[tie one on]

I'm not sure if we have discussed this or not, but here goes.

If you out in the river, or on your favorite lake & you find a
great spot filled with panfish which fly will you put on your
leader ? Do you snip off the Elk Hair Caddis & reach for a
size 10 popper, or do you reach in the other box & grab
a special nymph your Father taught you to tie ?

For me it's the latter. I still have a box filled with my Father's
special "Water Crickett". I've even caught big smallies on this
fly. I would like to hear what you think & which might be your
"reach for" panfish fly.

Spring is coming & so is some great fishing,

Tie One On

[Jakeway]

I used to use sponge spiders 90% of the time, and tiny popers the rest of the time. Then about 6 years ago, at the suggestion of another fisher, I tied a hare's ear nymph on a dropper to a popper. I caught 75% 0f my fish on the nymph, so I ditched the popper and just use the nymph.

Now my go-to fly is a #12 Olive Bead Head Wooly Bugger. It catches the most and largest bluegills, and an occasional bass. (Hook up on a 14" or larger smallie on a 7 foot 4 weight rod and you'll have some fun.) I've even out-fished guys in my same boat while they were using live crickets and worms.

[MrEsox]

I use small streamers, nymphs, and other small wet flies. Thing is I dont get much of a chance to catch the fish when they would be after surface baits. My best crappy fly was a 2" minnow imatator. Small wooly buggers have worked as well. Though there are a lot of patterns that will work, I try and stay with aquatic larva looking patterns and small minnows. Oh and dont over look scud patterns.

[fyshstykr]

I would probably try sinking the Caddis first, if that didn't work then I would go to the nymph or a wet fly, if that didn't work then I would change out the tippet and try a minnow imitation, if that didn't work then I would head back to the truck for a cold beer!!

[jackmcmanus21]

Originally Posted by fyshstykr

I would probably try sinking the Caddis first, if that didn't work then I would go to the nymph or a wet fly, if that didn't work then I would change out the tippet and try a minnow imitation, if that didn't work then I would head back to the truck for a cold beer!!

I like to start off with a cold beer....sets a good tone for the rest of the day!

[FoulHooked]

Originally Posted by jackmcmanus21

I like to start off with a cold beer....sets a good tone for the rest of the day!

Agreed.

I often find myself in the midst of a roaming panfish surface-feeding-frenzy on one particular lake (pumpkinseed, bluegill, shiners, perch, pint-sized bass), and it doesn't seem to matter what's offered. I'll usually have a small popper or big bushy dry with a hare's ear nymph or midge larva dropper...I'll get a fish on almost every cast, and although it can sometimes be a hassle, about 30% of the time, on both flies. Near the end of an afternoon on the lake, it's a welcome change of pace from working hard to find the "better" fish on the lake. The shiners kinda smell though.

[panfisher1125]

i love fishing with the floating black spiders on my 5wt only thing is you hook into some pretty nice bass on the lakes i fish but it makes it more fun!!

[fyshstykr]

Originally Posted by jackmcmanus21

I like to start off with a cold beer....sets a good tone for the rest of the day!

Fishing tip #2166384.
Always leave one vest pocket open for a can of beer.

[FlyRichardFly]

Originally Posted by tie one on

I'm not sure if we have discussed this or not, but here goes.

If you out in the river, or on your favorite lake & you find a
great spot filled with panfish which fly will you put on your
leader ? Do you snip off the Elk Hair Caddis & reach for a
size 10 popper, or do you reach in the other box & grab
a special nymph your Father taught you to tie ?

For me it's the latter. I still have a box filled with my Father's
special "Water Crickett". I've even caught big smallies on this
fly. I would like to hear what you think & which might be your
"reach for" panfish fly.

Spring is coming & so is some great fishing,

Tie One On

Tie, are you also a member of RiverSmallies or the Bass Barn? I remember the name!

You have just touched my heart. Panfish with a flyrod are almost as good as trout!

Topwater is good, a small popper. But a unweighted size 10 bugger with a 5wt is like "Nirvana" to me!!

Things are starting,
Rick

[Reactor]

I usually let the fish decide on what I'm going to put on the line.
If they are spawning I'll put a No.10 streamer on the line. If the spawn is over then I'll try top water dry flies. Usually as the water warms up I'll fish higher in the water column.
I save my poorly tied dry flies for Panfish. They have a tendency to tear them up.
Usually Crappie like to hold at a ceartain depth. Streamers and wet flies let me slowly sink the fly by them.