Fall Flatheads

In my past few trips, I've found that you have to get out early, get ready for some fast action right around sundown, and then you might as well pack it in after 10:00 or so.  Fall is here and the flatties aren't acting much like they do in the summer.  The good news is that they're easier to find and pattern.  I've had more action in my recent trips than I had throughout all of July and most of August.  I know that they'll turn off just as quickly, but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

I owe much of my success to a young guy that is new to the river.  We both pulled up under the bridge when it started raining a couple of weeks ago and began trading information.  He mentioned a long, deep run just down river from the launch.  I go straight up stream 100% of the time, so in all of my years of fishing out from this launch, I had no idea that this huge hole existed.  Sure enough, even in our low water conditions, the water in this long stretch maintained 8 and 9 feet.  I found that there are a lot of rock bass in this hole, so I've been using them as bait (live and cut) along with my live creek chubs.  I've had luck on all baits.

I've had a lot of fish hit visciously and tear the bait off of the hook.  I think that these have been smallish flatties.  I downsized to 5/0 hooks on a couple of rods and went from locking my reel to using the clicker.  Sure enough, I immediately hooked a small flathead and then a 10 pounder.  I topped off the night with a small channel that I somehow hooked near its pectoral fin.  I didn't know what was going on as I was reeling him in.  This all occured on a warm, rainy night.  I went home wet, but pretty happy.

I got a late start to my most recent trip.  I traded some time with Michelle, giving her most of the day away if I could go at 7:00.  I left the house at closer to 7:30, so it was just about dark when I anchored.  I caught one rock bass that I immediately cut in 2 and dropped under the boat.  I then threw out a good sized chub about 25 yards back.  That minnow was moving nice for me and I knew that it was only a matter of time.  I wasn't set up for even 30 minutes when the clicker on that rod started singing.  I grabbed the rod, let it load up, and set the hook on a nice fish.  It was great to feel a heavy fish on the end of my line.  Unfortunately this has been a rare occurence this year.  The cut rock bass got hit while I was reeling this fish in.  I grabbed the rod with my left hand and made an attempt to set the hook.  Nothing there.  Probably a good thing.  My hands were full.  The scale read 19 pounds when I finally tamed the old girl.

Still haven't bested 20 pounds in 2010, but there's still a little time.  I've got a few more chances before I turn back to muskies.  Not time to put the boat away yet.