Flatheads grow to jumbo proportions. The state-record fish, which came from the Hiwassee River, weighed 85 pounds, 15 ounces. The world-record flathead, which came from Kansas, weighed 123 pounds, and Tennessee's big rivers clearly have the potential to produce that size of flathead.

Flatheads are native to all of Tennessee's major watersheds, and good populations can be found in rivers of at least medium size throughout the state. They generally grow the largest in large rivers and in reservoirs, where food tends to be plentiful.

While the first-year sample from the TARP was small, with only 10 flatheads turned in, the Tennessee River watershed stood out as the top flathead producer. Seven of the fish came from pools of the Tennessee River, with three from Watts Bar and four spread from Fort Loudoun to Kentucky Lake. Of the other three, two came from the Elk River, a major Tennessee River tributary.

Picking the best pools within the Tennessee River system would be a difficult proposition, according to Mike Jolly, a TWRA fisheries biologist from Region III.

"They're all good for flatheads," he said. "We roll up really big fish in all the Tennessee River impoundments when we do electrofishing surveys."

Jolly noted that during June, anglers should concentrate on the tailwater sections. Flatheads move up the pools during the spring and spawn around the riprapped banks of the tailwaters. Because the dam discharges create cool-water influences and hold an abundance of baitfish for flatheads to feed on, many fish will stay close to the riprap, barge ties, bridge pilings and other structure within the first few miles downstream of the dams throughout the summer.

Adult flatheads feed almost exclusively on live fish, and in the tailwaters their diet consists mostly of shad. Live shad, therefore, stand out as the bait of choice. The best spots, generally speaking, are deeper than surrounding waters, close to hard structure and close to the current but in some kind of current break.

Anglers who venture into the tailwaters need to be aware that rules vary according to the national security level regarding how close they may venture to dams. Anglers can check with TVA at www.tva.gov for warnings about specific area closures when establishing plans. Some dams have marked areas anglers cannot go past under any condition, and all have mandatory life jacket zones. Special closures are marked with buoys or denoted at boat ramps.

Farther down from the dams, flatheads hang tight to downed trees along outside river bands. These fish are tough to catch during the day because they stay very tight in the cover; however, they'll move onto flats across the river and at the heads of the same holes by night to feed. Anglers should set up on the flats but close to dropoffs and rig several lines with big, live bluegills and shad.

Moving to the far western end of the state, the Mississippi River rivals the Tennessee River as the state's best flathead destination, and many anglers would argue it deserves the No. 1 position. However, the Mississippi is vast and complex, making fish difficult to locate for many anglers and creating major hazards. The river level sometimes fluctuates 50 feet in a year, and sandbars and holes are ever shifting.

Prime areas for flatheads during the summer are deep runs next to revetment banks and waters on the upstream side of the wing dams. Live gizzard shad and big threadfin shad are the baits of choice. Getting baits to the bottom in the strong current requires several ounces of lead.

Wherever anglers target flatheads, stout gear is absolutely critical. Flatheads are incredibly powerful and they head straight for cover when they feel a hook. Anglers need rods that they can use to gain a lot of leverage and geared-down reels spooled with strong line. Flathead fishermen commonly use braided line that is at least 50-pound-test.