Moving water triggering flathead bite at night, guide says
For the past two weeks, fishermen visiting Blewett Falls Lake on the lower end of the Yadkin/Pee Dee system have had their choice of wrestling blue catfish from 10 to 20 pounds or flatheads from 20 to 30 pounds.
Guide Robbie Burr of Pee Dee Fishing Adventures (www.pdfshingadventures.com) said flathead fishing is a night-time deal because the release of water from the dam makes the cats more apt to strike.
“The best fishing takes place from midnight until 6 a.m. when moving water triggers the action,” said Burr. “The lake has cleared recently as well.”
Burr fishes the main channel in 20 to 25 feet of water in the mid-lake area and around Grassy Islands, anchoring his boat over likely places and using live shad. Any rocks, stumps, or ledges along the way receive attention.
Blue cats are more accommodating. They’ll bite any time a piece of cut shad comes their way, whatever the hour. The action doesn’t depend upon current, either. Burr said the blues are caught on flats in 10 to 12 feet of water; they often school in numbers.
“You can fish acres of water and never get a bite, then hit the right flat and catch numerous blues,” said Burr, who uses a basic Carolina rig while fishing for blues or flatheads. The only significant difference is the bait; as a rule, flatheads favor live bait and blues cut bait.
Burr’s Carolina rig consists of a flat, 2-ounce no-roll sinker and a barrel swivel to connect the main line to an 18-inch leader with a No. 8/0 circle hook on the end of the leader. A key accessory is the addition of an inline cork several inches above the hook to keep the hook and the bait slightly off the lake bottom.
“The cork limits snags and keeps the bait where the fish can see it,” said Burr.
Burr’s tackle is stout enough to battle the biggest cats. He uses 7-foot medium-action Shakespeare Ugly Stik Tiger rods and Abu Garcia 7000 reels. His line choice is a real eye opener. He spools his reels with 100-pound braided line and uses 80-pound-test Ande monofilament line for leaders. No downsizing here!
Blewett Falls covers 2,560 acres in Anson County between Wadesboro in Rockingham. It is the farthest downstream reservoir on the Yadkin/Pee Dee system.
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