QuestionI am going catfishing on Lake Seminole in a couple of days. I will be fishing near Ray's Lake on Lake Seminole. CAn you give me any advise on how to catch flatheads ie.bait,tackle,where?
AnswerCasey; Actually I am far from an expert on catching catfish here on Seminole but I do not believe Ray's lake is the best place to look for flatheads. Flatheads are pretty much a river fish and Rays lake is little more than a pond with a small creek feeding it. If it is flatheads you are looking for you will need to go down to the main lake and fish the channels of either the Flint or the Chatahoochee.
Flatheads are almost exclusively live fish eaters. On the rivers they are caught on bluegills often of eating size.
A heavy rig using no less than 20lb test line and possibly more. Since there is little current in the lake a lighter sinker may be used than in the rivers above or below the lake.
Most of the catfish fishermen around here use a three way swivel with a weight a few inches below and a leader of from a few inches to a couple feet. While I have not used them I have heard that circle hooks are far the best. Be sure to read the directions on hook set using these hooks. It is quite different from regular hooks.
There are several kinds of catfish that live in Lake Seminole including Rays Lake.
The bullheads get pretty big often running a couple of pounds. Channel cats are the next most common running to several pounds but most often around 3lbs and then the Blue cats which run to 50lbs or more but most likely under ten. All except the flatheads can be caught using various baits such as cut fish, commercial blood baits or commercial cheese baits. Even worms at times. The channel cats will occasionally hit an artificial. I have cauthe them while fishing for bass but it is not a very productive method.
I hope this has been of some help. You might get better information by talking to some of the people at the various store/bait and tackle places about specifics of their area. Mike at Parkside market at the corner of 253 and 275 may be able to put you on to some information. That is about 2 miles south of Rays Lake bridge. Other stores probably can lead you to better information than I can give since I can only report what I have heard not having fished for catfish that much here.
I hope this is of some help. When you get here you can give me a call if you wish and I will see what else I might help you with.
I am; Jack L. Gaither
[email protected]
8038 Spring Creek Drive
Donalsonville, Ga. 39845
229-861-2366
