Cat Matt Jones’ better half, Michelle Jones, shows off a big beautiful flathead caught during daytime hours.
Ahhhh, the flathead catfish—big, strong and a stone-cold killer. Most anglers know it as a nighttime predator. Pull out the headlamps and glowsticks and grab fresh batteries for the flashlight. Maybe as a bank angler, gather firewood and get camp set up.
Over the years, however, many anglers have started to understand you do not have to chase these brutes in the dark. In fact, daytime can and is the right time to chase ol’ big brown.
Let me put it to you like this. Let’s say a guy has owed you a hundred bucks for six months and it’s time to get him to pay (the guy is the flathead for you who may be a little slow). He works nights and you must figure out where he works and then locate him once you figure out where that is. Does that seem right to you, or would you rather do it this way? During the day, taking your friends schedule into consideration, you know he will be home, he will rest there, and he will grab a bite to eat and chill. Common sense tells me, I’m just going to his house.
This scenario is comparable to flathead catfishing at its finest most of the year. During the day, flatheads are at home in submerged logs, undercut banks, big rocks and the like most of the time. During hot water and hot weather, even overhead shade can attract these fish.
If you’ve been a night owl but were thinking you need to rethink your tactics, try this for a change of pace. Find heavy cover under the bright daytime sun and get fresh cut or juicy live baits directly on, in and above that cover and hold on for dear life. Oh, and definitely don’t forget bridge pillars. Go, Catfish!
(Matt “CatMatt” Jones is a lifelong catfisherman from the northwest corner of Illinois. He’s also a long-time guide, speaker and writer who enjoys spending most his time chasing big flatheads. “I caught my first catfish at six years old, and the fire just kept getting bigger from there,” he says. “Every new tactic was just another twig on the fire. Now, almost 50 years later, catfishing still fuels my passion. Along the way, I’ve learned a thing or two, and passing on my passion is what I enjoy most.”)
