’re also camouflaged and stick near the bottom at ambush points inconstant search of their next meal.

Once hooked, they’ll put up a great battle; they should be as revered as the mighty muskie. As more and more catfishing tournaments turn up across the nation, anglers have begun to realize what great sport and attraction the catfish has.

The search for the trophy flatheads begins with fresh bait. While I’ve caught my fair share of flatheads on cut baits, worms and crankbaits, a good, hearty live fish on the end of the hook is your best bet. The preferred bait is usually what is available on the lake or river you’re fishing. Bait shops can provide you with live suckers or large shiner minnows in many areas.

In most states, you can catch your own bait with a throw net, seine or hook and line. I’m a hook-and-line guy, and on the rivers that I fish in Iowa and Illinois, I’ll catch bluegills and perch to use as bait. Alight panfish rod, some ice jigs and either waxworms or red worms, will usually allow me to tank a few panfish for the day or night adventure. If I’m in the boat, the bait just goes in the live well. When fishing from shore, I tote along an aerated minnow bucket too because it’s important the bait remains alive. In areas farther south, skipjack herring is the preferred bait, which can be readily caught below dams using Custom Jigs & Spins Slender Spoons or Flu Flu Jigs.

The setup is simple, but the approach needs to be exact. Veteran Kansas angler Warren “Catman” Boseker fishes from shore, from his boat and sometimes afloat. He’ll fish for big flatheads below dams where catfish prey is plentiful. 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. Other popular shore spots are around fallen trees with deep water nearby.

Want to learn more about about the flathead catfish?  Check out the July issue of MidWest Outdoors magazine, available the first full week of July at a newsstand near you. You may also subscribe to MidWest Outdoors online or by phoning 800-606-3474.