And while other styles can be used, many flathead anglers fish exclusively with wide-gap circle hooks that hook the quarry in the corner of the mouth, thus facilitating easy hook removal and healthy release. Wide-gap hooks work best for impaling the live fish typically used as flathead enticements. Hone all hooks to needle-like sharpness, and leave the barb exposed after hooking the bait. Where 50-pound-plus cats are possible, 8/0 to 12/0 hooks may be in order. High break strength and low stretch permit better manhandling of big flatheads.Ī 5/0 or 6/0 hook is necessary when using live baitfish up to 6 inches. Braids also have little stretch, transmitting strikes instantly to the rod tip, thus providing more positive hook sets.

Using braided line, which is smaller in diameter than monofilament, allows you to spool more on the reel. Spool the reel with your favorite 30- to 50-pound-test line unless you're fishing specifically for super-heavyweight fish, in which case you may want to use line testing 60 to 130 pounds. The clicker also keeps a soft, steady tension on the spool, thus preventing backlashes when a cat runs with a bait. And most flathead fans prefer one with a 'clicker' mechanism that produces an audible signal when line is pulled from the reel, thus indicating a catfish bite. The best for flatheads hold at least 200 yards of the line size you intend to use. Baitcasting reels are more durable than spinning and spincast reels and provide more fish-cranking power.

Flathead catfish fishing planet setup