Panfish Are a Great Way to Get in Quick Fly Fishing Trips written by: Victoraretwo
Bluegill, crappie, and perch are fish that you don’t ever need to worry about overfishing, especially when it comes to bluegill, most waters actually benefit from the taking of some of these fish. Unlike trout and smallmouth for example, these fish can be caught and kept for eating without worry about damaging the fishery or ecosystem. Catching them on a fly rod with a “popper” is one of the funnest ways to fill a stringer.
How often do you want to just hop up and get out onto the water, only to become discouraged by the amount of gear you’re going to have to carry with you? It happens to the best of anglers, especially when you have been fishing for years, and collected a wide assortment of gear that has become “essential” in your mind. I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to drag out your entire fly fishing outfit, because with a few key flies, and a lightweight fly fishing outfit, you can have more fun in an hour than you ever thought possible.
When it comes to the fly-fishing outfit you’re going to need, you’ll want something in the range of 1-weight to 3-weight, depending on how big the fish are in the pond. If you have populations of bass, you may want to increase to a 5-weight outfit to handle them without putting them in danger. Keep the outfit light enough to give the fish on the other end a fighting chance, but strong enough to pull in bigger fish if they manage to take your flies.
The best panfish flies that I have come across is a kit put out by Bett’s. You can pick it up from Bass Pro Shops for around $6 and it includes every type of fly that you’ll need to catch panfish on a regular basis. The kit includes black, white, and chartreuse flavors, in quite a few different panfish enticing styles. Every now and then, you even land a lunker bass on these same flies.
Do you enjoy fishing for Crappie?
I have fished for many species of fish over the years. Every spring I like to get out and catch a nice feed of Crappie. They are fun to catch and taste great. Its always a great way to introduce your kids or grand kids to fishing. They are easy to catch as they travel in schools. There are two kinds. The Black Crappie and White Crappie. You can find their range is inland lakes and rivers in Canada and the US.
How do you catch these prolific breeders?
I would use a light line on a spinning outfit with a small bobber and medium size hook. For bait, I would use small minnows or nightcrawlers. I also would like to fish with a fly rod with a small streamer fly fished near the surface. Crappie having their eyes on top of their heads would pick up the bait real fast. My kids always enjoyed fishing for them and always caught a feed or two for the family to enjoy later. My children say they were some of the best meals they ever ate.
Just remember to find out where to catch them in your area. Talk to your local bait shop operator for advice and of course to get your bait. Also, it is a good idea to check your local fish limit.