flathead catfish

Does any one know where to launch and fish for Flatheads in the dells area?

My largest flathead came from Portage WI on the Wisconsin river. middle of the day 3 feet of water fishing for redhorse. 46" long They are there and they are BIG

does anyone know if its worth targeting flatheads in central wisconsin on the wisconsin river? i live on the river and have only caught channel cats, but i havent used big live bait at night. anyone have experience around here? trent

small one

Those we're tasty

I have always heard good things about the rock. Another spot I have seen pictures of monsters from is powerton cooling lake in pekin down near peoria.

i use to flathead all the time at rend lake with catching several 40lb fish a year jug fishing. rend lake and carlye lake would probaly be your best bet. there is a few people at rend that catches them on rod n reel but i have not figured that out yet.

The rock river is by far the best flathead fishery in Illinois. The best neck of the Rock is around Dixon, with Sterling/Rock Falls #2 in my book. Denny halgren, Dixon is a flattie specialist. Catching many 40+ lb. fish per year. I believe #2 flathead fishery statewide has to be Rend Lake, where biggest fish come by jug fishing.

thanks for the tips guys i definitely dont fish cats often but when i do i like to catch some instead of siiting watching waiting wishing they would bite it and run. i found a few spots for channel catfish in a few different rivers and i know what types of structure there on but i have never been lucky enough to get a flathead. i have even gone with big livew bluegill but still nothing but i will try these tips out and see the result soon.

id probably stick to the rock river...i've never fished it but have heard good things....i would attack it as follows....head out mid afternoon so you have enough time to scout and potentially catch bait if thats legal (i always bring some with since i have really bad luck when i'm depending on trying to catch bait on the river for the night). i'd be looking for deep holes, holes and undercuts on the outsides of corners, and wood piles. the bigger the brush piles and the deeper the hole the better, preferably wood and deep water in the same area. i would be marking way points on the gps during the day so i know which ones i'd like to try, get familiar with the river, and make sure you mark or remember where there are hazards in the river. i've been out plenty of times when the fog rolls in on the river and you can't see more then 10 feet in front of you.

i would spend up to 30 minutes per hole, if there are no bites, move along to the next spot. if you're strictly looking for flatheads, i'd stick with live bait (baitfish, bluegills, bullheads, small carp or sheephead, whatever is legal to use down in illinois). or if you want to pass the time and you have some dead bait, cut it up and use that....you'll more than likely find some channel cats to pass the time and every now and then a flathead will take it.

i'd be anchoring 10 to 20 yards up river from the cover and/or hole and cast down to it. up in wisconsin we are permitted three baits in the water, so early in the night i put one bait close to shore, one midway out, and a third out toward the tip of the wood. later in the night i would be putting two near the wood and a third on a shallow flat if there is one near by....later in the night the flatties will sometimes come up and cruise the flats looking for food.

good luck

Pools 7, 8, and 9. No Blues up here though.

thanks. which pool do you fish on the mississippi i have been planning a trip out there for this spring for paddlefish and monster blues.

Try to find wood with a nice scour hole downriver from it. A nice feeding shelf nearby would be ideal as well. At night they will come out and feed on the flat. I fish on the Mississippi and have my best luck using bluegills as bait. At night shallow is usually better. Outside river bends are good too.