Within a couple of hours we gave him lots of instruction about flathead fishing with rod and reel and if he didn't pay attention while we talked he sure did after landing a 42 pound flathead.
We were celebrating with a cold pop when another rod got a bite and I insisted Hans take the fish. Unfortunately it got into submerged timber and broke the line. Hans is an experienced catman and took it in stride as one of the hazards of fishing for flathead.
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Still later another clicker sounded and Hans hollered your turn but I again insisted my guests catch fish first and Hans reeled in a 40 pound flathead.
In the wee hours of morning another clicker sounded off and I didn't hesitate to cross the eyes of the flathead. I landed the 47 pound cat and smiled at our success despite the lost fish.
As Paul Harvey says: "Now for the rest of the story"
I returned to the same spot 2 nights later and fished alone. I caught a small flathead and would usually release it without pictures except for one thing.
I kept this picture in case Hans ever said he lost a record class flathead
