In the last year or so I've really started to pick up catfish more than other types of fish. Whenever I catch or see others catching flatheads I notice "you never see people catching any less than 12" or so". So where is it that these fish lay their eggs and/or the fry swim into to avoid fishermen until they're a reasonable size? I think I heard somewhere somebody said they only find small ones in creek riffles. I'm wondering since I'm going to snorkel in my local creeks this summer and it'd be cool to see flatheads while I am.
From FishBase: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Pylodictis-olivaris.html Inhabit pools with logs and other debris in low-gradient to moderate-gradient, small to large rivers. Also found in lakes and impoundments. Young occur in rocky and sandy runs and riffles. Juveniles feed on aquatic insect immatures in riffle areas.
If I see it right, juvies are not piscivorous / carnivorous yet but filter substrate for insect larvae / immatures.
WIKI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flathead_catfish
Physiology
Like most catfish, flatheads are benthic feeders and prefer live prey. They are voracious carnivores and feed primarily on other fish, insects, annelid worms and crustaceans.
Spawning occurs in late June and early July, the nests made in areas with submerged logs and other debris. The males, who also build the nests, fiercely and tirelessly defend and fan the clutch. The size of the clutch varies proportionately to the size of the female; an average of 2,640 eggs per kilogram of fish are laid.
The fry frequent shallow areas with rocky and sandy substrates where they feed on insects and worms such as annelids and polychaetes. Young flatheads are also cannibalistic, a fact which has largely precluded their presence in aquaculture.
Thanks man, I'll have to check where my local creek feeds into the allgheny so entire around August for juvies. It'd make a nice video for my channel if I found a school of small ones in the wild .
Flatheads are my favorite catfish. True that small one's are rarely caught or seen until they get to a few pounds. I've caught a few in the 10" to 12" size while fishing for bluegills to be used as bait for big flatheads. Big or small they are very reclusive and nocturnal and spend their daylight hours hiding in shady holes, undercut banks, brush piles, thick weeds and tule's or under rocks, logs and such. They are loners rather than schooling fish and I would think spotting one while diving is not too likely during the day. Juvenile fish would more likely found in small creeks than main river areas in general. You could try fishing for them from dusk to dawn using small minnows or night crawlers for bait, trouble is you'll catch mostly channel cats, bullheads and everything else before you get a flathead. I hated throwing back the few baby flatheads I've caught being the perfect size for my aquarium but here in Cali and Arizona it's highly illegal to transport live sport caught fish of any kind. I remember an older post on the subject of finding small flatheads for aquariums and don't remember the final result but saved a link to: Osage Fisheries Inc. They're in Missouri and raise flatheads, blues, channel cats and more. Since I don't really have a tank large enough to properly raise a large growing flathead cat I never checked 'em out so don't know if they will sell small quantities to hobbyists or not. Anyway, best of luck on the dive trip, never know what ya might find!
Forgot to mention, if trying to find a small flathead in the wild, timing is everything. Here in the southwest, flatheads spawn in late April through May most years. As juveniles they are a fast growing fish and will reach 10" to 12" by October which is when I've caught the few small ones, so September to October might be the best times to find one. This might explain why small ones are rarely caught, they just aren't small for very long...
Divemaster means in the wild...