Help with catching (hopefully) larger panfish

[eich]

Hello all.
I was wondering if some of you savvy panfish anglers could give me some tips on locating (from shore) as well as tips on baits and techniques. It has been a few years for me fishing for them and I am a bit rusty. I have had limited success with "slow rolling" beetle spins as well as the slow lift and drop method of crappie jigs at visible structure (submerged stumps, etc.). Is there anything else that I am missing. My long term memory isn't as good as it used to be. Thanks in advance for any help. You guys (and gals) are great!

Ray

[Illinoisgiller]

Ray, There are times that I question my own savy when it comes to targeting the larger gills. I relate to weed edges and submerged wood.
1st off be sure you have knowledge that there are larger ones to target. Some lakes are stunted beyond belief. Even though I don't often fish from shore these days, my basic method would be pretty much the same. I use a slip float most all the time, along with large enough shot to balance it well. This gives me enough weight to cast long if needed and still get deep where you will find the larger ones after spawn.
I am a huge fan of hair jigs like the T.H.E. jig that CrappieKeith ties and Grizzly Jig Co. "Bill's Water Flea" The Water Flea is a pink head 1/80 oz tied with duck feathers on a fly hook.
I happen to tie my own hair jigs and tip with a wax worm or two.
During the spawn or in the shallows in the early am or evening those ants or spiders like Dave from IN. uses work great from a float bubble.
Untill I started using a float tube, I was fishing a fairly flat bottom strip mine 16-18' deep.I was casting from shore and setting the float at 10-12' and working over the big gills very regular.:party0045:
Schoe does well ,especially with red ear, with just red worms .Hope all this rambling helps a bit.

[Sharon]

Im not as good as Giller here, but where I am... the like live worms. I just use my #4 circle hook, small piece of worm and they go for it. They are starting to bed in my area now. Hopefully I can catch some and share some pics with you all.
I find that I catch the most off the dock and just let my line hang close to the dock with a bobber, or if you can, swing the line up under the dock.. them little boogers are always hiding in there.
Good luck and please post some pics when you catch them.

[jason454ci]

The best advice I can give ya Ray is listen to Giller. Let me tell ya that feller knows a thing or two about them panfish. He has taught me quite a bit about catch'n and cleaning em thats for sure.

[eich]

Thanks for the advice. I am assuming that the strip mine that I am fishing has some huge Bluegills. It has been flooded for over 20 years and there are huge largemouth bass in there (8-9 pounds). Also there are some very large channel catfish in there. I believe that the bass and catfish feed on the smaller bluegills thus keeping the small lake's bluegills from being stunted. I will try some of the tactics you have both described. Do you add any shot above the jig to get it down better? Is fishing slower better in general? Sorry that it seems like I'm asking a lot of questions, but I really want to try my best for success at the bigger panfish. This small lake has a lot of submerged trees and that is what I am trying to target. I will definitely post any big ones that I am fortunate enough to catch. Thanks again for some help.

Ray

[Illinoisgiller]

Considering you are on bank you need as much weight as you can use and still keep the float high enough to see.
I and the wife just got back from the local shallow canal and being the dark of the moon ,there is a minor spawn in place.
The major spawn is full moon and a lesser spawn on the dark of the moon. You will find a few in the shallows during this time but be very cautious--When they see you on bank it is game over.:confused0024:lol (No white shirts, blend in.) You can get by with casting up the shore edge quite a distance with float set a foot or two deep depending on depth. With a strip mine you may be restricted to ends or anywhere it goes out shallow for a ways. Gills will bed in water 6" to 6' deep. Get high as you can and look for the little dish shaped volcanos. As my grandson said as a little guy ,wear those pulverized sunglasses so you can see in the water better.:icon_cool: lol Mike