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Flat heads - 9/15/2008 2:53:43 PM   
fishON4Me


Posts: 130
Joined: 10/30/2007
Status: offline 		I went up to Dick's sporting goods this  weekend to pick up a few things for steelheading. I talked to a employee up there in the fishing department and he said he used these F-5 Flat Heads for trolling and was nailing steelies on them last year. I picked some of them up in an assortment of colors and tried them out on the streams. I never used them before or even heard of them but noticed they do not sinker but float when I retrieve them. Wouldn't these F-5 Flatheads be hard to catch a steelie on since they do not go down to the bottom or deep enough to be in the steelies strike zone? Would it make since to use a few split shots in order for these to work. Anyone ever use these for steelheading? Please let me know as I throw out the packages and doubt I can return them now. Thank you for all your help.
Post #: 1
RE: Flat heads - 9/15/2008 3:05:04 PM   
Cold


Posts: 681
Joined: 3/27/2008
From: Latrobe, PA
Status: offline 		Do you mean FlatFISH?

(in reply to fishON4Me)
Post #: 2
RE: Flat heads - 9/15/2008 3:06:14 PM   
catchinfish


Posts: 128
Joined: 11/22/2007
Status: online 		Are you sure they're not called flatfish?  I know they come in all sizes.  I prefer using the F-4 model.  I have never used them for steelhead but caught literally hundreds of stocked trout on them through the years.  I'm going to try them for steel this year.

As far as getting them to sink I just put on a split shot to keep them down.  Obviously the depth and current will tell you what size to use.  But to answer your original question without weight they tend to stay on the surface of the water.  White, gold, and rainbow are great colors to use.

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WE ARE.... PENN STATE!!

(in reply to fishON4Me)
Post #: 3
RE: Flat heads - 9/15/2008 3:29:51 PM   
fishON4Me


Posts: 130
Joined: 10/30/2007
Status: offline 		I am sorry yes Flat Fish

(in reply to catchinfish)
Post #: 4
RE: Flat heads - 9/15/2008 3:41:37 PM   
catchinfish


Posts: 128
Joined: 11/22/2007
Status: online 		fishON4me,

Definitely give them a try.  They're a great bait for trout.  Once again I never used them for steelhead but I'm sure they will produce.  I know a lot of guys troll with them in bigger bodies of water but they do work well in creeks.  Like I said I have done very well for stockies with them and will definitely give them a go here soon.

I have had my best luck with a slow retrieve and a twitch with the rod once in a while to give it a different look.  I have noticed too you will get a lot of follows with a flatfish.  If your persistent they'll usually give in to the temptation.  Maybe I'm crazy but I will be shocked if I don't catch any steel on them this coming season. 

White and gold seem to work the best for me plus the rainbow color too.  They're hard to find but they also make a mother of pearl one that is deadly but they can be tough to find.  Try www.yakimabait.com.  This is were I usually buy mine from.

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WE ARE.... PENN STATE!!

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Post #: 5
RE: Flat heads - 9/15/2008 3:57:13 PM   
joebaker79

 

Posts: 1526
Joined: 11/13/2003
Status: offline 		I have used flatfish for 8 years to catch hundreds of steelhead in many color patterns.  I have a few that catch fish every time.  I don't remember the size codes but I use 1.5 to 1.75 inch in the creeks and I have caught fish on the 2.25 inch size at the wall at Walnut and casting into the lake.  Trolling I would stick to the 2 inch or 2.25 inch.  They hit larger lures in the lake.  Run them with 1-2 split shot to get them to stay down.  Troll or cast at a slow place.  You should feel your rod vibrating just right.  They may require tuning but once it runs right you will catch fish.  Try all colors and see what works best.  Bright colors work but don't rule out dark.  My number 1 producer is a darker color that works anytime, anyday, in the hottest, clearest water to the colder water of December.  In the right situation flatfish will outcatch most other offerings.  Behind jigs flatfish catch me the most fish from September to December.  In 8 years I have seen only a handfull of people using them and half as many using them correctly. 

Always fish at an upstream angle, rarely will fish turn downstream to chase.  Bring flatfish in front of fish or pack of fish.  Many fish will chase from way back to get it.  Fish it slow but quick enough to have the correct action.  Even when you only have 5 feet to run one do it.  Fish will leave a pocket into shallow water sometimes below your feet to hit it. 

