Crossfire Lures Flathead Fishing Masterclass With Simon Cross

Welcome to a comprehensive exploration of topwater flathead fishing techniques with Simon Cross of Crossfire Lures fame. This detailed review captures Simon’s advanced tactics and insights, giving you a depth of knowledge that will take your topwater flathead fishing to new levels.

The Appeal of Flathead Fishing With Crossfire Lures

The Thrill of Topwater Lures

Topwater lures, like the Crossfire 110, are particularly effective because they mimic the movements of wounded baitfish at the water’s surface. This action is highly attractive to flathead, triggering their instinct to target weakened prey. Topwater fishing tends to result in the capture of a better class of fish, especially when larger lures such as the Crossfire 190 are deployed.

Insights from Flathead Fishing Competitions

Simon’s Crossfire Lures are a great asset in competitions because they closely replicate the movements of baitfish in ways that resonate with feeding flathead. At a recent competition in Mallacoota, using the Crossfire 110 was crucial for mimicking the local mullet, which is especially effective under clear water conditions.

Tackling Techniques: Maximizing Your Success

Gear Selection For Casting Crossfire Lures

Rods and Reels:

Simon recommends using medium-heavy rods combined with durable reels that have a robust drag system. This setup is essential for controlling the intense action during a flathead strike. He uses a St Croix rod, but the Jabbers Wanderlust is another great tool for targeting topwater flathead using Crossfire Lures.

Line  and Leader Choices:

20-pound braided lines have minimal stretch and excellent power transfer, essential for keeping the topwater lures like the Crossfire 110 effectively in motion without sinking. In clear water, the use of fluorocarbon leaders is crucial for their low visibility and high abrasion resistance. The raspy teeth of a flathead can abrade through a leader fairly quickly – especially if the lure is inhaled well down.

Advanced Casting and Retrieval Techniques For Crossfire Lures

Simon emphasizes that mastering lure retrieval techniques, such as the ‘walk the dog’ style, is key to successful flathead fishing. Using this technique crossfire lures bent minnows simulate an injured fish at the water’s surface, an irresistible target for flathead. Experimenting with different ways of weighting the lure to make it dive deeper or stay below the surface slightly longer will often yield results.

Comprehensive Guide to Spotting Prime Fishing Locations

Reading the Water

Identifying signs of flathead or preferred habitats and structure, is critical. Signs that Simon specifically discussed include:

• Nipper Holes and Disturbed Sand: These are often tell-tale signs of flathead activity. Banks covered in nipper holes tend to attract whiting, mullet and other species that flathead prey on.
• Striations on the Sand: Simon mentions looking for variations in the sand patterns, where darker sand layers might indicate deeper areas that flathead prefer for ambushing prey.
• Water Temperature and Clarity: These environmental factors also play a significant role in flathead behaviour. Warmer waters can sometimes indicate more active fish, and clear water requires more stealthy lure presentation.

Understanding Flathead Behaviour

Crossy provided extensive insights into flathead behaviour, focusing on how they interact with their environment to optimize their hunting efficiency:

• Ambush Tactics: Flathead often use underwater structures and subtle terrain variations to ambush prey. Simon notes that they prefer areas where they can stay hidden but still have clear access to passing fish.
• Reactive to Environment: Changes in water clarity and temperature can significantly affect flathead behaviour. Flathead might become more or less active depending on these conditions, and adapt their hunting strategies accordingly.
• Use of Natural Cover: Flathead are known to use sandbanks, weed beds, and other natural covers to conceal themselves. Simon describes how these fish position themselves for optimal stealth and efficiency in attacking prey.
• Behavioural Patterns: Flathead have a preference for certain types of structure depending on the time of day and water conditions. Crossy emphasises the importance of understanding these patterns for successful fishing.

Conclusion: Mastering Topwater Flathead On Crossfire Lures

Simon and Andrew highlight the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in fishing. Adjusting techniques based on direct observations and being flexible in approach are vital for mastering the art of flathead fishing with Crossfire Lures.