Sarley: Guide says 'nothing will put up a fight like a flathead catfish'

Check out the picture that accompanies this column. Does it look familiar? It should. Well, maybe not the picture of the fisherman, but the fish picture should ring a bell. This is the third consecutive week we are running a picture of a happy fisherman holding up a huge flathead catfish.

This one, McHenry West freshman Garrett Sode said, is believed to be 42 years old. The person who owns the pond Sode was fishing in said he recorded when he put the fish in the pond.

Sode said it took him 45 minutes to reel in the monster.

I’ve been checking in regularly on the Facebook page started by Ricky Sjurset called “Flatty Heads,” and I am amazed by the amount of activity there. It sure seems there are a lot of flathead fishermen out there and they love sharing their information.

One thing to note is that flatheads are available in most rivers and in some lakes and ponds. It seems the best time to fish for these behemoths is after dark.

The avid flathead chaser gets out on the water at about the time that I am usually turning in for the night, and then they stay out all night. Flathead fishing is not for the meek, to be sure.

I haven’t been out for catfish, neither channels nor flatheads, in quite a while, but I think it is high time.

The only guide I know who strictly hires out for catfishing is “Cat Matt” Jones. He is a friendly 45-year-old who is a lifelong resident of the Sauk Valley, living in Prophetstown, near Dixon.

I shared a boat with “Cat Matt” in 2011 hunting for channel cats and had the opportunity to pick his brain about cats. Jones is an expert on the nuances of the Rock River. It’s a challenging body of water with rocks and shallows that can cause headaches and heartaches to boaters who have no knowledge of the below-the-surface dangers that the Rock can hold.

Those who dare challenge the Rock find it is home to some of the best fishing in northern Illinois. The Rock is loaded with bluegills, crappies, white bass, smallmouth bass and walleyes. The walleyes are some of the biggest that can be found in the state.

Forget about those fish. Catfish are the reason for “Cat Matt’s” fishing existence. He’ll sneer at you if you ask to get in his boat to chase walleyes. He is purely about catfish. He catches five- and six-pound walleyes by accident and considers them to be no more than a nuisance.

Why catfish?

“I started out on cats and just haven’t changed," he said. "My dad started me catfishing when I was 5 or 6. He’d carry me on his shoulders from spot to spot. At first, he let me set the bank poles, and then I graduated to carrying the poles and bait buckets. When I got old enough, he was dropping me and my gear off on the banks of the Rock and leaving me for the whole weekend. I’d pitch a tent and do nothing but fish for cats the entire weekend.”

Jones catches plenty of channel cats, and many of them are huge, but those channels are nothing like the legendary flatheads. The flathead is a completely different creature. Flatheads get active in June through October. Their attraction is that they grow to titanic size. Jones’ best flathead weighed in at 77 pounds. The river record is 78 pounds, and that was recorded by an angler who caught the fish by accident.

Flatheads aren’t easy to catch. They are particular as to what they will chase for a meal. Jones told me that on a day-long guide trip, he expects to get in contact with 15 flatheads and get six or seven to take a whack at his bait and to land a minimum of one fish a trip. He personally feels that a one-fish day is a disappointment, even though many anglers spend thousands of hours without ever having landed a flathead. “I just don’t get skunked when taking out a party for flatheads,” Jones said proudly.

“I think that flatheads are similar to muskies, in the fact that they are caught so much more seldom than other fish," he said. "When you hook them, flatheads go a little crazy. They’re different and they shouldn’t even be related to any other fish. They fight better than muskies and are harder to locate. Some people like to fish with finesse. Me, I am all about the hunt and all about the fight, and I tell you that nothing will put up a fight like a flathead catfish.”

To book a trip with Jones, you can call him at 815-590-1469 or check his Facebook page – “Catfish Academy.” I’ll be dialing “Cat Matt’s” number soon.

Fishing report

Northern Illinois: Dave Kranz from Dave's Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy in Crystal Lake reports: "The fishing on the Fox Chain O' Lakes has gone from a spring pattern to summertime pattern in just a short time. Some of the water is in the 70-degree range already and surface weeds can be found in many places. Throw plastic weedless frogs in the weeds and Yamamoto Senko's or a Zoom Trick Worm along the edges. Walleye will set up along current breaks and hard-bottom areas. Use a jig tipped with a minnow, crawler or leech. Topwater baits should be good in the mornings and evenings for muskies.

"The dams in McHenry, Algonquin and Carpentersville continue to be good fishing for catfish. Cut bait and stinkbait are your best baits to use. Smallmouth bass activity has picked up below Algonquin and Carpentersville. Use a Mepp’s or Rooster Tail spinner and cast around rocks and log jams for some explosive hits.