Swinging flatfish in current is deadly as well.  Letting the current work the lure and swinging it in and out of the current fish are holding in will bring strikes just as much as casting and retrieving.  Fish in current can be the most active.  I have done this more the last 3 years and it's now one of my most productive methods in current even over drifting eggs and flies. 

Overall for my $ a strike on a flatfish is the most heartpounding way to get a steelhead.  Beats the heck out of watching them sluggishly slurp in a single egg or fly on a drift.  Flatfish and jigs really highlight what these fish are made of. 

(in reply to fishON4Me)
Post #: 6
RE: Flat heads - 9/15/2008 3:58:08 PM   
joebaker79

 

Posts: 1526
Joined: 11/13/2003
Status: offline 		Most important thing, NEVER EVER STOP REELING A FLATFISH.  Fish will not strike if you pause.  Reel it into your boot if you have to.  Just keep reeling. 

(in reply to joebaker79)
Post #: 7
RE: Flat heads - 9/16/2008 7:14:22 AM   
gizmos

 

Posts: 413
Joined: 9/9/2006
Status: offline 		If nothing else, save them for July, August eyes ! Run off a 3-way with a stinger and a crawler, slow drift, cant be beat at times ! 

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Eat what you catch,troll for cows.

(in reply to joebaker79)
Post #: 8
RE: Flat heads - 9/16/2008 9:03:12 AM   
JEB


Posts: 1056
Joined: 10/27/2001
Status: offline 		The problem with people at Dicks, Wally Word, K-mart, Gander MT and the likes is most people there don't have clue about fishing or hunting. Just because you might have done it once or twice doesn't qualify you to give advice. I've overheard so much wrong or poor info being given out by those guys over the years that it makes you wonder.
This board gives out much better advice than you'll ever get from an employee in one of those stores. The exception is the Orvis shops, those guys are pretty good.

(in reply to gizmos)
Post #: 9
RE: Flat heads - 9/16/2008 11:14:09 AM   
pxatim


Posts: 952
Joined: 10/22/2006
From: dahn rahn ah rocks
Status: online




(in reply to JEB)
Post #: 10
RE: Flat heads - 9/16/2008 12:25:48 PM   
cooljauman


Posts: 269
Joined: 8/6/2008
From: Clearfield/Slippery Rock
Status: offline



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Sorry boss I seem to have anal glaucoma. I just cant see my a$$ going to work today

(in reply to pxatim)
Post #: 11
RE: Flat heads - 9/16/2008 8:44:59 PM   
smallhook


Posts: 880
Joined: 9/15/2000
Status: offline 		I've caught just about every species of fish on flatfish. There is a guy in West Elizabeth that made me be a couple of flatfish out of wood. They was the best flatfish I ever fished with. I still have one of them left but it's so cool I keep it on my tying bench. Things I intend on reproducing finds it's way onto my tying/gun workin bench.

(in reply to cooljauman)
Post #: 12
RE: Flat heads - 9/25/2008 7:00:48 AM   
griffon

 

Posts: 1302
Joined: 10/30/2003
Status: online 		Fishon4me, I can see you not getting too many helpful tips going forward after your Walnut comments...  Another troll exposed...

< Message edited by griffon -- 9/25/2008 7:01:41 AM >

(in reply to smallhook)
Post #: 13
RE: Flat heads - 9/25/2008 7:57:32 AM   
Mikastorm


Posts: 2803
Joined: 10/18/2006
Status: offline

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Post #: 14
RE: Flat heads - 9/27/2008 11:33:19 AM   
smallhook


Posts: 880
Joined: 9/15/2000
Status: offline 		Nice Flathhead.  Was it caught in the Mon?  Hit a Gill?

(in reply to Mikastorm)
Post #: 15
RE: Flat heads - 9/27/2008 1:05:39 PM   
genieman77

 

Posts: 1529
Status: offline 		Nice cat, Mika

BTW, that looks like a "roll yer own" hanging from your lips.

is it tobacco or the hippie cabbage?
(not that there's anything wrong with that


..L.T.A.

(in reply to smallhook)
Post #: 16
RE: Flat heads - 9/28/2008 10:02:25 AM   
Mikastorm


Posts: 2803
Joined: 10/18/2006
Status: offline 		Never could roll them to look like a cig  lol
That was caught at Shenango( not by me) on a crawler and an ultralight. 35lbs.

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Post #: 17
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