Crappie and Panfish

Few things in fishing are more exciting than watching a float twitch, pause, and disappear under the water. That moment before the hookset never gets old. For many anglers, it brings back the same excitement they felt as kids. Even so, fewer anglers …

I think panfish are assumed to just be easy to catch at all times of the year because of their prevalence. However, like any other fish, finding better quality requires more understanding of their behaviors and their relation to their habitats and fo …

If you spend any time chasing panfish, you’ve probably asked yourself a simple question: What’s the real difference between redear sunfish and bluegill? On the stringer, they look similar, they hit a lot of the same baits, and they share …

If you’ve ever watched a school of bluegill peck at your bait like they’re “testing” it, or marked crappie on sonar only to get ghosted, you already know the problem: panfish can be easy… until they’re not. This g …

When winter locks up your local waters, ice fishing for crappie on small lakes might be the most overlooked way to stack up fast action and big slabs. Small lakes are quieter, easier to learn, and often loaded with crappie—but they’re als …

When the first safe ice forms and the lake goes quiet, early ice fishing for bluegills can be as hot as panfishing gets all year. Those first few weeks of safe ice often deliver aggressive fish, shallow patterns, and fast action—if you know whe …

Panfishing offers a great way to introduce folks to fishing while also being a great way to feed the family. And avid pan fishermen love the chase as much as any other game fish. And when it comes to redear sunfish, catching a panfish over 2 pounds c …

Florida’s “speckled perch” scene is unmatched—teeming with vegetation-rich shallows, massive reservoirs, deep basins, and winding river systems that provide action twelve months of the year. Whether you’re a tournament a …

Panfish represent a variety of smaller "pan sized" fish with the most popular being bluegills, but it also includes red ear sunfish, pumpkinseed, and goggle eyes. They provide a fun fish to catch while being plentiful, but they are also great table f …

When crappies move off structure and suspend in open water, few techniques offer the control and precision of the drop shot. Originally designed for finesse bass fishing, drop shotting for crappie lets you present a bait directly in their face, hold …

Scent can be the final trigger. The right attractant masks human odor, mimics natural forage, and makes fish commit when they’re on the fence. A good gel stays on the bait. A good cure keeps roe fishable and vibrant. In this guide, I break down …

When most anglers think of crappie fishing, they think of catching panfish on small jigs. Jigging for crappie can be one of the most efficient and effective ways to catch crappie all 12 months of the year. While the techniques and approaches can vary …