Panfish, those widespread little fish you seem to catch anywhere, mean different things to different people. For many anglers, their first catch ever was probably a panfish. Panfish are viewed by some as incidental catch, a nuisance, or a fall-back in case the larger fish are not biting. But then there are the hardcore panfish anglers: the ones who never outgrew the pursuit of the feisty panfish. So, what exactly is a “panfish?”
Definitions can differ, especially by region. An informal term, “panfish” was originally applied only to fish in the sunfish family Centrarchidae with round, laterally-compressed (pan-like) body shapes. These particular fish, which include sunfish, warmouths, pumpkinseeds, and the well-known bluegill, are often collectively known as bream. Black bass, also in this family, were not considered panfish because they have a longer, more fusiform (torpedo-shaped) body. Now, however, a panfish is any small, freshwater food fish, regardless of body shape, that never outgrows the size of a frying pan. Black bass are still not considered panfish because they grow to much larger sizes. The same can be said for trout. You would be hard-pressed to find panfish in any fish market or restaurant; most are hook-and-line caught by recreational anglers. Aside from the familiar sunfish, the most common species of panfish around North America are crappie, rock bass, and perch. Indeed, the name “panfish” is an almost exclusively North American term. However, with its relatively loose definition, panfish can also describe many, many species caught and targeted by anglers around the world.
What’s more, many species of panfish, especially sunfish and cichlids, have been introduced in many countries throughout the world. Indeed, find nearly any body of water in any country and you would be hard-pressed NOT to find some sort of panfish ready to put up a fight.
Fishing for Panfish
Panfish make an ideal target for anglers because they are prevalent and can be caught throughout the year. Ice fishing during the winter months in the northern latitudes can be just as productive as fishing during the spring and summer months. It just requires a few extra provisions and special techniques and is a topic deserving of its own article. With a few considerations, it is possible to effectively and consistently catch panfish, no matter what time of year.
Fishing for panfish requires little more than a rod, line, hook, and bait. A reel is not even necessary. A child can go to a nearby pond with a string and a hook tied to a sturdy stick, scrounge around for any insects or worms, and catch a bunch of fish. A more refined form of this is cane-poling. Often made of bamboo, cane poles allow an angler to reach far from the bank and put a bait exactly where they want it, while minimizing the chance of spooking fish. They can also be used quite successfully from a boat.
Cane poles can either be bought quite inexpensively or made at home. Once you’re ready to fish, you’ll find a cane pole is a highly effective method of fishing because the angler has good control over bait placement. In areas where it is legal, it is not uncommon to see boats bristling with cane poles in search of crappie.
Anglers targeting panfish with rods and reels, either conventional or fly, will often choose “ultra-light” tackle to experience with full appreciation the fight of these scrappy fish. Ultra-light fishing means down-sizing the rod and reel, line class, and terminal tackle/bait. A typical ultra-light rod is 5 – 6 feet long. The rod is paired with small spin casting or spinning reels spooled with 2-6 pound test line. Floats, sinkers, hooks, and baits are downsized accordingly as well. Tiny lures in the 1/32 – 1/8 ounce size range such as spinnerbaits, jigs, crankbaits, topwaters, soft plastics, and spoons can also be very effective.
For the fly fishing enthusiast, panfish are an easy target. Flies are often made to mimic insects and small fish, the natural forage for panfish. Ultra-light fly tackle does a great job of allowing the angler to really feel the strength of their fight.
