How to Find Monster Catfish
- 1). Select a lake or river that holds flathead catfish. In general, larger lakes and rivers hold the biggest flatheads because they have an abundance of forage. Good places to look for big flatheads in rivers are deep holes, outside bends and the upstream side of humps. Check drop-offs near where tributaries enter the river, too. If you are fishing for flatheads in lakes, focus on steep-sloping drop-offs that have cover like rocks or woods.
- 2). Spool 40- to 60-pound test fishing line on a 7- to 8-foot, heavy action rod and reel. Choose a weight that is heavy enough to stay on the bottom and large hooks -- 4/0 or bigger.
- 3). Make a bottom rig. Cut off 20 inches of line from your main fishing line. Thread the sinker onto the line, and then a small bead. Use Palomar knots to connect the main line to one end of the swivel, and the leader line to the other end. Tie the hook to the other end of the leader.
- 4). Bait the hook with live bait. Some of the top flathead catfish baits are bullheads, carp, shiners and sunfish. A bait that is 12 inches is not too big, though anything longer than 6 inches works. Hook the baitfish just behind its dorsal fin.
- 5). Fish after dark. Big flathead catfish move out of deep holes and come out of heavy cover to feed under the cover of darkness. Anglers who specifically target big flatheads often fish through the night.
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