Looking to learn how to catch flathead from shore? Then you’re in the right place because I have fished flathead catfish for many years and I go in depth in this guide with everything you will need to know to be able to catch flatheads easily.
Fishing flatheads can be quite tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing at first but once you know where to find them and what bait to use then it gets easy from there.
By the end of this guide, you will learn how to catch flathead from shore.
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Table Of Contents
How To Catch Flathead From Shore
When your learning how to catch flathead from shore cast near structures as they are most likely hiding undercover.
Anywhere where fish can hide is a perfect key indicator for a flathead catfish fishing spot. If you want to have the most success when fishing for them go out when the sun is low so at night, morning, or on a cloudy gloomy day.
When fishing for flathead catfish always make sure that you’re using live bait to give a more natural presentation because ninety percent of their diet is baitfish. All catfish species are known for loving to eat live bait.
As for the baitfish to use, you can use bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch, shad, skipjack, and pretty much any smaller sized fish that you can think of. Personally, I use a bluegill imitation lure so I don’t have to waste time getting the live bait. Bluegill imitation lures look exactly like bluegill and copy the movement of a real life fish.
Where To Find Flathead Catfish?
Finding where flathead catfish are located is quite simple. First, to find them you have to know where the live bait fish are hiding. When you find where the baitfish are hiding that is where you will find the flathead catfish hunting for them.
Unlike channel catfish being found in the deepest part of the trough, you can find flatheads much closer to the shore and structures as well. Most people think that flathead catfish can only found at night but that is not true I have fished them in the daytime with success.
During the summer it’s best to fish for flatheads at night because the water has cooler temperatures. Flatheads like to be in the colder water temperatures so going out just a few hours before daylight in the morning is also a great idea.
Once you’re out there fishing for flatheads you’re going to want to look around your surroundings for structures. What I mean by structures is anything that is on the water like boulders, rocks, logs, and or even an old boat.
For the most part, you’re going to find flatheads hiding under structures waiting to ambush their prey. When you spot the structures cast towards the structure that is nearest to deeper depth water and that is where you will find flatheads.
What Is The Best Bait For Flathead Catfish?
Flatheads love to feed on many types of fish species and even insects. Starting with the types of fish they eat it ranges from bluegill, shad, and also sunfish, bullhead, and even shiners to minnows.
On top of that they also like to feed on insects, clams, and normally crayfish as well. But when your using bait to fish flathead catfish live bait is the best for attracting flatheads.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, learning how to catch flathead from shore isn’t as hard as it seems. When your out catching them always make sure you know where to find flathead catfish. The key locations are pretty much just structures so theirs really nothing to it and are fairly easy to spot.
Now that you learned how to catch flathead catfish from shore go out there and catch some flatheads!