I have caught most of my flathead with floating suspended live baits or bait under a bobber, mainly in lakes, shallow water about 3 to 6 feet. It's a lot of work keeping the bait out of cover but well worth the time.

If I knew a snell knot was so simple I would've been using it for years now. Thx

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

I tried tying them 3 other ways which were very difficult. It wasn't until a friend and fellow youtuber showed me the easy way that I almost gave up on it. That knot doesn't look like it should work. It really doesn't. But I've never tied a better snell knot in my life before I learned the "easy" way.

This is good information to know, i have been getting gear to run a helicopter rig that i got from watching TD fishing. With what you said about circle hooks, i feel this rig will work perfectly with circle hooks

@daveallover

Ай бұрын

Good deal! Glad you found it useful

I never knew about the snell knot, thanks for the video buddy! You did a great job explaining everything and answering questions I had!

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome buddy!

This is a great video. Really helped me understand the importance of being patient with circle hooks.

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

Annoyingly patient sometimes. I'm glad you found it helpful.

Loosing a fish without loosing the hook is just part of fishing and another reason we call it fishing and not catching. It creates monster stories and the lure behind being out in the world searching for these wonderful creatures. Great content.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir! You're absolutely right. We wait all night for 1 bite. It's a heart breaker when it doesn't hook up but we lose one we rig one.

Smooth video, that is very helpful info.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man!

Thanks for the schooling on how different catfish bite and how to behave for hook ups of different kinds of catfish and for the circle hook snelling advice. That's all very helpful. I just started back fishing about 4 months ago after about 50 years and I forgot almost everything I knew about fishing except for bream fishing and fly fishing. I have a mystery you might help with. I fished from the bank of a narrow bayou (about 75 tt wide) between some fallen trees until about an hour after it was too dark to even see the water. I got a solid bite and that fish pulled harder than anything i ever hooked. I likely had my drag too tight. I never heard it release. 30 lb test with 50 lb leader and a large circle hook. At that time probably a number 5. Now I'm paying more attention to the drag. It pulled and I reeled for at least 30 or 40 seconds. Then it hit the top of the water 4 times in fairly rapid succession and then was gone. I suspect it was a Gar fish. What do you think?

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

Likely was an alligator gar, all gar fish first tendency is to rise to the surface. However flathead will too especially in shallow water. 5/0 hook definitely on the small side. I would beef up to an 8/0 minimum. I'm glad you got a lot from it. Let me know any other way I can help you.

I agree all the way. Been using j hooks for Flathead for ever .My favorite was Team Catfish super J s. Sometime they just come up crush it and lay right there. Great video

@daveallover

10 ай бұрын

Yeah its extremely frustrating sometimes. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you

I catch a ton of channels on circle hooks, still fishing and drifting. went for flatheads a few times last year with circles and had like 3 hookups out of probably 12 bites. still experimenting and losing fish isnt the end of the world if you're letting them go anyway

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah. Couple things that will help... find the circles with the biggest gaps, and use bigger ones.

Very good videos man. Watched this like you said 21:45 make sure im on the basics when the big one latches on.. Been using circles 5 years too. Very successful but there always some situations. Caught a little baby 14" flathead on a 8/0 DA, textbook take down. That little guy was so strong and cool.

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you're enjoying them! I'll keep making them.

Excellent explanations and demo on circle hooks! I mostly use 5/0 circles since I don't catch many flatheads but do use some 7/0 Kahle hooks on bigger baits. I have been known to tie my snell backwards on inline circle hooks so It won't get hung up as often. Nice Flatty buddy!

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I'm seriously considering switching to kahle hooks. I was trying to figure out how to use that footage of a flathead biting slow and decided to show it as a "what not to do" situation lol.

@BankFishingAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

@@daveallover glad you could get that flathead in there.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

@@BankFishingAdventures thanks man! They bite so light sometimes. I'm just glad he wasn't hurt from being hooked so deep.

Love your videos man, always good stuff! New KZreadr here! Always a motivation watching your content

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

I'm new too! About 18 months I've been uploading regularly. It's a blast. Made my favorite thing even more fun. I really appreciate you watching bro.

@239guy

2 жыл бұрын

@@daveallover yeah man, I’m excited to start getting into it. I just dropped my first video, if you wanna hop over there and check it out that would be much appreciated!

Nice vid, Davy. Good information on a bunch of shit I don't know. Gotta get some gear soon.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you man!

Good stuff Dave -xavier

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man!

In speaking solely in terms of flatheads I would recommend mustad demon ultra fine perfect circles…they are shorter shank and much more rounded and have a wider gap all sizes being equal…they are also better on your live bait as far as hook diameter and plenty strong enough…I offset them with a pair of pliers…you get a true offset that way…many “offset” have a bent shank and are not truly offset…

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

Right on man.

Good info on the Snell ...I do disagree about Flattie Hook up ratio . Not saying I never miss fish .but not often. I believe most peoples misses is because lack of patience . I to fish shallow wood . just gotta spend time and know when ..That's just me ..90 percent of cats have been flats this year .8/0 Gamakatsu ..hooks are sharp just keep the scales off the tip.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Distance between the point and the shank plays a huge role in that too. Thanks watching man!

