The Hungry Flathead Catfish!

People who go flathead catfish fishing, should understand the trail left by these ravenous cats. Here is some great information from catfish fishing expert Jim.

Flathead Catfishing And What You Should Know

Flathead catfish have a ravenous appetite making them the most unfavorable kind of catfish in the waters of United States. It can be a heavy fish and is furious, making them a frightening predator. This is one of the focuses of anglers because their average weight starts at 45 kg. Most of the time, they are used for fishing games, entertainment, and as food.

The rivers of Georgia suffer from the effects left by flatheads. They eat almost everything they see especially shad, crayfish, crabs, American eels and native catfish. Their presence can reduce the number of dwelling fish in the area where they live.

This type of catfish has a place in game fishing and is true entertainment. Their meat is highly enjoyed by many because of the way they eat. Flatheads have a very rich concentration that you would surely enjoy. You can also experience this kind of meat in fish with an omnivorous appetite. You should know that local fishery offices have data concerning safety levels of Flathead consumption. In Pennsylvania, only one meal a month is recommended. In some areas, studies are still in process.

To preserve the existence of native fish, some states recommend anglers to fish Flatheads. Electrofishing is also encouraged to lessen their existence underwater. In Delaware, once an angler catches a Flathead, they are advised not to bring it back in the water even they are too small.
Flatheads have distinct features. You can easily identify them once they are mixed with other species.

These are the physical features of flathead:
• Has a longer jaw, it passed through their upper jaw
• Heads are broad and flatten
• Tails are square and appears serrated
• Small eyes
• Immature flatheads' back has a darker brown color
• When it comes to their color shades, they usually come in light yellows

You can see them in various bodies of water including rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and large streams. They love to stay in vegetation especially at daytime. They also dwell under fallen logs and large rocks. You typically cannot see them in shallow areas of water; they love to wander around the deep parts. Since this type of fish prefers to do their activities at night, you should identity their dwelling place when there is light. Usually, immature ones stay in grimy areas.

When it comes to their eggs, male Flatheads take the responsibility in protecting them. They secure their nests against predators; they become extremely forceful when they suspect danger is lurking.

Jim Lower is a fishing expert. For more great information on fishing for flathead catfish [http://www.catfishingsecrets.org/flathead-catfishing], visit [http://www.catfishingsecrets.org]

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Flathead Catfishing

Researching catfish fishing includes discovering all the catfish, here Ronald explains about the flathead catfish.

What Is So Special About Flathead Catfishing?

Out of 2500 catfish species around 30 different breeds are found in the waters of United States alone, Flathead catfish being one of them. Mostly bottom dwellers of slow moving waters, Flatheads have gained the title of the most popular game and food fish. They are found abundantly in the Mississippi river and its smaller tributaries. Over the years the Flatheads have been introduced across the nation in smaller lakes and bigger impoundments. Submerged rocks and logs offer a safe haven to these shy creatures in shallow and deep waters, making the perfect spots for flathead catfishing.

The most distinguishing feature of a Flathead catfish is its long and flat head, therefore the name Flathead. The eyes of a Flathead are oval and the lower jaw is much bigger than the upper jaw. The coloring of the Flatheads is mottled brown and yellow which lends it invisibility in murky waters. An average Flathead catfish is around forty to fifty pounds but is strong enough to give any angler a tough fight. A fully grown Flathead can weigh up to 100 pounds.

Flatheads on hatching, experience a growth spurt. At only fifteen to nineteen inches they gain sexual maturity albeit, their body weight and size keeps increasing throughout their life time. Flatheads enjoy a life span of twenty five years. These 'Cats' possess a voracious appetite and would devour anything that they can bite into, fish being widely preferable over all else. Bream, Perch and Sunfish are delicacies that would drag a Flat out of its hiding even in the brighter hours.
When Flatheads were propagated in Georgian Rivers, these vicious predators wiped out most of the redbreast population. Introducing Flats in smaller bodies of water in which they are non native always proves disastrous for the smaller fish breeds. Catfish are generally nocturnal predators but the Flatheads exhibit no such tendencies. They hunt during the day as well the night and tend to do it by sight. Anglers who practice fishing in the dark hours use light to attract the Flatheads, which wade in closer to the angler's boats in pursuit of bait.

Locating catfish isn't difficult if you know where to look. River bends which are partially covered and have shadowy depths are a good place to start. Flatheads like to take cover from the exposed surroundings by hiding in rocks, logjams and tree stumps found under water.
When cat fishing on a river, the outside bends are rejected in favor of the inside bends by the anglers because of the difference in the flow. Finding the right spots the fishers cast under the edges, wait for the weight to settle, and for the big one to come along.

When fishing in lakes and reservoirs, a seasoned angler goes straight for darker and secluded areas where under water brush piles form the perfect abodes for Flatheads. In lakes and reservoirs, creek channels also hold possibilities. The Flatheads cross these channels to get to the shallows and hunt for food. Anglers who are aware of these habits set up their rigs around these areas for catching the crafty Flathead.

Seasoned anglers advise going after the Flatheads in the earliest part of the day. Early evenings or after dark hours during the summer months are also recommended. Although, Flatheads hunt during the day and night, they are just a bit weary when the sun is up. Bait has to be offered to them from the least possible distance because a Flathead wouldn't step up to take it. Remember to use a good steady weight which will keep the bait on the river bottom, right where the Flathead is.

Ron Sharp is a catfishing expert. For great information on Flathead catfishing, visit flathead catfishing [http://www.catfishingcatch.com/flathead-catfishing/]

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