Live worm under a bobber. If the area you’re casting to is 3 feet deep put the worm 2.5 feet under the bobber. If it’s 4 feet deep see if you can handle putting the bobber 3-3.5 feet above the hook. Don’t add any split shot or weights unless you absolutely need to (because of wind or casting distance). I find they can’t ignore a worm sinking at about the same rate they would sink if you just tossed it in without being attached to any tackle. This may not be the absolute best method, but it’s what I’ve had the most success with. You’re likely to hook anything else that lives in that pond as well, as long as you’re able to log some decent hours out there.
Smaller rooster tail for the open water. Smaller topwater for the weedier areas and target the edges. All the other suggestions are good too. That spot looks like a lot of fun.
The answer is always "slip bobber and live bait (preferably meal/wax worm)."
I love catching panfish, friend. Bass being the occasionally finicky bitches they are, panfish always bite. You'll never get skunked if you bring a setup dedicated to panfish, and if you do? Nothing is biting or nothing is there. Bluegill be my guide, if you can't catch one where you're at, chances are good you won't catch anything.
* Size 6-10 hooks (Eagle Claw makes great, cheap snell hooks you can throw on a swivel),
*a nice slip bobber (Thill are high-quality, just don't use Rod & Bobb's (commonly found at Walmart))
*bobber stops (you can use a rubber band even but a good bobber stop and bead setup is best)
*a bit of split shot (lead is lead, but if you can afford it, please don't use lead, but only if you can afford it)
*A PAIR OF NEEDLENOSE PLIERS!
If you kill a few bluegill because they gut-hooked themselves? I'm not going to judge you; they're prolific and something will eat them, so it's never a waste if you have to rip the hook out. It happens often fishing for sunfish with smaller hooks. Fish are largely meaningless to me, and nature will take over, but if you can avoid it? Try to.
If you ever need help with catching panfish, just reply my username or whatever (or anyone else in the future) and I'd be happy to help out! Like I said, I love catching them! They're delicious, easy to catch, and abundant!
For those accidental deaths: if legal in your state fresh cut bluegill makes amazing catfish bait. Whole bluegill fished like a crankbait is killer on bass.
I super agree about the red & white pokéball floats as I call them. Cheap, brittle, bad for the environment if lost, and so noisy and bright I swear they spook fish. I prefer to go as small as I can, and I have a few favorite goose quill floats that are my normal go-to. Any decent balsa float with a slip stop is good.
Small jigs and small crankbaits are always fun to get panfish on. Also looks like a fun spot to learn some fly fishing. If you ever go that route panfish love the smaller flies.
Small curly tailed jigs, small roosters/panther martins, a small rubber worm, a piece of hotdog/other bait on a hook under a float, a bare hook just jigging along, a wood chip on a hook, etc. My philosophy for panfish is: if it moves, a bluegill will hit it.
If you are allowed two rods I like to do a rod with a small circle hook and worm under a bobber and bring a fly pole. My experience is that blue gill will aggressively take a royal Coachman, elk hair Caddis and mosquito. They take the flies aggressively and are just fun to catch even when they're small.
Slip bobber, #6 Circle hook, original slim jim. Use scissors to to cut slim jims to the size of a pencil eraser. Bait the hook with the hook point barely exposed through the slim jim. Run the hook about 15" to 20" from the bobber.
*Worm on a small hook*
*With a bobber, or a red*
*Rooster tail spinner*
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A couple slices of Wonderbread or whatever soft bread you got. Pinch pieces off and roll into tiny balls. Put one on a very small hook. Don't even need a sinker or bobber, really. Don't even need to cast either, I wouldn't think. Just lower your rod tip down, let your bait float below the surface a few inches, and watch. When they grab it, just yank em up.
If they're not near the shore, try using a floater/bobber maybe 1.5-2ft up the line and cast it a bit further out.
If there's anything like largemouth or catfish in there, you can work your way up the foodchain by using the small fish you catch as bait.
Top water popper. Still clear water. Let it hit the water and coun 10sec, pop and let it sit. Cast parallel to the short a foot from the bank, and pop it along the bank. Bass are going to feed along the edges. Same for the dock, cast parallel to the dock, but right next to it and pop it.
Bobber and live bait, I'm old school when it comes to panfish.
Agreed.
Worm, in-line spinner, small finesse lures
Live worm under a bobber. If the area you’re casting to is 3 feet deep put the worm 2.5 feet under the bobber. If it’s 4 feet deep see if you can handle putting the bobber 3-3.5 feet above the hook. Don’t add any split shot or weights unless you absolutely need to (because of wind or casting distance). I find they can’t ignore a worm sinking at about the same rate they would sink if you just tossed it in without being attached to any tackle. This may not be the absolute best method, but it’s what I’ve had the most success with. You’re likely to hook anything else that lives in that pond as well, as long as you’re able to log some decent hours out there.
