Panfish Bait?

[redhead77]

I was just wandering what everybody uses for bait, how you use it ,and when to use it?
Thanks

[1Yogi]

This is a difficult question at best and sure to arouse some opinions.
For Crappies it depends on the time of year. I like Chartreuse artificial baits early after ice out This time of year as a matter of fact. But on the Tonka gold tone or brass seems to work better. You can always tip a gypsy style jig with a minnow and it will work but again color is a devil of a question. There are a wide variety of jig styles but Flu Flus seem pretty popular here.
As for Sunnies well they will smack almost anything they can fit in their mouths. I've caught them on a bare hook and a hook with red yarn attatched. Also on carmel corn, kernel corn, bits of marshmallow. Oh and once I caught one with a little bit of my sisters hair. It was one of those too close for comfort casts when I was a little shaver.

[This message has been edited by 1Yogi (edited 04-16-2004).]

[Matt Johnson]

Lets talk open water...

I'm an avid plastics user for my crappies throughout open water. Livebait has its time and place, but I'll throw platics everytime I hit the water. A lot of people think that plastics are too big for some crappies and gills, but thats not the case. Two days ago I was throwing a 1.5 inch plastic on a jighead giving it an almost 2 inch profile, and I caught crappies anywhere from 5 inches to 11 inches, and I caught gills anywhere from 5 inches to 9 inches, no livebait at all. All you need is a little confidence in your approach and you will catch fish with plastics. I used a red jighead, with a 1.5 inch white-bodied with a chartreuse tail plastic crappie stinger. All white/pearl stingers worked great too. I would work these below a float about a foot and a half down, giving it a pop every second or two. This allowed the jig to free fall slowly on every pop as it dropped. That triggered a majority of the strikes.

I also like to throw little spinners, like the small Beetle Spins and Betts Spinners. You can also make your own by just adding a spinner to your jig. You want the similar style spinner as on the Beetle Spin. I like to work a slow-medium retrieve, with a quick twitch every once in a while.

Livebait panfish come in all sorts. You have minnows, nightcrawlers, angleworms, grubs, mealworms, grass shrimp, other insects...the list goes on and on. I'll use minnows maybe only once or twice all open water for panfish. If I'm not using plastics or spinners I'll use angleworms, grubs, insects, etc.

Depending on the time of year, you might want a different approach with a different technique. When the water is still cold, like just after ice and for a few weeks following, you will want to slow your approach and work on finesse tactics. Once the water warms up the fish will turn more aggressive and a more steady approach can be used. Dark,softish bottom shallower bays are good choices right now for panfish, those areas warm up the fastest and if there are any inlets that can also add extra warmth to the water too. Green weeds will attract those panfish too.

There are a lot of things that come into play throughout the open water season for panfish. I'm sure plenty others will get touched here.

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

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Iceleaders
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
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[This message has been edited by Matt Johnson (edited 04-17-2004).]

[delmuts]

red i agree with these guys. my first move is always plastics from tubes,minimites,twister tails,paddle tails, and even a small twin tail. i fish these either below a float or as a cast and retreve. i do carry waxies with me most of the time just incase they want a little flavor along with the action. i seldom use minnows . my $.02 del

[early007]

I too prefer plastics over livebait. Matt was right about having confidence in what you are using. That holds true for whatever species you are chasing. My top bait for a number years now has been the Puddle Jumper. I rig it on a 1/32 oz Gopher jighead. The best color day in and day out is Pink head pearl/white Puddle Jumper. Fished below an a-justa-bubble casting bobber this combo is deadly. I've caught literally 1000s if crappies on this set up in the last few years.

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Dave's Sportland Bait and Tackle
Sportland Guide Service Hwy 371 & Cty Rd 13
Nisswa MN

218-963-2401

[CrappieJohn]

I am almost strictly plastic from the time I can find even a trickle of open water until it freezes again in the late fall. In the earliest and coldest waters I fish very small twisters or nail-tail type plastics, increasing the size and profile as the water warms. As the water begins to cool again in the fall, I reverse the senario. Likewise with the jigheads...smallest to large to smallest. As Matt infers, confidence is a big factor. Be mindful though that every one who has answered your question, will resort to live bait should the fish dictate the use of it.

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Plastics...making better fishermen without bait! Good Fishing Guys! CrappieTom

Culprit Tackle Crappie Pro Staff
[email protected]

[hoggs222]

The setup that I've used & seems to work the best for me is a plain RED aberdeen hook (J-Hook)with a crappie minnow under a bobber. I've been out when they won't hit on flu-flu's & will only hit on these.