Flathead & Ol’ Blue logo with two anglers and two catfishFlathead & Ol’ Blue

The learning library

Learn it. Try it. Remember it.

Catfish, bass, crappie and bream. See the features, practice with the charts and take one useful skill to your next trip.

Start with an interactive exercise

Read the water column.

Change temperature readings, inspect the depth profile and find the strongest sampled change.

Try the explorer →

6 lessons available

Example · water temperature0 ft10 ft20 ft60°F90°FSee the change between 8 and 12 feet.
Field skills

A temperature profile asks a better question.

Use depth-by-depth readings to locate the steepest temperature change, without turning a sonar image into an oxygen measurement.

5 min read · September 6, 2026Read & practice →
Example · fish per hour
Trip A
4 fish / 2h
Trip B
0 fish / 2h
4 fish÷4 hours=1 / hr
Blank trips count, too.
Field skills

Keep the zero-catch session.

Learn how effort changes a bait comparison, then inspect the example catch charts.

4 min read · September 6, 2026Read & practice →
Example · two different readings
Forecast air90°F
Measured water82°F
Forecast ≠ water temperature
Field skills

Forecast, observation, water temperature.

Three different kinds of information belong in three clearly labeled places.

4 min read · September 6, 2026Read & practice →
Know the fishLargemouth bass, USFWS species illustrationFollow the jaw past the eye.
Bass basics

Bass: start with the fish, then the cover.

Recognize a largemouth, choose a simple starting presentation and keep a record you can repeat.

4 min read · September 6, 2026Read & practice →
Know the fishBlack crappie, USFWS species illustrationLook for scattered dark markings.
Crappie basics

Crappie: markings first, depth second.

Compare black and white crappie, then keep the depth and lake rule with your catch note.

4 min read · September 6, 2026Read & practice →
Know the fishBluegill, USFWS species illustrationA small mouth. A dark ear flap.
Bream basics

Bream: a small fish can teach a lot.

Start with bluegill identification and a simple bank-fishing observation exercise.

3 min read · September 6, 2026Read & practice →