moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/14 13:01:28
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ORIGINAL: wayne c
"but please don't hold them by there gills."
Didnt want to sound like a know it all, or trying to reprimand anyone, but I agree that is VERY GOOD advice. Ive seen lots of pics of guys holdin' flats like that and possibly the fish no worse for wear. But its easy to slip the fingers into the gills and they are EASILY damaged. There is a perfect handle on a flathead, and thats the mouth. The blood coming from the gills in the pic shows that its much safer for the fish to hold by the mouth. The fish will not hurt ya, it aint a musky. A fish that size is a very old fish, and a very good breeder, and not a "common" fish in Pa systems. A true "trophy". Please be careful with them!
+++++++1111111111
your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/14 13:19:24
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here's a 32lber. my pb took two years to break 30lb. ate a 8-9in white bass last oct around 10 a.m. i bet you know where..lol  
post edited by moose22dog - 2011/03/14 13:20:58
your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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eyeassassin
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/14 14:14:41
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nice fish. i had a big one hooked one time but i wasnt set up right for them and he broke the line close to shore i will get a big one this year
REMEMBER HOW MUCH FUN YOUR FIRST BIG ONE WAS. TAKE A KID FISHING
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ifishway2much
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/14 20:41:46
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I agree with all the above posts on poor handling of the fish. I was already bashed by all my buddies. It was the first big cat I caught and sorry to admit it but I was not prepared. I actually went to Bass Pro and purchased a fish grabber for future trips. I learned my lesson and all cats since have been caught and released with TLC.
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tull66 
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/15 11:04:27
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What do you think this one weighed Moose?
Attached Image(s)
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/15 12:49:32
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the same as this one. ORIGINAL: Erie Mako
...One of Fisherlady2's kitty-cats!
your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/15 12:59:52
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ORIGINAL: ifishway2much
I agree with all the above posts on poor handling of the fish. I was already bashed by all my buddies. It was the first big cat I caught and sorry to admit it but I was not prepared. I actually went to Bass Pro and purchased a fish grabber for future trips. I learned my lesson and all cats since have been caught and released with TLC.
it's all good bro,atleast you know now. like said before these big cats are kinda special not too many around anymore we need to keep those genes going. i don't think anyone is prepared when you see one..lol i know i was screaming..lol. tight lines justin
your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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toad01
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/16 17:03:41
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that photo cropting is just wrong lol
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toad01
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/16 17:06:01
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lets see what a flat would look like w/ tulls head
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tull66
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/16 17:32:04
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/18 23:56:20
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your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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Invicta
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/20 17:07:54
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ORIGINAL: wayne c
Not legal to use live carp as bait.
i wonder why u cant use carp as bait?
post edited by Invicta - 2011/03/20 17:10:49
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eyeassassin
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/21 11:03:36
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i use dead ones. i cut a big piece of belly meat and throw it out
REMEMBER HOW MUCH FUN YOUR FIRST BIG ONE WAS. TAKE A KID FISHING
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bigcatpat
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/21 17:45:25
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 Actual #38,er.I'm sorry but I put the other flat in the #15 tops range.
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/03/28 14:35:01
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whats up pat. your back over here again..lol  the ohio at emsworth is only 40* still have awhile . that sucks! 
post edited by moose22dog - 2011/03/28 14:36:28
your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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Meatball
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/01 21:38:51
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They are top predators. Holding any of them under 35 lbs by the gills who cares. Do you want to help grow a trophy or not. Less competion bigger fish. Look at the musky regs. Trophy or "wow, thats the biggest fish I ever caught. I'm takin it anyway even though it's only 35". Do you have any idea how big a range a big cat has for his personal feeding grounds, like a musky? Think of the waterway you are fishing on as a big aquarium. There are territories.
Use the biggest live bait you can keep lively on the hook when you get to your destination. Thats the key to catching the trophy. You sure will put in your time finding him. Dead stinky bait draws in small fish and helps keep a potentially winner night that turned unproductive interesting and fun. Use big hooks and alternate between tail and nose or lip hooked live baits when being serious for biggins, throw out any stinky bait and chum them up to boot and you will have a blast on any Pittsburg river with the potential to catch one of the biggest cats of your fishing lifetime.
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toad01
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/02 08:37:29
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we went crappie fishing 3/26 got 18 channels cats around 2.5-3.5 lbs if i would of strung them all to gether would that count as a 40lber?