@bretoneil5539

Жыл бұрын

I use the same hooks Lance, patience is the key

I use bobbers with J hooks 100% of the time. I lost every flathead that bit a circle hook under a bobber. Every other rod has circle hooks. Side note: I have crap luck with double action hooks. I think that's because I use braid and it has no stretch. The line never loads up (only the rod does). I use to use J-Hooks on everything (bait clickers on). I would hear that fast "ZIP" and pick up the rod. That bounce I would feel was like their gills flaring! Man now I want to go fishing!!!!

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

I'm about to switch back

I love circle hooks for blues but have switched to "big river" bait hooks for flatheads. I buy the kunsilane Amazon ones instead of the big name ones and they're excellent strong sharp hooks

@daveallover

7 ай бұрын

Can you link them for everyone?

That's why I use double action circle hooks. I can set the hook if I want to. If I'm flathead fishing tho it's a j hook or a big river nasty hook alto I'm leaning away from them cause the severe bend in them my love baits actually wiggle off the hook for some reason

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

I will always be a j hook guy.

I've recently started fishing for flathead, and boy it's been a learning curve. You cannot use the same techniques you use for blues and channels. My biggest problem is finding the spots where the flatheads are willing to bite.... even at night on live bait I can get skunked sometimes. The other issue is my hookup ratio with circle hooks. Sometimes I'll let them eat for up to 20 seconds and try to set the hook and it just doesn't hook up. I've started just closing the bail and letting the circle hook work itself in instead of sweeping the rod to set the hook. But it's definitely been grind out here in AZ man. Thanks for the video, hopefully I'll get more hookups now!

@daveallover

10 ай бұрын

The fact that you're catching any or even getting bit says you're doing something right. Its completely normal to skunk. I think that's difficult for many to understand and understand why anyone would want to put themselves through it lol. Just reel down hard rather than set the hook at all. Having the widest gapped offset hooks possible is a must.

@alexanderzatusevschi4309

10 ай бұрын

@@daveallover definitely! We have a lot of dink flatheads around and I've noticed that they like to mess with the bait and not even swallow the whole bluegill. Like they'll bite it and let go, then bite again and not swim off. Most of our lakes are quite deep too with some shallow flat areas that I try to target at night when they actively feed. I've tried a dozen or so times this year and my biggest is only like 8 pounds even though there's monsters in those lakes.

@FeloniousSpeed91

6 ай бұрын

You don’t bind up and try to bury the hook like a normal hook, with a circle hook you just gently pull up on the rod tip

@daveallover

6 ай бұрын

Sweep sideways

this was crazy informative.

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

That was my goal. Not the usual run in the mill tutorial ya know.

@the_old_standard

Жыл бұрын

@@daveallover Showing examples of flathead strikes over the railing is something Ive never seen anyone do. really cool.

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

@@the_old_standard I'm glad you found value in it. I wanted to show people a practical and live scenario of exactly what can happen and what to do.

great info! thanks!

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome man!

@beeslayer1906

2 жыл бұрын

don't forget if you need bait, to get some bluegill from my pond. (it's Luke from work)

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

@@beeslayer1906 oh! Sweet man!

Got a 20 pounder in the fridge right now that was caught on a double hook rig, both snelled circle hooks, and a 1.5 lb bass as live bait

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

That's a helluva bait! I love it! 🤣

I tie palomar knots for all my hooks, never had a problem with hook ups

@daveallover

6 ай бұрын

Cool

Good channel man. If I could only use circles for flatheads I'd give up fishing for them. Kahle hooks don't miss. I'd even rather use a j hook than a circle. Trotliners have been using j hooks for a thousand years with a majority of the fish hooking themselves. I see these circle hooks as a gimmick. Anyway good channel, I'll be subscribing

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks man! There's definitely fish they work better for but flatheads aren't one of them.

Okay so I do still have e to pull to set the hook. Everything else I'd seen was just saying "oh the fish hooks itself" and I lost soo many fish I stopped trying to use them. A bobber and a J hook in the shallows still works best in my opinion

@daveallover

2 ай бұрын

The way a circle hook is designed the fish must turn and pull away. It's very difficult to hook a flathead that is facing you with a circle hook. That's where the offset comes in. You could be burying your hook too deep into the bait as well. I've had a pretty good hook up ratio once I learned Patience. You'll get.

@Sleeper-Work

2 ай бұрын

@daveallover just caught a couple nice channel. I tried making sure the bait couldn't spin into the point and having my pole sitting straight up. Worked alot better with all that and giving the a good steady pull and reel. 👍

@daveallover

2 ай бұрын

@@Sleeper-Work that's fantastic. Resist the urge to set the hook. Hold the rod tight, reel hard til you feel drag. Then pull.

Both mustad and gamakatsu have offset octopus circle hooks on Amazon

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

My local Walmart just started carrying them lol

Hi Dave, just getting into flathead fishing, Wisconsin on the wolf river, what is the best live bait to use for these fish. I will be using a ba k pole set up.

