Taken from another website....World Record Flathead

[drifter106]

Thought it noteworthy even though many here chase only crappie..

Article was written by a member of the forum.



I wanted to call attention to an article in the August/September In-Fisherman about the Kansas and World record flathead caught from Elk City reservoir in 1998. It had been wrapped in a blanket and put in a deep freeze since then, but was recently donated to Kansas Wildlife Parks and Tourism. They did age, sex, growth rate, and stomach content studies on it. The fish was 22 years old, was a male, and had a 28" bigmouth buffalo in its stomach which was mostly digested but estimated to be 14 pounds. There is a picture of the flathead that I hadn't seen before as well as a picture of the buffalo on a measuring board. I found it interesting but not very surprising. Chasing flatheads for many years and learning all you can about them this is not unusual information. I have many age and growth studies that I've saved and this is the oldest flathead I've seen. Most in the 80-95 pound range are in their teens. We have found and heard of some really crazy stuff in flathead stomachs( 6# carp, 6# buffalo, 4# drum, 5# channel cat, 3# flathead, young beaver, muskrats, whole turtles with 10" shells, etc.) but this was the biggest. If you are after the big boys big bait is a plus. I recently caught a 4# flathead on a 10" bluegill, a 38 on a 15" crappie, and a 44 on a 15 inch bullhead.. The thing is, the only way you can use a bait over 12" and be legal is if it is a shad or you catch it on rod and reel. You cannot collect baitfish over 12" but ALL legal rod and reel catches can be used. And remember you cannot transport anything besides bluegill and green sunfish. Anyway, thought some of you might be interested.

[bluebasser86]

I had a 30 pounder puke up a 4lb largemouth while I was fighting it. Nothing is safe when a flathead decides it's hungry.

[warnerwalter]

Thought it noteworthy even though many here chase only crappie..

Article was written by a member of the forum.



I wanted to call attention to an article in the August/September In-Fisherman about the Kansas and World record flathead caught from Elk City reservoir in 1998. It had been wrapped in a blanket and put in a deep freeze since then, but was recently donated to Kansas Wildlife Parks and Tourism. They did age, sex, growth rate, and stomach content studies on it. The fish was 22 years old, was a male, and had a 28" bigmouth buffalo in its stomach which was mostly digested but estimated to be 14 pounds. There is a picture of the flathead that I hadn't seen before as well as a picture of the buffalo on a measuring board. I found it interesting but not very surprising. Chasing flatheads for many years and learning all you can about them this is not unusual information. I have many age and growth studies that I've saved and this is the oldest flathead I've seen. Most in the 80-95 pound range are in their teens. We have found and heard of some really crazy stuff in flathead stomachs( 6# carp, 6# buffalo, 4# drum, 5# channel cat, 3# flathead, young beaver, muskrats, whole turtles with 10" shells, etc.) but this was the biggest. If you are after the big boys big bait is a plus. I recently caught a 4# flathead on a 10" bluegill, a 38 on a 15" crappie, and a 44 on a 15 inch bullhead.. The thing is, the only way you can use a bait over 12" and be legal is if it is a shad or you catch it on rod and reel. You cannot collect baitfish over 12" but ALL legal rod and reel catches can be used. And remember you cannot transport anything besides bluegill and green sunfish. Anyway, thought some of you might be interested.

Do you by any chance have a link to this information?

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[drifter106]

Its origin is the Aug/Sept issue of In'Fisherman magazine. Here is where I found it....
http://www.catfish1.com/forums/showt...ecord-flathead

[warnerwalter]

Oh, ok. Didn't read that first part. I just ordered the back issue off of the In-fisherman website just so I can see it in print. Elk City is my home lake and I've been chasing flatheads for a short time now and boy is it fun when you get ahold of a big one. They really are a fascinating fish.

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