Panfish Newbie

[reigndawgs]

I traditionally fish for trout and sometimes salmon, but I would really like to start trying some panfish. It seems like the action is faster from all the reports I see with all you guys catching tons of fish. I just want to know the basics. I live in Sammamish, anywhere is Western Washington is possible, but Eastside of Seattle area is best. Is it a matter of just downsizing hooks, etc or is there more to it than that. I would like to take my kids out and find some actual fish rather than fighting the crowds to compete for a few rainbow planters.

[Jay K]

This is the time to do it - bluegill are spawning.

I'm by no means an expert, but on my two recent and inaugural outings for panfish I did very well dry fly-fishing a size 18 parachute adams (google it to see what it looks like). From what I've read (Wikipedia), bluegill will bite just about anything. As far as downsizing hooks, while fishing a size 12 dry fly, I was far less successful than when I switched to a size 18 (tiny hook).

Good luck.

Too bad I live in a state that doesn't allow effective spider-rigging - that seems to be the way to catch crappie and sand bass (see Basspro's online library). VERY interesting article.

[spokey9]

i usually fish a small jig 1/16 oz or smaller tipped wit a lil piece of worm or berkley crappie nibble under a slip bobber (plain worm well too). Nothing much too it smaller hooks and bait an boom ur panfishin! The only pain is findin the buggers sum times.