Blackwater Flatheads

[Derik]

I'm new here and wanted to know if anyone would be willing to help a new to the lake cat fisher out? My step father got a pontoon this year and they have a place in Penhook (Arrow Head camp ground). His boat doesn't have a depth or fish finder and he wants to go cat fishing Thursday and I think the Blackwater area would be the best area to try for flatheads, is my assumption right? I really don't know the lake that well and honestly have no clue how and where to try for flatheads. I'm NOT asking for personal hot spots, but just a general area that might produce a decent size flathead or two (catch and release) because we plan to fish all night.

I'm a river rat and lakes aren't my thing so any help would be appreciated!!
Thanks,
Derik

[mwardncsu]

Derik - I can't help you with the Cats but welcome to the Site! Catsnstripers on here can probably point you in the right direction, though I think he may be off chasing some salty fish at the moment and not sure if he's checking in..... Hopefully Gotcha or Shadslinger or some of the other guys here can also point you in the right direction.

[Shadslinger]

From Penhook you will want to head up the blackwater arm towards the river, any where above gills creek to the river, check in the backs of creeks and points with in the creek. anchor out off the point and put the bait up on the banks. blue gill will be your bait of choice alive on a carolina rig with a 7/0 or 8/0 hook. No circle hooks!

[Gotcha]

With the recent rain follow your river rat instinct! Sure that fresh water and current will help a bunch! Check all the channel bends in the upper lake area! Major creeks! If you can find some good brush&logs in these spots toss some live brim and soak them for a few minutes! Pick up and go to the next brush! Fish where current beats the bank at its hardest! They relate to a rocky bottom well too! Fish from about 10-25fow in the bends. Couple of spots in the back of gills creek worth trying, back of standiford, magnum, and ponderosa/horseshoe bend! Now is go time for a good flathead! A point with current that is hitting one side is not a bad spot either! With no finder to find depth it's going to be really hard! Catch a few alewives for channels and a lucky striper! May help with the waiting for the big bite! Fish the ales a little deeper than your live baits. If ya make it up to horseshoe it gets really shallow, with no finder I wouldn't try it!

[2 oars & a trash can]

I had a freshly dead big gizzard so put some cuts in it and threw it into maybe 6' of water or less, near the back of a small creek, but not way in the back, near stumps. A 10 lb flathead picked it up, and while I was working on lipping it, it spat up what really looked like crawdad legs to me.

Seems like the 2 previous posts pretty much got you set up, but I thought I'd throw that in there because I thought it was odd. Didn't know they ate those but I guess maybe they will eat nearly anything?

[Derik]

Shadslinger, I'm not sure where Gills creek is, but I'll look it up. Why do you say no circle hooks? I made the hard switch to Daiichi circle hooks 4 years ago and catch every fish that basically give a decent run. Appreciate it man.

Gotcha, No depth/fish finder is going to be interesting for sure. I'm not really into catching channels unless it just happens to take a palm sized bream and they do. I like hookin' the hawgs, but who doesn't right?! haha I'm going to check the map out and get a general idea of the other places you mentioned. We going to put in around 3pm so we can ride around and check a few places out before it gets dark.

Thanks
Derik

[Shadslinger]

Myself and several others have had alot of problems with the hooks turning back into the bait. Plus I just like hear that clicker and cross some eyes...

[Derik]

I've never had that issue. Oh I love to hear that clicker go off as well. I use the bait clicker with circle hooks. Let the fish pull for a few pick the rod up and feel what it's doing and if it's a go engage and sweep it.

[Gotcha]

The circles are great in a heavy river current w reels locked but in the open lake like sml I prefer the regular octopus hooks as well! Clickers and feed um!

Gills is on the right right after the shallow marker at b-13! its a lot closer to you then the rest! As a kid I enjoyed the church services on Sunday mornings at arrowhead!