Flathead Fitout
As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer it always indicates to me that it is time to turn my fishing attention to catching Flathead. I love chasing lizards, they are easily my favourite estuary target. It was this love that tuned me into fishing with plastics and completely changed the way I fished. I am currently in training for the Flathead Classic and no that doesn’t mean I am running around the block! But what it does mean is that I am increasing my time on the water specifically targeting lizards. Getting good results with Flathead fishing is a getting the combination right between:
Correct Outfit: When casting soft plastics you need a rod that you can cast all day long. In search of performance and balance my team mate Tracey decided to go custom and had noted rod builder Brad Job built her a custom outfit. Tracey has used this rod in the ABT Bream comps and is extremely happy with it, she is confident it will also serve her well as her light flathead stick. However you don’t have to spend big dollars to get a good flathead set-up. This season I have upgraded my flathead outfits to two Pleguer Trions 2-5kg as well as the 3-6kg teamed up with a Daiwa Excellor 2000 reels. The rods retail at approximately with the reels com in under the $100 mark. The main reason soft plastic fishos use graphite rods is to help get the action all the way to the lure, which is often lost in the wobble of a fiberglass rod. I have spooled up with XXXXXXXXXXX
I use fluorocarbon leader in few different sizes depending on the size fish I am chasing and conditions I am fishing but most commonly I use
Correct Weight: It is important to present your soft plastics on the correct style and weight jighead. I have been using the TT tournament Jigheads with the Gamakatsu Hooks this season, super sharp and a good range of weights and hooks sizes. The rule of thumb is to have enough weight to keep you on the bottom, therefore slower current and shallow means lighter jig head and deeper water, stronger current turn to heavier jigheads. I tie my fluorocarbon to the jig head using a small loop knot.
Correct Plastic: Whilst it is true Flathead are an easy target on plastics and they will almost take almost any plastic there are a few styles that I have had more success with. In dirty water I almost always fish a Gulp and I like a 3” swimming mullet especially if the water is shallow. In deeper water I go for a bigger plastic and like the Gulp pogy. If the water is clear I am more comfortable to fish non bio style plastics that have less of a scent, lately I have loved fishing the Atomic 3” Jerk Shad on a ¼ ounce jighead.
Correct technique: Your technique is really important and you need to get out and experiment with different techniques., this is what I have been focussing my ‘training’ on lately. The most popular technique is the 3 quick flicks in combination with lifting the rod, whether you are using a fast erratic style or a slow loop style you must consider keeping contact with the bottom for long enough for the fish to get a look at it and a chance to have a go at it! I have been using a very simple cast and retrieve along the bottom with the occasional twitch too much with some success and if you are new to plastic fishing this is a good place to start.
Correct Environment: This is really important fish are everywhere but they are in greater numbers in certain areas and at particular times of the tide. I like run out tides with water rushing over a bank into a deeper gully for flathead. Bait usually washes over and flathead are in the deeper section waiting for them. So I cast up into the shallower water and hop my plastic with the current towards the deeper water. I also like fishing deeper water on the full tide before or after the hard running current. I like to find deep channels near river mouths and look for bait fish, I usually go with a heavier jighead and I keep very close contact with the bottom. My favourite spots of late have been around Crab Island in the Southport Broadwater on a run out tide, Coombabah Creek sound out for drop offs or have a look at low tide for banks and drop offs as well as the Southport Seaway.
It’s not all about plastics!
Whilst probably considered old school amongst many fishos deep in the plastics revolution, I still enjoy trolling lures for flathead and in a competition like the Flathead classic it can be an opportunity to get off your feet for awhile and even have a bite to eat! Trolling in close to the bank with a deep diving lure is the way to go I like the locally produced Pig Lure which has proven to be very successful my favourite colours are the gold and pink.
There has been a boom in the production of blade style lures and one of the largest fish caught in last years classic was caught on a blade. I have fished them and have boated a few flatties but this is one area of my flathead fishing that is under development and something I will be practicing in the lead up to the comp.
As the weather warms up you can expect to see the bigger lizards and greater numbers come to the boat. Be sure to ensure you have the right combination to tackle the Flathead next season.