I know what you're thinking. If this is supposed to be a walleye article, why then is the title referring to a species of catfish? Relax, the title isn't referring to any fish at all, let alone the whiskered monster that the name might imply.

Speaking of names and titles, I've been called quite a few over the last thirty years, some of which have actually been good. But when it comes to name calling, it seems that the majority of the names are meant as a undeserved detriment. You know how it goes, it starts as a child and continues, ever more subtly, into adulthood.

In recent times I've picked up a few names that relate to my passion for fishing. Some of these I do not mind, as they often reflect directly upon my abilities as a walleye angler.

Flathead

Hardly sounds like a name to be desired, does it? But in my neck of woods it's actually a compliment among walleye anglers. During the summer months, I can often be found prowling around the extensive flats that are common throughout the reservoirs of the region. Once the water in the shallow shoreline areas reaches the 70 degree mark, most of the gizzard shad will begin to move out onto these main-lake flats. Here they will spawn, thus becoming vulnerable to the masses of hungry walleye whose presence will concentrate angling efforts for the entire month.

Flats can also be referred to as shelves, or perhaps a more descriptive term would be feeding shelves, as these areas offer a source of food to the walleye, as well as other gamefish, throughout much of the year. As the fish begin moving out from the shoreline they may initially remain on the edge of a flat that is directly adjacent to the shore. While the water in these areas can remain relatively shallow, tapering from 6 to 30 feet deep, the fish have indeed made a distinct transition from the shoreline cover to the edge of the flats, thereby dictating the need for a presentation that differs from the ones used in the shallows.

Gearing Up For The Flats

There are a number of ways to stay mobile and cover water, some, however, offer more advantages than others. Two of the most prominent and effective methods of fishing the flats are trolling and drifting. These two techniques are surprisingly similar yet many anglers are still unwilling to include both presentations into their arsenal. The die-hard trollers don't like to drift and the drifters usually don' t like to troll. When you stop and think about it, both presentations are made from a moving boat. Both incorporate multiple lines spread in such a way that a maximum amount of water is covered. Both use some source of power for control, whether constant or intermittent. So drifting, for all practical purposes, is trolling with the boat sideways to it's path.

If I had to choose the one that I feel is most effective, I of course, would choose trolling. While a controlled drift has merit at times, the total control of a trolling pass over located hotspots is a tough hand to beat.

Advantage Trolling

Trolling offers the angler the ability to not only control the presentation but control where the presentation is being made. For trolling on the reservoir flats the angler will again be using the same baits as in the shallows, namely a crankbait such as a Reef Runner Lil' Ripper or spinner/crawler combo.

Suppose you've located a large flat that is holding a high quantity of walleye, begin in the most shallow portion of the flat to determine if there are any active fish holding in there. In water averaging only 6 feet deep you will probably not be able to mark them on your fishfinder as they will spook away from your boat. To verify their presence or lack thereof, the angler must take the time to run some baits through these areas.

Recently the Reef Runner line of lures have exceeded the performance of all other baits combined in my arsenal, and would get the nod from me. Experiment with your trolling speed, working from a fast, 2.8-3.0 m.p.h. down to 1.0 m.p.h. if the fish so warrant. Be flexible, listen to the fish, they will tell you how they want it.

For fish in deeper water, say 10-17 feet and deeper, anglers can utilize one of the most important pieces of equipment they could own, the book Precision Trolling by Crankbaits in Depth (800 353-6958). Thinking hypothetical-like, let's say and angler is marking fish near a developing thermocline at 13 feet and wants to get a crankbait or spinner rig down into that range. This book will tell him or her exactly how much line is needed behind the planer board or boat to place a specific bait or weight (for spinner rigs) at that depth. For a troller this book is a must, guessing and hoping your bait is at the right depth will unfortunately get you very few fish. Trust me, I learned the hard way.

Flatheads, the name takes some getting used to but the fishing is as good as it comes. The walleye are on the flats for one purpose and one purpose only, to eat! Are you going to be a flathead?

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