James RickardFishing for pan fish?
September 18th 2008 02:07
Sunnies--bluegill--perch--you name it--pan fish are those little suckers often passed over in the quest for big fish.
I don't know why they're called "pan fish." Seems like they ought to be called "hand fish." They're about as big as your hand.
It doesn't take sophisticated tackle for pan fish. Although just about any rod will do, to make the most of the challenge and give the fish a fighting chance, a light or ultra-light rod is in order. Team that up with four pound test line and you'll have a fight to equal the largest fish in the sea!
When it comes to hooks, I often talk about Size 4 and going up from there. For pan fish it's just the opposite. In fact, Size 4 may be too large! Depending on the fish, try Size 6 or 8 but keep something as small as Size 10 close by.
Experience has taught me that fish will bite on almost anything if properly conditioned to do so. This was driven home when I saw bluegill feeding on pepperoni! Admittedly, this is hard to believe and I had my doubts even as I saw it! None the less, pepperoni was the local catfish fare and, odd as it may sound, bluegill were drawn to this bait also.
My fishing buddy reeled in and there was a swarm of bluegill following his hook as well! The water was clear enough that we were able to watch as the bluegill nibbled away until the hook was bare. That brings up another point--make sure you have plenty of bait because pan fish, especially bluegill, are notorious for the ability to steal bait and not get hooked.
At the risk of sounding old fashioned, I still prefer worms or pieces of worms for ALL pan fish. Small minnows work for perch. (American Perch--that is!)
Small jigs often work for pan fish, Rather than trying to tempt fish with a plain jig, try a lure with a feather or small grub attached. Unlike hopping the jig across the bottom as you would for larger fish, bring the lure into a school of pan fish, twitch it just a little and let it settle for a minute or two. Another artificial you may want to try is Berkley Power Bait.
Then again, I've heard this stories about marshmallows or peanut butter. I'll put them in the same category as the pepperoni story. At least you have something to snack on if the fish won't bite!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
I don't know why they're called "pan fish." Seems like they ought to be called "hand fish." They're about as big as your hand.
It doesn't take sophisticated tackle for pan fish. Although just about any rod will do, to make the most of the challenge and give the fish a fighting chance, a light or ultra-light rod is in order. Team that up with four pound test line and you'll have a fight to equal the largest fish in the sea!
When it comes to hooks, I often talk about Size 4 and going up from there. For pan fish it's just the opposite. In fact, Size 4 may be too large! Depending on the fish, try Size 6 or 8 but keep something as small as Size 10 close by.
The top jig is something you'd use for pan fish while the bottom jig is often used for bass or pike.
At the risk of sounding old fashioned, I still prefer worms or pieces of worms for ALL pan fish. Small minnows work for perch. (American Perch--that is!)
Small jigs often work for pan fish, Rather than trying to tempt fish with a plain jig, try a lure with a feather or small grub attached. Unlike hopping the jig across the bottom as you would for larger fish, bring the lure into a school of pan fish, twitch it just a little and let it settle for a minute or two. Another artificial you may want to try is Berkley Power Bait.
Then again, I've heard this stories about marshmallows or peanut butter. I'll put them in the same category as the pepperoni story. At least you have something to snack on if the fish won't bite!
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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