Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars by Steven Rinella

Author:Steven Rinella [Rinella, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2023-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

• Panfish can be caught year-round. In the northern states and across Canada, you can even catch them through the ice in the winter. But the best time of year to catch sunfish like bluegills and pumpkinseeds is in the spring, when sunfish gather in shallow, warm water near shore to dig nests where they lay eggs. To spot their nests, look for pale circles a couple of feet wide on the bottom that are much lighter in color than the surrounding area. These circles are made by the fish as they clear away muck, silt, and algae from the lake’s bottom. Place a bait or small lure near the nests and the aggressive sunfish are likely to bite it.

• During the hot summer months, panfish are likely to hang out in shallow water during the early morning and late evening hours. In the middle of the day, look for them in deeper water.

• Panfish like to hang out near underwater structures that offer them protection from bigger fish and a place to hunt for small minnows and aquatic insects. Suitable structures can include rocks, weeds, lily pads, and dock pilings.

• Many species of panfish, especially crappie and yellow perch, travel in large schools. Where you catch one, you’ll usually find more.

• Garden worms and crickets are top baits for sunfish, while small minnows work better for crappie and perch.

• Panfish have fairly small mouths, so use #6–10 bait hooks and 1/16–⅛-ounce jigs for the best results. Small marabou crappie jigs and soft plastic twister tails work well for all species of panfish.

• Suspend your bait or jig below a bobber, so that it’s suspended about a foot off the bottom. This gives the bait good “action,” meaning it will move around like something that’s alive. The bobber will also help you detect the soft bite of panfish.

• Panfish are often grouped together by size. If all you are catching are very tiny fish, look elsewhere for a school of bigger fish.

• Most panfish have sharp spines on their dorsal fin and gill plates. Handle them carefully by folding their dorsal fins down against their backs. You can also grip them firmly by the lower lip, since they don’t have sharp teeth.

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