Flathead would have to be one of the most popular and readily available fish species in the country. Due to their beautiful looks, great eating quality and their tendency to eat artificial lures with gusto, the humble flathead has become a cult favourite among anglers of all ages and experience levels.
Where is the best spot to find flathead?
Many people are under the impression that all areas with a sandy bottom will be prime Flathead territory, they will hold fish, but its best to narrow your search to higher probability locations. Try and identify areas that will provide ambush zones, such as structure, bottom contours and tidal eddies. (Weed beds and drop offs in close proximity are my number 1 pick). The correct habitat for flathead is quite diverse and varies from:
- coastal rivers and estuaries
- shallow sand flats
- sheltered rocky reefs
- vast weed beds
- muddy stretches
They can also be found at many depths ranging from ankle deep, through to 25 metres plus.
What is the Best Outfit for Flathead fishing?
When it comes to gearing up for flathead, consideration needs to be taken when selecting the appropriate rods and reels. You will be making long searching casts, so rods 6’6”-7’ in length work best and 2-4kg or 3-6kg depending on the size of lures thrown and the size of fish you are targeting. When selecting a reel try to aim for something lightweight that you will feel comfortable holding for long periods. 2000-3000 size spinning reels are perfect, (ensure the reel balances well with your desired rod).
What lines and Leaders should I use for flathead fishing?
Braided lines are beneficial when using lures, the thin profile and low stretch characteristics greatly improve bite detection and lure control. 4-8lb is ample when dealing with flatties, Berkley Fireline and Shimano Power pro are my favourites when selecting braid. Other recommendations include Daiwa J Braid, Sunline and Sufix 832. The importance of a quality bite leader is something many anglers overlook, the raspy jaws of a big flathead mixed with lesser quality leaders don’t go well together. Select a quality fluorocarbon leader roughly 8-20lb taking into consideration the size of fish you may encounter. Fluorocarbon has the benefit of low visibility underwater and also maximum durability over normal monofilament lines. Leader length comes down to personal choice, 1 to 2 rod lengths ensures your lure looks more natural. (As a rule of thumb I ensure my braid to leader joining knot is between my reel and largest eyelet when casting).
What Lures Work Best for Flathead?
Not the fussiest of species, the flathead has been unfairly labelled as an “easy target”. It is true that most lures will catch flathead, but some definitely do it better than others. We all have our favourite go-to lures whether it be colour, profile or brand that makes some lures appeal to us over others. When selecting a lure the most common sizes used for flatties range between 70 - 110mm, with different shapes from paddle tails, jerk shads, creature baits and curl tails. Each design has a very specific action in the water, a lure that works both on the hop and as it falls, like a curl tail grub will normally be a winner. As for lure colour, everyone has a different favourite, Pinks, Golds, Greens, naturals and everything in between. Picking a lure colour to suit your water conditions is a more viable option, with natural colours working best when fishing clear water. Fluoro and darker colours like pink and black are much better suited when the water is a little dirtier.
What are the Best Retrieves?
The basic retrieve is a technique that has been used to put many flathead on the deck, it involves allowing the lure to rest on the bottom, before imparting a darting action, by jerking the rod tip twice in an upwards motion. It is important to control your line by winding in the slack as your lure falls, the motion is then repeated until the lure is at your feet or boat-side. The jerks are normally quite violent, try mixing it up with subtle twitches and longer stalls until you find the retrieve the fish are responding to. “If you think you’re going too slow, slow it down”, words that I have remembered for decades and still ring true today. Honestly, there is no right and wrong when it comes to retrieves, make sure your lure is making contact with the bottom, throw in some pauses for good measure and you should be on the money.
How to Catch Flathead in Shallow Water?
This is a rather new method used to target Flathead and one that has gone gangbusters in recent years. Using ultra-large unweighted and semi-weighted baits to slowly and methodically cover large amounts of water. The key is to present the lure so that it glides through the shallows at the correct depth, hovering slightly off the bottom and making it sit enticingly in the fishes face. It is becoming ever-present that larger model Flatheads, or Crocs as they are commonly known, will show little interest in smaller presentations, but will happily take XO size baits with enthusiasm. Soft plastics with over-exaggerated body movements work the best, in sizes from 8-12 inches. Some brands worth mentioning include Z-man, Squidgie and Savage Gear, rigged on an 8/0 to 10/0 weedless worm hook.