Lake Panfish

[Van_Cleaver]

I've been hitting a small lake nearby, but suspect most of the SE PA lakes (and many others throughout) are starting to fish well. Most nights a jig style bugger is all I need, and whenever it goes calm, poppers are the bomb. A lot of the fish are small to medium gills, but every once in a while I hook a nice bass or crappie.

Took my spinning rod as well the other night and that was way too easy. Right before dark the wind died and I grabbed my 10' 3/4 and started banging them on top. It's is billed as a European style nymph rod, but considering how light it is I find it well suited to my style for tossing poppers as well.

 

[afishinado]

Van_Cleaver wrote:
...whenever it goes calm, poppers are the bomb!....

Nice!!

No doubt, loads of fun without a lot of effort or gizmos or specialized techniques or special flies.

Definitely not "technical" fly fishing....but fun fishing for sure. Good stuff.

 

[jifigz]

Regular straight up "fun fishing" is the best kind in my opinion anyways. I wish I had a pond on my property. I'd cast to sunfish every day if I did.

 

[tomgamber]

I would get nothing done if I had my aunt's farm pond on my property.

 

[Beernut]

I regularly fish for panfish and prefer fishing for them over trout. When the water cools and they stop hitting on top try a bully bluegill spider it's a great fly. I caught over a dozen today on one. Spring is the best time to get the bull bluegills.

 

[Van_Cleaver]

I agree it isn't what you call "technical" fly fishing, however like all fishing there are times that are tougher than others. I went out with the light waning recently and there was a fair amount of surface activity. Managed to miss about six in a row before I slowed down enough to hook up somewhat consistently. Of course the fish had already cooled down and I was content with about a half doz. gills to hand.

Despite what might have been pilot error the fish were just not as aggressive as the previous trip. That said the fact that I only had about 40 min. of decent light was certainly a factor. Can't wait for some cooler nights and hopefully some crappie action!

 

[springer1]

Managed to miss about six in a row before I slowed down enough to hook up somewhat consistently. Of course the fish had already cooled down and I was content with about a half doz. gills to hand.

LoL - been there !!! I wound up tying smaller poppers and it helped but I still miss a lot.

 

[FarmerDave]

jifigz wrote:
Regular straight up "fun fishing" is the best kind in my opinion anyways. I wish I had a pond on my property. I'd cast to sunfish every day if I did.

I used to say the same thing, but for the past 15+ years I have two ponds.

I'm lucky if I fish them more than twice a year. Haven't fished either so far this year. Always something else to do.

After I retire, I might put in a lake with a small cabin next to it. Well, maybe I'll need two cabins, one for me, one for the wife. ;-)