Flathead catfish make for a great fight
Though there are plenty of opportunities to pursue a wide variety of fishing styles in northern Illinois, there are not very many that involve duking it out with what could be considered a true river monster. That doesn't mean that those opportunities don't exist.
Folks, it is time you met the Flathead catfish.
If you have ever watched videos of people wrangling catfish by hand, also referred to as "noodling," you have likely seen a Flathead. They are easily distinguished by their wide head, protruding jaw, brownish complexion and rounded tail. On top of that, they tend to grow much larger than their Channel catfish and Bullhead contemporaries.
Still considered to be an invasive in some small circles, the Flathead has grown in popularity over the last dozen or so years for their size, fighting ability and the almost "Jaws"-ian ways in which you need to target them.
While most catfish species can be successfully targeted using classic baits like hot dogs, prepared stink bait, chicken livers and the like, Flatheads are more of a meat and potatoes fish. Using live or cut baitfish is the only way to go for a monster, and bluegill, suckers, chubs and bullheads are the preferred fare.
To be fair, Flathead are still catfish, and have many of the same feeding patterns that you may have noticed while fishing for Channels and Bullheads. Nighttime will always be a preferred time for Flatheads as they are nocturnal hunters. Since they hunt by smell, using cut baitfish at night is generally preferable to using live bait.
In the end, let the fish tell you what they prefer.
In locating these behemoths, structure is your best friend.
During the daylight hours, Flathead will hole up in downed timber, drop-offs close to the bank and slack water cuts adjacent to current. Because Flathead like to hole up in nasty cover, using a stout rod, reel, line and tackle are imperative.
A heavy action rod is not inappropriate when Flathead fishing. Using a rod that is not strong enough will only lead to lost fish, and frankly a lot of broken rods. As far as reels are concerned, the bigger you can use is better. Braided line and stout hooks also are key to winning battles with these ferocious fighters.
Distribution-wise, Flathead aren't everywhere, but they are starting to get more of a foothold in our region.
The Fox River in the Western suburbs is becoming a local Flathead hotbed, with plenty of fish spread out from the state line all the way down to the Illinois River. The Rock River, which runs through Rockford and all the way down to the Quad Cities also is a great system for them.