New Angler - Pan fish

[randdmart]

Hello,

 

I'm from Colorado and I know this is a Bass Fishing site/forum but as a new Angler I think I should start with pan fish, which I'm assuming is a smaller fish that can easily be cooked in a pan.  Colorado has 20 different catchable species of fish broken down as follows:

 

Trout (5 species)

Kokanee Salmon (1)

Mountain Whitefish (1)

Splake (1)

Grayling (1)

Wiper (1)

Walleye (1)

Saugeye (1)

Yellow Perch (1)

Channel Catfish (1)

Smallmouth Bass (1)

Largemouth Bass (1)

Tiger Muskie (1)

Black Crappie (1)

Bluegill (1)

Green Sunfish (1)

 

I have only heard of half of these species and the lakes near my house in the suburbs only have about 6 species.  I know there are more in the mountain lakes but I'm not quite there yet.  I bought a bunch of crank bait when I should have bought pan fish lures, oh well, this is a learning process.  I have also learned that a good line to tie for bait fishing goes as follows:

 

Hook (tag end)

About 1.5 to 2 feet of line

split shot(s)

About 2 feet of line

Bobber

About 2 feet of line

Snap swivel

 

I'm going to try this line after the huge snow storm we are supposed to have melts away.

 

As always any comments are appreciated.  I really want to get on the water but it is still a little early.

 

Thanks,

Rich

[A-Jay]

Hello Rich and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

Good Luck on your panfish quest and enjoy the snow.

A-Jay

[jimmyjoe]

   Depending on the length of your rod, you might want to use a slip bobber:

 

 

 

[Jigfishn10]

Hey Rich. I started fishing out in the Breckenridge area of Colorado. If I had those gold medal rivers in my backyard I’d be fly fishing as much as I could.

 

Have you ever thought of going out with a guide for a half day? Highly recommend it. You’d love fly rodding for trout or panfish out there.

 

Good luck man! ?

 

[Bluebasser86]

Panfish are really easy to catch. Your rig sounds overcomplicated. Go to Walmart and get some green worms off the counter in the sporting goods. They're smaller than nightcrawlers but don't need to be kept cool and fish still like them. Some small baitholder hooks (#6 is a good size). Some small split shot and bobbers (the tall, thin ones, not the round ones). Tie the hook on, pinch a split shot on about 6" above the hook, then clip the bobber on about 2' above the hook (adjust the depth as needed), and add some worm to your hook. Cast around shoreline cover like docks, weeds, laydown trees, anywhere a fish might hid. Most of your catch will be bluegills and sunfish, but you'll also catch occasional crappie, bass, catfish, and potentially other species of fish if they live in that body of water since everything eats worms.

[randdmart]

On 3/10/2021 at 3:58 PM, jimmyjoe said:

   Depending on the length of your rod, you might want to use a slip bobber:

 

 

 

I looked into the slip bobber and with all the small parts of a bobber stopper and my low vision a traditional bobber looks like it will work better for me.

[gim]

2 hours ago, randdmart said:

I looked into the slip bobber and with all the small parts of a bobber stopper and my low vision a traditional bobber looks like it will work better for me.

The really nice thing about a slip bobber is that you can adjust it very easily by simply moving the bobber stop up or down, depending on how deep you want your presentation.  You won't be able to easily adjust it with a traditional bobber setup because it will require you to cut and re-tie to change depths.

[Skunkmaster-k]

On 3/10/2021 at 10:58 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Panfish are really easy to catch. Your rig sounds overcomplicated. Go to Walmart and get some green worms off the counter in the sporting goods. They're smaller than nightcrawlers but don't need to be kept cool and fish still like them. Some small baitholder hooks (#6 is a good size). Some small split shot and bobbers (the tall, thin ones, not the round ones). Tie the hook on, pinch a split shot on about 6" above the hook, then clip the bobber on about 2' above the hook (adjust the depth as needed), and add some worm to your hook. Cast around shoreline cover like docks, weeds, laydown trees, anywhere a fish might hid. Most of your catch will be bluegills and sunfish, but you'll also catch occasional crappie, bass, catfish, and potentially other species of fish if they live in that body of water since everything eats worms.

Some of the most fun I’ve had was with a worm and bobber. 

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard! ??

 

Pannies are fun and easy to catch. K.I.S.S. method is best, IMO,

and by that I mean as others have stated, worm/float (bobber).

 

Even simpler is one of the telescoping rods you can buy at 

Walmart. Simply tie a length of line, terminal tackle, use a

slip or regular float and when the fish hits, lift the pole and

bring in the catch. No reel necessary, but a net can be handy.

I've got a bunch of outfits like this for when I want to get really

simple and just enjoy being out there catching fish.

 

Simple fishing.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shakespeare-Durango-Telescopic-Spinning-Fishing-Rod/2581338

 

 

[avid]

Dont over think it.  It's fishing. Its fun

I suggest you equip yourself with some quality tackle best suited for the fish and location you really want to go for.  Its all about the love  enjoy?

[Fallser]

Pretty much all my fishing for panfish is done with a fly rod.  They're fun and relatively easy to catch.

 

 

 

but... I always have a spinning rod in the boat rigged with a slip bobber.  I would go with that rig for panfish.  Easy to set up, I've got lousy vision and I can rig one.  Much easier to cast than a fixed bobber, already mentioned you can easily  change depths.  I leave the bobber stop on the line and the ones I use allow me to cast jigs or lures without any problem.  Besides folks who fish with round red and white fixed bobbers have strange things happen to them.

