Panfishing

[jjohnwm]

I'm jealous; I grew up with several species of sunfish all available within bicycling or even walking distance, and they will always be a favourite of mine. Here in Manitoba there are a few species that barely peak into the southernmost corner of the province...mainly Bluegill...and a couple of sunfish family members that have a reasonably wide distribution in the south...mainly Crappie and Rock Bass. Lots of Smallmouth and a few Largemouth Bass, all introduced.

I miss Sunfish, especially Pumpkinseeds.

Fishing in Puerto Rico will probably be wonderful; it's nice when you really aren't sure what you are likely to catch and are just prospecting.

 

[james99]

Bluegill and spotted sunfish(?) from yesterday.

 

[Matth05]

Bluegill and spotted sunfish(?) from yesterday.

View attachment 1544066

View attachment 1544067

Wow, can’t say I’ve even heard of that species of lepomis. Certainly looks like it just comparing photos online.

 

[Matth05]

Trying some new bass related techniques the past few days. Mainly fishing a soft plastic jerk bait. I have almost no confidence in this technique but it just so happens to be the most common technique to catch peacock bass in Puerto Rico lol. So figured I’d try to get at least a bit more comfortable throwing around a Super Fluke Jr.

Fortunately I can practice with largemouth, so even if we don’t go it’s something worth finally learning. My biggest issue has always been cadence when it comes to twitching a fluke. I always feel like I’m too fast, too slow, not enough slack line, too much slack line. It’s tough. Managed to get a few follows from small largies, no real strikes yet though.

Open to tips lmao

 

[Matth05]

Probably the best bluegill day I’ve had since getting into ultra light fishing. Within about 2 hours I had to have caught somewhere between 15-20 gills at the lake down the street from my house, all stacked up in one spot.
No monsters, but all a very healthy size like the two above. All caught on a small drop shot with a 3” floating trout worm, hooked wacky rig style. So simple, and IME this year so far, this has been more effective than the typical micro jig/plastics I gravitate to.

 

[james99]

Not a fish but had 2 of these bite on one of my last trips. They surface to find your bobber, then dive down. Pull the bobber away and they surface again to relocate it. They pretty much chase it until you move completely away.

 

[james99]

Uneventful trip this afternoon. Caught a blue gill and this little guy with really cool colors. I had a few mudfish on top water lures, but did get any in.

 

[Matth05]

It’s been 90+ degrees the last 5-6 days in NJ and the fishing has been TOUGH. Just to give an idea of how hot it’s been, a lot of lakes have temperature monitors that are posted and updated online throughout the day. The lake by my house hit 88 degrees on Saturday!

So most of my outings have been to rivers the last couple days where the temps are at least slightly cooler. Only managed to catch a handful of redbreasts and pumpkinseeds.
Most of the sunfish the last few days have been totally uninterested in my artificial lures. Could be the heat, could also be fishing pressure. Not uncommon to see people this time of year filling up their buckets, and I mean FILLING, with fish. Nothing against taking some fish home for a nice meal, but I mean at a certain point….

I’m ranting now aren’t I?

 

[james99]

We camped at Clarks hill lake this weekend. Mostly caught big catfish. The sunfish I did catch were all brightly colored compared to the stuff I normally catch in the black water rivers around my house, the lake is super clear. It's cloudy in the below pic because I just walked out of the water.

 

[james99]

Only one bluegill today, but the mudfish were pretty active.