@daveallover

Ай бұрын

The bait that moves the most. Stays alive the longest. Your bait catches fish by vibration. Flatheads are listening and feeling for vibration as well as electricity even. A lively bait gets eaten.

I heard that circle hooks are actually an ancient design "rediscovered" in modern times.

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

That would be so cool if it is true. I've got to look it up now lol

That was the no knot snell. It's definitely the easiest of the snell knots to tie, but very effective. Also, take a look at the hybrid circle hooks. They give most of the benefits of circle hooks with almost no negatives. I'm personally using Charlie Brown and Whisker Seeker Triple Action hooks. There's several other brands that are very good too.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

When this little experiment is over I'm running back to J's

I'm no expert but I use a 2.5 or 3 inch peg float to hold my bait just off bottom has made a big difference in my bite and nice flatty!!!!!

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Santee cooper is a good rig.

thats so spot on its funny lol

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

I dont always complain about fishing... but when I do it's because of circles.

Do or would you snell a straight eye circle hook? I mainly thought the purpose of snelling was to make the line and shank of the hook as straight as possible?

@daveallover

2 ай бұрын

Yes.

Snelling the Hooks Will Increase Ya Success ,I Use The Knotless Knot For Snelling,,,It's Never Failed Me , NEVER

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for watching brother!

@donniedickerson8077

2 жыл бұрын

@@daveallover Good info for those who are just starting out and there seems to be a lot More out there on the water

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

@@donniedickerson8077 sure is! I'm getting more and more requests from people who've never fished a day in their lives wanting to know everything lol.

@donniedickerson8077

2 жыл бұрын

@@daveallover i know the places I Have Fished All my Life (,,45+ years,, I'm 58 now) from what I've seen the number of people has tripled possibly quadrupled, it's enough so I'm concerned about the pressure now on the Small Oxbows , I had hopes of some sort of resivor system here but so far it's failed this immediate Area Needs it desperately, I'm actually a Retired State Wildlife LE Officer , I watched the numbers increase thru that as well , More Coming Thru The Hunter education and Boat and water safety classes was a good indicator, now when I get to the Lake chances are you gonna have company ,I pick my spots carefully if I'm fishing the weekends ,some places I only fish during the week ,, I hope State Fishery depts Recognize and seriously maintain good restocking programs and Slots for all Species If not Some Areas Will surely feel the Results of the increase , there's a lotta pressure on these lakes and I think it's gonna continue ,

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

@@donniedickerson8077 it 100% is going to continue. This is going to be a very unpopular viewpoint that I have but I think it necessary to think about banning "fire and forget" methods of fishing. Trot lining, bank lines, limb lines.

So I have Team Catfish Kahle hooks. What’re your thoughts on them?

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

Kahles are awesome at hooking fish... unfortunately they're awesome at hooking snags as well.😂... only reason I don't use them.

@chrisbuck6086

Жыл бұрын

@@daveallover If I try them should I use a snell knot?

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

@@chrisbuck6086 I Snell everything I can. Strongest most forgiving knot.

I have 2 circle hooks out in a channel cat river. KZread keeps me company as I wait.

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

You're making me wish I wasn't at work.

@EASTSIDERIDER707

Жыл бұрын

@@daveallover Retirement is one long weekend.

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

@@EASTSIDERIDER707 that's awesome 🤣

But my guy you never described the J hooks you use. 🤷‍♂️ so what type and size j hooks do you use???

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

9/0 octopus J's

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

But I'm still using circles. My local walmart just started carrying 8/0s with a much wider gap.

I've had them just move my line sideways

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

Yeah that's scary in my river.

Up to 10x

@bretoneil5539

Жыл бұрын

It's amazing the size hook and bait a 4 pound channel cat can get into is mouth, we don't have blue cats "supposedly". Here in PA but I have caught a couple in the Monogahela river

@daveallover

Жыл бұрын

@@bretoneil5539 oh yeah I've caught them on 10/0 circles with 7 inch sunfish.

I'm sick of circle hooks. I've lost more fish using these stupid things than I have anything else. Who ever started the circle hook craze needs slapped hard. Ps...I use snell knots with circle hooks.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

I too have missed a bunch. Its heartbreaking

@rondoofnightmare775

2 жыл бұрын

@@daveallover Yes it is. And what's still worse is they get gut hooked also. Rare, but it happens. I'm switching to regular octopus hooks to increase hook up ratio. The only time I've had fish get gut hooked is when I caught blue gills after one had inhaled the bait. Out side of that, if your using the right size non circle hook they get hooked better than circle hooks and are usually in the fleshy part of the mouth like those no good circle hooks.

@daveallover

2 жыл бұрын

@@rondoofnightmare775 I'm with ya! I'm going to switch back here real soon

Ever use Khale hooks? I love them.

@daveallover

Ай бұрын

Years ago. I kept getting hung up on everything. Guess that's a testament to how affective they are. Lol.

@Elrond_Hubbard1

Ай бұрын

@daveallover Yep! 😆