But if you’ve caught any panfish, there’s a certin level of frustration that comes with it. The strike indicator twitch. You set the hook and then you reel in a sunfish that could fit in the palm of your hand.
No problem. It eats. And it’s edible.
But it’s not what you’re going out to catch: pike or bass. That’s where plastic baits shine. They’re fantastic levelers.
They enable you to fish the way you want to fish for the species you’re targeting. You won’t accidentaly hook up on everything in the water column. That may seem like a small point, but it make all the difference in how you approach the water.
How to Catch More Panfish with Soft Plastics
Why Soft Plastics Are Great for Panfish
For most of us, plastics is tools we use for bass fishing. But that’s a limited perspective. By nature, soft plastic are very versatile.
They imitate soft bodied food; things that panfish crave. Bluegill and crappie has minnows, crawfish and other insect-type food on their menus. Make your plastic softer and go with a smaller hook and now you’re in the game.
Now you catch fish. Now you don’t fight ’em. It lightens up your presentation and now you can sets the drag down.
Fun factor goes way up. “Plastic selection is a lot bigger deal than people realize. You can’t throw a sinking worm in there because it scares the fish and it sinks to fast.
You can’t throw a floating frog if there’s two feet of water over your head. So you’ve got to know how to read the water. That’s about matching the plastic to the structure.
You’re trying to understand what the fish are eating and where they holds in structure. And when you get the right mix, they bite consistently.”
Using Shaky Heads in Clear Water
For clear water maybe the best set up is shaky heads. The weight is in the head of the jig.
That means that it keep the profile small. When you retrieve it, the bait just sort of swam along. There is no trailing line to spook the fish.
Drop it down beside a rock. Drop it down beside a log. Fish see the bait.
Don’t see the rigging. Bluegill love that profile, and it look like a wounded minnow. In lakes with lots of cover it’s hard to beat.
Micro Plastics for Finicky Crappie
Pumpkinseed crappie are notoriously finicky. They can be picky, and they don’t often take big baits. That’s where micro plastics comes into their own.
Small curly tails, tiny grub trailers. Use size six or eight hooks. Mount ’em up.
Want to look small? Look like a snack. Crappie schools holds tight to structure.
And they will crush a little bait that a bass won’t even sniff. Catching those fish hidden in the weeds means using small plastics. Patience.
Light line. But lots of action comes back at you for it.
Drop Shot Rig for Suspended Fish
A drop shot isn’t just reserved for walleye fishing.
Big sunfish and suspended bass loves them too. Because of how they hang in the water column, the weight sit on the bottom while the bait hovers above. This lets you cover water well.
You can lift it off the bottom a bit or drag it across the bottom. Either way, it’s a vertical presentation that makes fish strike when they’re not actively swimming around. It forces the fish to come to you, which can be especially effective in deeper water when panfish wander.
Choosing Color and Action
People think that color make all the difference. That’s not true for panfish. Color is important but it is more about action.
Panfish see good in stained water. In clear water try naturals such as green pumpkin or watermelon. In dirty water try bright colors such as pink or chartreuse.
Action sells the lie. Crawling baits gets bites. Swimming minnow type profiles get bites.
Vibration gets bites. Movement gets bites. Choose a color you like and concentrate on its action.
Slow Retrieve Techniques
The retrieval speed is key. Because panfish are often lethargic, they don’t chase fast baits. A slow steady retrieve is best.
Occasionally pause and let the bait settle. Often times the strike is on the fall. That’s unexpected for an angler who gets used to covering water.
You have to slow down. You have to be deliberate. The bite can be subtle.
Keep your line tight. Feel for the tap. Then set the hook.
It’s a rhythm game and once you get into it, you won’t be able to stop fishing. Using soft plastics on panfish is a different animal. It’s a new way to catch those little guys that makes an ordinary day a good one.
It catches them better and the fun factor go up significantly. The tackle is simple. The technique is easy.
It also performs consistantly. Cast a tiny shaky head lure next time you’re out at the local pond. Toss it down by the cover and let it sit until it taps.
See what we mean? It’s less about how big they are and more about how much fun catching them is. That’s what plastic baits do.
