Clayton Randall used a live sunfish to catch this 50-pound Roosevelt Lake flathead. Photo by Margie Anderson.

Central Arizona boasts some dynamite action for catfish addicts, especially on summer nights.

Some of the flatheads get to be real monsters, and they are worthy opponents for any angler.

WHERE TO GO
The warm waters of central Arizona's reservoirs are big-cat nurseries. There are catfish all over Arizona, but in the central part of the state, Roosevelt Lake, Bartlett Lake, Lake Pleasant and the Verde River are the most popular with locals.

The upper and lower Verde River passes through national forest and is open to public recreation of all kinds. The lower river is designated a Wild and Scenic River and offers the opportunity to fish by boat from Beasley Flat to Childs.

Roosevelt Lake is formed by a dam at the confluence of Tonto Creek and the Salt River, so there are two "river ends." The Salt arm is the one that is the mainstay of flathead hunters.

When the lake is high enough to get back near the bluffs, anglers like Homer Townsend and Dean Despain will anchor and stay out all night, drink coffee and wait for bites. If you are lacking in the patience department, flathead fishing may not be your favorite thing to do, but if you are laid back and don't mind getting skunked now, and then, you have the potential to land an absolute giant.

FLATHEADS
Look for rocky holes near shallow areas this time of year. The catfish breed down among rocks and boulders, or even in culverts. They like to be near shallow areas so they can come up to feed in the evening and early morning.

You will often find the big ones near cover, in deeper, slower moving pools of the rivers. Flatheads spawn in spring or early summer. They build nests in caves, depressions under rocks or undercut banks. One or both parents will stick around to take care of the fry, so at that time of year the fish are often very shallow. A really big flathead is king of the territory, and he will keep smaller flatheads out of his water.

Flatheads are solitary, territorial and like to ambush their prey. Townsend and Despain fish anywhere from 3 to 45 feet deep. But on summer nights, they tend to stay in the 3- to 10-foot range.

If the boss flathead is removed, another big cat will move in pretty quickly, so a good spot generally stays good. An ideal spot for catfish has all the attributes that make for a good feeding ground. They like cover of some sort -- brushpiles, logjams or rocks along a creek channel or on a long point -- are perfect.