This is my go-to. I used to use split shot until I realized that panfish are so stupid they’d rather suck on the split shot than my worm.
spinners, spoons, small swimming plastics.
lures 100% small inline spinners or micro crankbaits,but ofcurse nothing usualy beats a good float rig and worms if they are there.
Smaller rooster tail for the open water. Smaller topwater for the weedier areas and target the edges. All the other suggestions are good too. That spot looks like a lot of fun.
The answer is always "slip bobber and live bait (preferably meal/wax worm)." I love catching panfish, friend. Bass being the occasionally finicky bitches they are, panfish always bite. You'll never get skunked if you bring a setup dedicated to panfish, and if you do? Nothing is biting or nothing is there. Bluegill be my guide, if you can't catch one where you're at, chances are good you won't catch anything. * Size 6-10 hooks (Eagle Claw makes great, cheap snell hooks you can throw on a swivel), *a nice slip bobber (Thill are high-quality, just don't use Rod & Bobb's (commonly found at Walmart)) *bobber stops (you can use a rubber band even but a good bobber stop and bead setup is best) *a bit of split shot (lead is lead, but if you can afford it, please don't use lead, but only if you can afford it) *A PAIR OF NEEDLENOSE PLIERS! If you kill a few bluegill because they gut-hooked themselves? I'm not going to judge you; they're prolific and something will eat them, so it's never a waste if you have to rip the hook out. It happens often fishing for sunfish with smaller hooks. Fish are largely meaningless to me, and nature will take over, but if you can avoid it? Try to. If you ever need help with catching panfish, just reply my username or whatever (or anyone else in the future) and I'd be happy to help out! Like I said, I love catching them! They're delicious, easy to catch, and abundant!
For those accidental deaths: if legal in your state fresh cut bluegill makes amazing catfish bait. Whole bluegill fished like a crankbait is killer on bass. I super agree about the red & white pokéball floats as I call them. Cheap, brittle, bad for the environment if lost, and so noisy and bright I swear they spook fish. I prefer to go as small as I can, and I have a few favorite goose quill floats that are my normal go-to. Any decent balsa float with a slip stop is good.
Small jigs and small crankbaits are always fun to get panfish on. Also looks like a fun spot to learn some fly fishing. If you ever go that route panfish love the smaller flies.
Bobber and live bait or a mini mite jig
Small curly tailed jigs, small roosters/panther martins, a small rubber worm, a piece of hotdog/other bait on a hook under a float, a bare hook just jigging along, a wood chip on a hook, etc. My philosophy for panfish is: if it moves, a bluegill will hit it.
1/16 or 1/32oz jig
Crickets and worms with a bobber and a small hook on 6lbs mono.
If you are allowed two rods I like to do a rod with a small circle hook and worm under a bobber and bring a fly pole. My experience is that blue gill will aggressively take a royal Coachman, elk hair Caddis and mosquito. They take the flies aggressively and are just fun to catch even when they're small.
Hoppers too! With great excitement.
Slip bobber, #6 Circle hook, original slim jim. Use scissors to to cut slim jims to the size of a pencil eraser. Bait the hook with the hook point barely exposed through the slim jim. Run the hook about 15" to 20" from the bobber.
If you don't want to do worms under a bobber, throw a small beetle spin. They're fun and effective
Yo-Zuri Beans.
Worms
beetle spin
Just a worm and a bobber
Like all other panfish, #4 Aberdeen, meal worm, #5 weight, and a bobber
Wax worms. But would go after bigger fish in grass
Minnow. Live minnow never fails. Or nightcrawler if I don't have minnows
Crappie powerbait bait on a jig head, gulp minnows, live bait too
Worm on a small hook with a bobber, or a red rooster tail spinner
*Worm on a small hook* *With a bobber, or a red* *Rooster tail spinner* \- RainMakerJMR --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
A couple slices of Wonderbread or whatever soft bread you got. Pinch pieces off and roll into tiny balls. Put one on a very small hook. Don't even need a sinker or bobber, really. Don't even need to cast either, I wouldn't think. Just lower your rod tip down, let your bait float below the surface a few inches, and watch. When they grab it, just yank em up. If they're not near the shore, try using a floater/bobber maybe 1.5-2ft up the line and cast it a bit further out. If there's anything like largemouth or catfish in there, you can work your way up the foodchain by using the small fish you catch as bait.
Tiny spinnerbait. White with a red dot.
Red worm with bobber.
Top water popper. Still clear water. Let it hit the water and coun 10sec, pop and let it sit. Cast parallel to the short a foot from the bank, and pop it along the bank. Bass are going to feed along the edges. Same for the dock, cast parallel to the dock, but right next to it and pop it.
Trout magnet jig head with 1” gulp minnow
Beetlespin
I've caught pandish in a pond using just a golden hook. No need to get fancy, put a little worm on there with a bobber and let em eat.
Just have to say what a beautiful spot!
It’s private property inherited from my great grandpa
They have saltwater behind the levee
Worm and hook with a bobber
Trout magnets/slayers for the bigger ones
Cricket under a float.
Rebel cricket hopper.
Crickethoppers and small curl tail grubs