2. Push the line through the eye toward the point. make this about as long as the hook shank.
3. Wrap the long section of line around both the hook shank and the short length of line about eight times.
4. Pinch the line wraps to hold them in place and push the end of the long section of line through the eye toward the hook point.
5. Snug the wraps up toward the eye.
6. Moisten the knot and pull the long section of line hard to set the snell.
Fishing is a funny activity – funny peculiar, not funny haha. Although it is a game of problem solving, we often handcuff ourselves with misconceptions or hesitations. It’s usually a fixation on a certain lure, or bait, or “spot” that holds us back.
A 25 pound flathead from a southern honey hole.
Years ago, I took a road trip to fish with a guide “down south” for flathead catfish. I learned a lot that day. I have returned to that same water a few times guideless, and always had success. More importantly, I always enjoyed the process. Simultaneously, I had been curious about a population of flatheads closer to home, but I never wet a line.
Why did I drive hours past flatheads to catch flatheads? The only answer I can give is; I didn’t know where to start, or so I thought. I had handcuffed myself with hesitation. I had confidence, but only in one spot.
Well, I finally took the first step. I picked a likely stretch of river, took what I had learned fishing for “southern” flatheads, and made a few adjustments to fit this “northern” river. We had reasonable success right out of the blocks. That first step has opened a whole new fishery to my disposal – a new local species, a new water, and new set of fishing puzzles to solve.
This single digit cat broke the flathead ice for us.This 16# was big fish of the day and a good way to close the first outing on new water.