O by the way we got them on vertical lures no stinky bait
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fishink
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/20 09:00:08
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Location is very important. There is a ton of material in print and online detailing the best spots to find big cats. As for rigging, the standard is a sliding sinker above a swivel, with a leader and hook of the appropriate size. In fast or turbid water, I usually shorten the leader. Some anglers go as far as letting the sinker slide all the way down to the hook. I've had a lot of luck tying two leaders of equal length to the swivel. The increased scent and action only adds to the draw. You can see an illustration of this rig at http://anglersnotebook.com/doublehooksliprig.jpg My best flatheads have come on small carp and bluegill. I've also taken a number of big blues on those baits, along with creek chubs and other small fish. When fishing for big blues in the Ohio River in Kentucky, I go with skipjack, shad or mooneye. It's often helpful to add some sent to your bait. Here are a few of the better blues and flatheads I've caught recently:   
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fishink
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/20 09:07:28
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The double hook slip rig in action; my fishing partner and I hooked three flatheads and a blue simultaneously... it was a hell of a time:  If you're after big channel cats, the same general tactics apply, though of course you'll need to scale down your rigging. You can also take catfish in and around brushy cover and undercut banks with hotdog, nightcrawlers, shadguts and minnows. You can either bounce them around the cover or fish them on a slip float. Stink baits, corn and the like tend to attract the smaller fish. Some nice channel cats caught recently:  
post edited by fishink - 2011/04/20 13:39:29
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/22 19:18:36
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nice feech, ink!!! you fish the o around the burgh any?
post edited by moose22dog - 2011/04/22 19:19:13
your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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fishink
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/24 09:31:15
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I have in the past. I usually focused on carp and channels though. When I'm after big cats I usually head south if at all possible. I'm sure I'll get on it again sometime in the future. I'm really interested in the reports of the recent testing done in the lockchambers on the Mon which showed pretty good numbers of flatheads at Grays Landing, which is something new. The increase is likely related to the apparent resurgence in the three rivers in general and the boom in the forage base in the Mon in particular. If I get a chance, I plan to check that out.
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fishink
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/24 09:32:11
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I should mention that some of those fish pictured came out of the Ohio; but not in Pennsylvania. I've done real well in Ohio and Kentucky.
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/04/25 18:07:39
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your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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fishnabarrel
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/05/02 15:17:02
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i always had luck with small ones using marshmellows, just trying my little brothers hooked onto a fish
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Avid
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/05/13 05:31:15
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live large shad, bluegill ORIGINAL: Erie Mako
...One of Fisherlady2's kitty-cats!
That's a nice Flathead perfect eating size! Bump for you.
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wade alexander
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/06/04 16:08:29
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honestly moose your a dumbass, it was measured and weighted on a digital scale man...even if a inch or two off or a pound or two, its still no 25-30 inch 10 pound cat. you just look stupid trying to call him out on that. a quick comparison with the bucket gets it easily 36 without the fish being straight so im sure it was 41 with the tail pulled down didnt know you couldnt use carp as bait, but its in the rules... weird huh? took me bout 5 min to check in some things and get a little bit educated on it...its not that hard guys.
post edited by wade alexander - 2011/06/04 16:41:25
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Fishing24/7
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/06/04 22:12:51
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Yea caught lots of flats and that is definitely bigger than 10 or 15 pounds. Give the man a chance he did give a reference to measure by. I'm not saying it's a 40 but I've been catching them for over 35 years and without the girth i'd start in the mid 20's and go from there.
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Fishing24/7
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/06/04 22:33:57
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As far as Carp they are not allowed to be used live. But you can use them as cutbait. If you use them live and you get checked yank the fish off while pulling them in.The belly meat is great very oily but don"t try to steak them they're way too boney.Tactics for Flatheads should be patience,big lively fresh bait, Lots of structure they hideout in the nastiest of cover just like Whietail in deer hunting.Be prepared to lose soom tackle because if you're not snagging you're not catching.Hope to help.
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moose22dog
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/06/07 16:43:01
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LMFAO!!! nice one wade you look stupid calling me out  . think i said before hard to tell in the pix, i'm just goin off of my own exsperincs. i have caught enough 20+ lb's to tell. but like i said hard to tell in any pix, just doesn't look like it in that one.
your "game fish" is my bait.....got flathead!!
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TastyTrout
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RE: Best Tactics For Big Cats
2011/06/08 15:09:00
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With the weather getting warmer I'm going to give catching a big cat another shot. However, the line that I currently have on my rod is garbage. I got some 30# fireline that looks like dental floss. I'm not sure if it's the line or not but even with the drag all the way tight it's still very easy to pull. I'm going to take that line off tonight and just throw on some other line to see if it's the reel or the line.
With that being said what's everyones favorite line for big cats?
Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths. Jimmy D Moore
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