 

Definitely keep some and put them in a frying pan, serve them with home fries and baked beans.

[randdmart]

12 hours ago, Fallser said:

Pretty much all my fishing for panfish is done with a fly rod.  They're fun and relatively easy to catch.

 

 

 

but... I always have a spinning rod in the boat rigged with a slip bobber.  I would go with that rig for panfish.  Easy to set up, I've got lousy vision and I can rig one.  Much easier to cast than a fixed bobber, already mentioned you can easily  change depths.  I leave the bobber stop on the line and the ones I use allow me to cast jigs or lures without any problem.  Besides folks who fish with round red and white fixed bobbers have strange things happen to them.

 

Definitely keep some and put them in a frying pan, serve them with home fries and baked beans.

I wish I could use a sliding bobber but I'm legally blind and don't have the hand/eye coordination needed to setup a small bobber stop, which is also why I can't tie the vast majority of fishing knots.

[Spankey]

What I have on the boat for my grandsons that works real well is Crappie Magnet kit and quite a few versions of the Berkley PowerBait micros. Maggots, Wax worms, leaches, pinched worms, hellgie and mealies. They use a couple of bobber setups circle and Aberdeen hooks. Check it out. Having the Aberdeen and cricket hooks make catch and release of anything a lot easier and more pleasant. Have fun. 

[slonezp]

On 3/12/2021 at 9:36 AM, randdmart said:

I looked into the slip bobber and with all the small parts of a bobber stopper and my low vision a traditional bobber looks like it will work better for me.

Step up your traditional bobber game to a Rocket Bobber and don't look back. 

On 3/12/2021 at 2:03 PM, Darren. said:

Welcome aboard! ??

 

Pannies are fun and easy to catch. K.I.S.S. method is best, IMO,

and by that I mean as others have stated, worm/float (bobber).

 

Even simpler is one of the telescoping rods you can buy at 

Walmart. Simply tie a length of line, terminal tackle, use a

slip or regular float and when the fish hits, lift the pole and

bring in the catch. No reel necessary, but a net can be handy.

I've got a bunch of outfits like this for when I want to get really

simple and just enjoy being out there catching fish.

 

Simple fishing.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shakespeare-Durango-Telescopic-Spinning-Fishing-Rod/2581338

 

 

Mr Crappie crappie rods would get my vote because of the addition of a reel. 

[randdmart]

21 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Step up your traditional bobber game to a Rocket Bobber and don't look back. 

On 3/12/2021 at 1:03 PM, Darren. said:

Does a Rocket Bobber still require a Bobber Stop when used as a slip bobber?  I'm unable to use bobber stops due to my low vision, they are just too hard to see and work with.

[slonezp]

On 3/18/2021 at 6:55 AM, randdmart said:

Does a Rocket Bobber still require a Bobber Stop when used as a slip bobber?  I'm unable to use bobber stops due to my low vision, they are just too hard to see and work with.

A rocket bobber is specifically designed for panfish. Its not a slip bobber, more of a hybrid. It's designed to cast further than a standard bobber. You need minimal weight, just enough to keep the bait down. The rocket bobber lays on its side and pops up when there is even the slightest of bites.

 

[TOXIC]

As far as your vision and a bobber stop, they package them so it is easy to thread the line.  I use the same setup but I don’t use a bobber stop.  I just tie a spare piece of line on my main line where I want my bobber to stop.  You can use a longer piece of line to make it easy to tie and then trimmit down to where it will pass through your rod guides.  

[roadwarrior]

What is the brand name and who carries them?

[TOXIC]

41 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

What is the brand name and who carries them?

It’s pretty common to package them like that but those specific ones are:

https://shop.northlandtackle.com/terminal-tackle/snubber-stops/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9MuCBhBUEiwAbDZ-7kFwWJ_aB3WoYfAT999CcISqyWKlXuHReeAIcGaS7pHfDy6g-y_TWxoC-XgQAvD_BwE

 

[throttleplate]

Rod-n bobbs, 3 in 1 bobber

 

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/rod-n-bobbs-revolution-x-3-in-1-bobber?ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop|CAB|TopPerformers|Fishing&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI06mAysm77wIVlJJbCh1sSQ9SEAQYBCABEgLb9fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[randdmart]

I purchased some Rocket Bobbers after watching 2 YouTube videos that were amazing.

 

So, can/would one use a bobber of any kind with a lure or is that not what they are designed for?

[Nelson Wormefeller]

Catching panfish on 2 or 4 pound line on a ultralight rod with small spinners is fun.

[N.Y. Yankee]

I wouldn't go as light as 2 pound and even 4 can be a bit light and I'll tell you why I say that. 1. He has is sight-challenged. Light lines can be very difficult to see tying on terminal tackle. 2. Any water that has an abundant population of panfish probably has a population of predators close by. Hook a bluegill on 2 pound test and it is quite a bit of fun but have a decent bass engulf that 'gill and the whole thing is gone. been there, done that. I'd step up to 6 or even 8 pound test for a beginner getting used to fishing. I've taught my niece to fish with a 5 foot casting rod and a Zebco 202 reel which I spooled with 8 pound Stren Original. She has pulled in some nice bass on that rig and countless bluegill and sunfish.

[slonezp]

On 3/19/2021 at 9:02 AM, randdmart said:

I purchased some Rocket Bobbers after watching 2 YouTube videos that were amazing.

 

So, can/would one use a bobber of any kind with a lure or is that not what they are designed for?

Give it a try. 

 

A bobber is really designed for live bait, or plastics. What type of lure are you thinking of suspending under the bobber?