Wiemelt’s Bait and Tackle

Don’t forget it’s free fishing weekend! The weather today is a lot better than it is going to be tomorrow! We are open til 5 today, stop in and stock up or even pick up a small Father’s Day gift! Thank you all!

June Flathead Fishing: The Spawn That Humbles Anglers

Every year, it happens like clockwork.

A new flathead angler starts the season strong. April was productive. May was even better. The fish were feeding aggressively, moving through their normal patterns, and confidence was high. Then June arrives, and suddenly everything changes.

The same spots stop producing. The same baits stop working. The same angler who was catching fish a few weeks ago starts questioning his tactics, his equipment, and even his skill level.

Sound familiar?

The good news is that it usually has very little to do with the angler.

The simple answer is that the flatheads are spawning.

June marks the beginning of the annual flathead catfish spawn across much of the country. While exact timing varies by latitude and water temperatures, most flathead populations begin their spawning activities when water temperatures reach the upper 60s to mid 70s. Research and observations documented by In-Fisherman and fisheries biologists have consistently shown that flatheads transition into spawning behavior from mid June into July, depending on local conditions.

One of the biggest misconceptions among new flathead anglers is that all the fish spawn at once. That simply is not the case.

The spawn is a process, not an event.

Some fish begin earlier. Others begin later. Large river systems may have fish spawning over several weeks. During this period, a significant portion of the population is either searching for spawning sites, actively spawning, guarding nests, or recovering from the spawning process.

That means a large percentage of the fish you were targeting in May are no longer focused on feeding.

They're focused on reproduction.

Flatheads typically seek cavities, undercut banks, logjams, hollow trees, rock crevices, and other protected areas to spawn. Males often select and defend these nesting sites before females arrive. Once eggs are deposited, the male remains behind to guard the nest and protect the eggs from predators. During this time, feeding activity can become extremely limited.

This is why so many anglers experience what feels like a sudden collapse in fishing.

The fish didn't disappear.

They simply changed priorities.

A flathead that was actively hunting live bait a few weeks earlier may now spend most of its time tucked deep into heavy cover, protecting a nest or preparing to spawn. Studies and long term observations have shown that flatheads can remain surprisingly inactive for extended periods when holding in secure cover.

For anglers, June often becomes the most frustrating month of the year.

You may fish all night and only receive one bite.

You may fish a historically productive stretch of river and wonder where every fish went.

You may even start changing baits, rigs, rods, locations, and techniques, convinced that you're doing something wrong.

In reality, you are experiencing what generations of flathead anglers have experienced before you.

The spawn.

This is also why experienced flathead fishermen rarely judge a fishing spot based on June results alone. A location that produces twenty fish in May may only produce a handful during the spawn. Once the spawn concludes and fish return to normal feeding patterns, those same areas often come right back to life.

Another important thing to understand is that not every fish is locked down at the same time. Some flatheads continue feeding throughout the spawning period. Others are transitioning into or out of the spawn. These fish account for many of the catches reported during June.

That is why anglers still catch trophy flatheads during the spawn.

The bite is not impossible.

It's simply far less predictable.

In many rivers, anglers who continue catching fish during June often focus on transition areas near spawning habitat rather than the spawning cavities themselves. Fish moving into and out of spawning areas are generally more likely to feed than fish actively guarding nests.

The biggest takeaway for new flathead anglers is this:

Do not let June destroy your confidence.

If your catch rates suddenly decline, it does not mean you've forgotten how to fish. It does not mean your river has been fished out. It does not mean your favorite bait stopped working.

More often than not, it means the fish are doing exactly what nature programmed them to do.

They are spawning.

Every year, flathead anglers experience the same slowdown. Every year, they begin questioning themselves. And every year, once the spawn ends, the fish gradually return to their normal feeding patterns and remind everyone why flathead fishing is so addictive.

June is not the month that defines your ability as a flathead fisherman.

It is simply the month that tests your patience.

Stay persistent, understand what the fish are doing, and remember that sometimes the most important skill an angler can have is knowing when the fish are simply occupied with something more important than eating.

We are stocked with plenty of nice sized goldfish for flathead fishing! Goldfish will stay alive better than bluegill on a hook in my opinion. Don’t be scared to try them! After you use them you may agree they are just as good, if not better!

Take a guess where these guys got their bait! This fish was caught using a bullhead! If you catch a big one tag Wiemelt’s bait and tackle! We like to see them!

I do have fresh shad available

The Chomp Waggin is set up again from 11-3 today and their fish sandwiches are great!

Here is a list of bait you can expect to see here at Wiemelt’s this weekend!
🐟Goldfish
🐟Bullheads
🐟Bluegill
🐟fresh and frozen Shad
🐍 frozen eel
🐟frozen skipjack
🐟frozen shrimp
🪱 nightcrawlers
🐟minnows
If there’s anything I can help with give me a call!