Anyone fly fish for pannies?

[blackdog1101]

I'm already looking forward to spring to get out my fly rods and cast small streamers, poppers, and nymphs for pannies. I usually fly fish for trout, but with fuel prices so high, I anticipate that I'll be spending a lot more time fly fishing the metro lakes. Fly fishing is a great way to catch pannies. I've got a canoe and an inflatable one-man pontoon, it's a great way to spend a warm spring/summer evening. Anyone else fly fish for pannies?

[Andrew Erickson]

ive done it a little bit and it is fun.Ive never caught anything big but alot of numbers of fish.Also some small bass.

[fishcast]

yeah, its lots of fun, my favorite fly is a minature clouser minnow in chartruse and white, catches lots of sunfish and crappies for me early on in the open water season.

[TroyMcClure]

I have talked about this with my buddy for a year or so now. I really want to get into it. We figure we like to keep some panfish for the dinner plate every now and again, but sometimes it is boring throwing the same old set up out there for fish in the metro.

Is it worth learning the fly fishing skill for this type of fishing? I will not likely use it for trout fishing except for the occasional trip to Montana.

[blackdog1101]

Troy, when the fish are shallow or near the surface it's a wonderful way to catch them. At times I think it's more effective than plunking a jig or spoon near then where they may be spooked. Learn to gently put a fly on the water and you can cast within inches of them. You can buy very decent packages from Cabelas for under $100. No need to spend big bucks

[Will]

when i was 9 or 10, i learned how to 'flyfish' by fishing for panfish. these are some of my best childhood memories. my favorite 'fly' is a small brown 'muddler' minnow. they are more durable than a popper. my wife and i still pull out the fly rods on a nice summer eve, but it's so hard to put down the musky rod!

[redneck]

thats the only way i fish for pannies. that is so much fun watching them come up and suck in those flies. one of my favorite flies are the white spiders.

[Will]

hey redneck, nice goldeneye! i have a beauty like that on the wall.

[CALVINIST]

Fly fishing for pannies in one thing I want to explore this spring. What would be a good weight rod? 3W? 4W?

[Will]

i like a 4w 8ft with floating line. i've caught alot of bass on this set up as well. fleet farm used to have a few inexpensive/entry level combos that could get someone started.

this spring i am going to try carp on the fly, i will use heavier gear though. i see them sucking bugs and etc. off the surface alot.

[redneck]

thanks Will, i used both 3 and 4 wt rods. my favorite pole for pannies is a 6ft 3wt, i like the smaller wt just for the extra bend, makes fish seem bigger. im always tryin to get away with the smallest wt i can.

[riversmallmouth35]

I have fished sunfish on the fly for a couple years now and it is a blast. I dont know how to catch crappies and i would like to. What setup do you use for them a dry or wet fly?

[TroyMcClure]

Well. I guess I am buying ANOTHER rod this summer.

[redneck]

i caught alot of crappies on a fly. i tie my own flies, but i used a minnow streamer. let it sink to where you hardly see it down in the water, the crappie only seem to hit it when you let it sink a little.

[Will]

in the spring, poppers are killer for crappies. also small dry flies work really well.

[Coach1310]

So if a guy were to decide to start up fly fishing for pannies what would I need? How much would it cost? How much practicing would I have to do to get decent at casting? Thanks

[Will]

i posted about fleet farm earlier, they used to have complete set-ups for well under $50. basically you need a rod, reel, backer line, floating fly line, tippet material and flies. as far as how much practicing goes, that depends on how coordinated you are . there are some great books at the library on fly fishing. after that it's just a matter of getting out there and doing it. i became pretty good at it by the end of my first summer. good luck and keep us posted.

[Coach1310]

I'm not sure I need another hobby, especially outdoor related, but I always thought it would be fun to be wading along the lily pads or bull rushes casting a fly and watching the big ol pannies inhale it. I may have to take a look at it. Thanks for the info.

[Tom7227]

Once you get tired of panfish rig up and go for northern.

[blackdog1101]

Cabelas sells a nice "combo" outfit for under $100. It's their "Three Forks" model. I'd suggest a 8 or 8'6" 4 wt rod.

[Bob/Mn]

I don't fly fish with a fly reel, but use a closed faced trigger spinning reel and fly rod. I use a drop shot rig with some home tied flies for panfish.

Panfishing with a long rod is a lot of fun.