Catching Panfish?

[fishva]

I'm taking my son (7) camping for a couple days next week. He likes fishing in short spurts (usually 30-60 mins at a time before he gets bored). I'm not going to push him, but I'd definitely like it if he got more into it as he gets older. I figure the best way to get him more excited about it at this age is to help him catch a lot of fish, no matter the type.

 

In addition to bass and catfish, the place we're going has bluegills, crappie, and sunfish.

 

I've never really fished for panfish before. Is it best to use live bait? If so, do you prefer nightcrawlers? Small minnows?

 

Are there any particular structures I should look for, or do these fish just hang out everywhere and anywhere?

 

Thanks, guys.

[Mike2841]

Night crawlers on a bobber always worked for me. I usually pinch the worms in half to get the most out of them.

[John G]

You can also try bread balls.

[Superdumper]

I have taken my younger brother fishing n its the same story after thirty minutes of nothing his mind wanders n he'll wanna leave. Live bait works but what I found to be good is the little rebel grasshopper lure. Worm under a bobble can get boring so a lure there is constant activity. It catches fish and will keep them entertained for longer from my experience just make sure they can cast well a birdsnest can ruin a day for a little guy. You can pick one up at Wal-Mart for like five bucks or a local tackle shop.

Just thought I'd suggest an alternative.

[Hyrule Bass]

use live bait. night crawlers and crickets. wouldnt bother with minnows unless you want to target the crappie specifically

[fishva]

Thanks, that's great advice.

With the nightcrawlers, do you thread them on the hook or wacky rig them?

I've never really fished with live bait before.

[Jar11591]

I use a tiny piece of nightcrawler on a long shank hook. They tend to swallow it a lot.

[Mike2841]

Thanks, that's great advice.

With the nightcrawlers, do you thread them on the hook or wacky rig them?

I've never really fished with live bait before.

I thread the majority of the worm and leave a little bit hanging off the end

[flyfisher]

Nightcrawlers are always good.  You can also get some beetle spins.  they seem to catch a bunch of fish and keep them actively casting and reeling.

[slonezp]

Small pieces of nightcrawlers for bluegills and sunnies. Crappies will take a larger piece of nightcrawler if it's moving, but they much prefer minnows. If the bass have spawned by you, the bluegills spawn immediately afterwards. The bull males on beds become very aggressive and will hit everything at this time. Small jigs tipped with 1.5" Gulp minnows, or any other small plastic like a nail tail or twister tail in natural colors will work as well. 

[Brian Needham]

nothing like a 100 crickets to me...

[Missourifishin]

As others have said, worms for bluegill and minnows for crappie. I also catch a ton of both, as well as bass, on roadrunners.

[Hyrule Bass]

Thanks, that's great advice.

With the nightcrawlers, do you thread them on the hook or wacky rig them?

I've never really fished with live bait before.

 

i thread them on but weave the hook in and out of it. i only use half a worm when targetting bluegill. i like to use abeerdeen hooks. take an old rag or cloth to wipe your hands on after handling the nightcrawlers, unless you dont mind the dirt/mess. as someone mentioned above, they tend to swallow hooks too, so be prepared for that...

 

about the only time i dont thread a nightcrawler on is if im sight fishing for bass. i will just nose hook the nightcrawler and toss it out. bass can hardly resist that long nightcrawler floating off the bottom in the water...

[Gaerith]

If your son wants to do it all himself and doesn't like the mess that comes with nightcrawlers consider canned corn or crappie niblets. They work on crappies and panfish, but I do tend to get more bites on crawlers.

[Bankbeater]

Worms under a bobber, or if he wants to try casting you might try a small rooster tail spinnerbait.

[Nelson Wormefeller]

You can catch them with a Rebel Crikhopper if you feel like using a lure.

[Crestliner2008]

I agree with all that's been said. Unless you do not want to bother with live bait. Then by all means, tie on a 1/16 oz. white marabou crappie jig and put a bobber about 2' - 3' below it. All species will readily attack this combination.

[bigbill]

We use the longer stem hooks and thread a 1" or so piece of night crawler on the hook so it's a straight piece of worm on the hook. This way the fish can't steal the worm. We use a bobber or a rattle bobber if you have one. The 1" mister twister chartreuse grub with a rattle bobber with it. You rattle that bobber and the crappies will come.

[MCS]

Berkely crappie nibbles work really well. I use those over worms and crickets now because they last longer and are a perfect size for the little bait hooks. Kids love them too. neon yellow or hot pink. 

[Ratherbfishing]

If you have a cricket cage, get a bunch of crickets.  No self-respecting bluegill will pass up a delicious cricket.

[dave]

And these

 

http://www.bnmpoles.com/p-119-black-widow.aspx

[fishva]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate all of your tips.

 

We're going camping tomorrow for 2 nights, and I can't wait to give all of your advice a try. I picked up a little lightweight rod for him that should be fun to catch these on.

 

The bass did just spawn here in most the areas I frequent, so maybe the bluegill will be really aggressive. We have had nasty weather this week (lots of rain and storms), so I'm not sure how that will effect things. It should clear up tomorrow morning, finally.

 

What size hooks do you typically use for the nightcrawler pieces?

[Lund Explorer]

I seldom use nightcrawlers for bluegill in preference to leaf worms.

 

Use a #8 light wire Aberdeen hook like a Tru-Turn, pinch a small split shot 6" up the line from the hook, and set the bobber (I use a Thill brand stick bobber) at the appropriate depth.  If I have to fish deeper than about three feet, I use a slip bobber with a bobber stop/bead.  You can adjust depth by simply moving the bobber stop.

 

Remember to take a pair of small hemostats to help removing deeply hooked fish.

 

Also remember to keep a few for dinner.

[bigbill]

#10 & #8 hooks these hooks are found in the assortment cans with the longer stems. The longer stem is a quicker hook removal too.

[fishva]

Awesome, thanks!

 

I'll be sure to post an update when we get back. Again, thanks a ton for your help.