"Three Oaks Recreation Area has some bass still on beds and some have returned to deeper water. Use soft plastics for the bedded bass and a Defender football jig with a craw trailer for the deep-water bass. Some nice catfish were caught on night crawlers this week. Remember, this is a catch-and-release and “no minnows allowed” area.

"Lake Atwood in the McHenry County Conservation Area continues to produce bluegills, catfish and bass. The clear water can make fishing here tough on bright sunny days. I prefer overcast or a little wind to fish here. Remember, no minnows are allowed for fishing here.

Call 815-455-2040 for a update on any of these reported areas. “

Fox Chain report: Chris Taurisano of T-Bone Guide Service (www.tboneguideservice.com - 630-330-9090) sends word, "Walleyes and muskies have been around weeds and suspended baitfish. Make sure to cover both aspects to stay successful. Crappies and white bass are moving to deeper water and being caught on small jigs, blade baits and Flicker Shads. Bluegills are still shallow and finishing with their spawn."

As of Tuesday, the Upper Fox River, Lower Fox River and the Fox Chain all were deemed to be open for boating by the Fox Waterway Agency. With our unpredictable weather, you should always get up-to-the-minute water conditions on the Fox Chain and Fox River. Go to www.foxwaterway.state.il.us or call 847-587-8540.

Lake Michigan: The Lake Michigan Fishing Report is provided by Captain Bob Rossa of Migrator Charters, 815-338-8093. "Fishing in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan has been slower this past week. Coho salmon are being caught, but they are scattered from 20 to 300 feet of water, with no concentration in one place. Fish the top 80 feet of the water column, if you are going to fish deeper water. OO orange dodgers with Coho Flies tied 16 inches behind are still the best bait. Some fish are being caught by the pier fishermen, but not many. Hopefully, the storms that came through shut the fish off, and the fishing will get back to excellent again with the better weather."

Wisconsin: You can call Wisconsin's Lake Michigan Fishing Hotline at 414-382-7920 to hear the latest fishing information for Lake Michigan and its tributaries.

Illinois: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers fishing reports on a number of waterways across the state. The fishing reports for lakes, rivers and streams are updated weekly.

Users can search by body of water here: http://www.ifishillinois.org/fishing_reports/fishing_report_selector.php.

A digest that includes all locations can be found here: http://www.ifishillinois.org/fishing_reports/digest.php

NEWS AND NOTES

This sounds like a blast! You can enjoy "Family Canoe Trips" with McHenry County Conservation District, paddling seven miles of Nippersink Creek completely within the undeveloped areas of Glacial Park on June 19 or June 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You'll start out at Keystone Road Landing in Glacial Park, 6500 Keystone Road in Richmond. Before heading out on the water, MCCD will cover basic paddling techniques, canoe safety and river canoeing. The trip includes a stop for a primitive picnic, so bring a sack lunch and plenty of water to drink. Wear shoes that can get wet and fully secure to your feet. Don't forget sunscreen. Children ages 5 and 6 may attend but must sit in the middle of the canoe. Please know there are no restroom facilities along the creek. This is for adults and families ages 5 and up. Please choose one session only. The cost is $15 for county resident and $20 for nonresident. Registration is accepted online at MCCDistrict.org, by phone at 815-479-5779, by mail-in and dropoff at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake, or drop-off only at Lost Valley Visitor Center, Route 31 and Harts Rd. in Ringwood.

"Hooked on Fishing:" How about “Getting Hooked on Fishing” with McHenry County Conservation District? It’s fun, it’s free, it’s fishing. Create memories with your kids that will last a lifetime at MCCD’s “Hooked on Fishing” family event from 9 a.m. to noon June 18 at Rush Creek Conservation Area, 20501 McGuire Road in Harvard, and 9 a.m. to noon June 19 at The Hollows, 3804 U.S. Highway 14, in Cary.

If you never have been fishing, it’s no problem. You’ll have fun trying to hook the “big one” while learning fishing techniques and safety tips. Bring your own gear or borrow the district’s – first come, first served. There will be demonstrations, prizes and more. No fishing license is required, as this event is held in conjunction with Illinois’ Free Fishing Days. “Hooked on Fishing” gives families an opportunity to try out the sport of fishing for free, as well as spend quality time outdoors together,” said Conservation District Police Officer Dan Hibbler. Adult supervision of children is required. Sign-in begins at 9 a.m. both days.

Pre-registration is required and accepted online at www.MCCDistirct.org, by phone at 815-479-5779, by mail and walk-in at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake, or drop-off only at Lost Valley Visitor Center, Route 31 and Harts Road in Ringwood.

• Steve Sarley writes about the outdoors for Shaw Media. Write to him at sarfishing@yahoo.com.