Panfish are widespread. They are found in a pond, stream, or lake and they are ready hit on a variety of fly patterns. So they are ideal for the beginner fly fisherman. Bluegills, crappie, yellow perch and white perch are the most commonly seen panfish. Unlike other fish species, panfish are considered overpopulated and this could cause harm to the overall health and size of the species. So many places ask the fisherman to kill the panfish once they are caught. Actually bluegill and yellow perch have good taste.

 

Panfish fly fishing does not require any special outfit or equipment. A regular balanced outfit will do the work. A floating line, 7 feet leaders, and a tippet in the 4 lb test range are good enough to catch panfish. For beginner, keep in mind that long casts are not necessary, but patience is. When a fly or popper lands in still water, the panfish will approach it but not strike immediately. Wait until the circles disappear, then give the fly a slight twitch. Do that a couple of times, then you can pop the fly and then retrieve and cast again.

 

Bluegills like to hang around a boulder, submerged stump or log. Bluegills feed on worms, insects, crustaceans, and minnows. Smaller bluegills eat primarily insects and scuds, and larger bluegills will typically go after bait fish. Bluegills in general are not picky on food. They can go after almost anything. Dry flies like Humpies, Variants, and Adams patterns work well for bluegills. Ants, beetles, hoppers, streamers and web flies work too.

 

 

 

Unlike bluegills, crappie more concentrate on minnows. Streamers like Mickey Finns or Woolly Buggers work well on these fish. Crappie reside in a variety of bottom surfaces, gravel, sand, brush, or weeds. There are two species of crappie: black crappie and white crappie. Black crappie like clear water and rock bottoms, whilte white crappie prefer murkier water surrounding sunken brush piles.

 

Black crappie

 

 

 

White crappie

 

Among all the panfish species, yellow perch are the easiest to locate because they feed all year long. You can find them in the morning, afternoon, and evening. They mainly eat minnows, and sometime insects and small crustaceans. Another thing you might take note of is yellow perch make great meals. Good news is when you catch one, you will expect more around because yellow perch tend to travel in group.

 

 

 

White perch are found in streams and bays along the East Coast. They prefer salty water. White perch feed on a variety of foods: worms, minnows, small crustaceans, grubs, and insects. Unlike yellow perch, white perch are not easy to spot because they swim around looking for food. But they, like yellow perch, do travel in large groups too. So if you spot the entire of the water are boiling with rises, that means they are coming.