Search Results for ‘panfish’

It's fun to catch fish through the ice, and it's also really fun to eat some of those fish. When some anglers get a desire for a fresh fish meal in the winter months, they go after panfish. Here's why and how. Why go after panfish when you want a fish supper? In most areas of the Midwest...

The weather is getting colder, which means ice-fishing is getting closer every day. There is a skim of ice on the pond, and with a little help from the weather-maker, that skim will be a solid layer soon. Once that layer of ice is established, it won't be long until there will be anglers out...

by Bob Jensen Most of the ponds and many of the small lakes across the Midwest are either free of ice or will be soon. For those of us that are looking forward to getting back to open-water fishing, that means it's time to get the panfish gear together. In some places we fish panfish...

by Bob Jensen Early in the open water fishing season, jigs are probably the Number One go-to bait for walleye anglers, and folks who fish for bass and panfish also use jigs early in the season. There's a reason for that: Jigs are, plain and simple, fish-catchers. In fact, many anglers, if...

by Doug Leier North Dakota's fishing regulations are different than any other set of regulations the State Game and Fish Department produces. While they all cover laws, limits and season lengths, the fishing regulations cover a two-year period, while the others are developed annually...

by Bob Jensen It's a new fishing season! After a winter that didn't want to let go, the grass is now green, robins are sitting on nests, and the fish are biting. Following are some things to keep in mind when you get ready to go fishing. First of all, make sure you have a current fishing...

For many anglers, our first fishing trip of the year is in search of panfish. Panfish come in several varieties and can be found almost everywhere on the North American continent. They are usually willing biters, and they're great in a frying pan. Additionally, in most places, you can fish...

by Bob Jensen It's not here, but it's near. Ice-fishing that is. It's November. Many hunting seasons are in full swing. Those are an ice-anglers reminders that it's time to start thinking about ice-fishing. Depending on Mother Nature, we could be ice-fishing in just a couple of weeks in the...

Ice Fishing Rigs - Big Bluegills By Nick Simonson For the past few weekends, I have been exploring a small impoundment about twenty minutes from home. Rumor had it that big bluegills roamed the basin out from the public access, but all my efforts had produced over the past month was a...

By Paul A. Nelson The best time to search for winter crappie spots is in the fall, when anglers can capitalize on the mobility of a boat and onboard sonar to cruise around marking spots mentally, preferably with GPS, too. Once the lakes freeze, though, assuming you didn't conduct autumn...

By Doug Leier Late in the 1980s my family moved from LaMoure to Valley City. I'd fished the Jim River and Lake LaMoure prior to the move, and enjoyed an array of fish, from pike to perch and even the lowly carp. In Barnes County around Valley City, I spent a good chunk of time fishing Lake...

Our Outdoors Nick Simonson Panfish - be they sunfish, crappies, perch or white bass - are present throughout the upper Midwest. They comprise the midsection of most lakes' biomass and present a sure-fire fishing opportunity for anglers young and old. If you are new to fishing, or already...

By Eric Hustad Another April is upon us and I can't help but get excited! What a great month: the Twins play meaningful games, the NFL draft, snow melting, longer days, and the start of what I consider my preseason fishing. Giving normal ice out, in the middle of April, crappie fishing is my...

By Brian Brosdahl A system is only as good as the weakest link. That's a profound statement and applies to everything from a football team to stereo systems. Think about it. Well, in fishing, it also pertains to the freshwater shrimp - or scud as they're referred to on the ice...

By Jason Mitchell More ice anglers are discovering that the tip of the rod we are using has as much influence on our presentation as the actual motion we put on the rod while fishing. A rod with a fast tip for example will give the lure a distinct flash and pound that is more abrupt, perhaps...

By Jason Mitchell Finding and catching jumbo panfish can be a challenge, even on lakes where a good population of big fish exists. Ironically, the healthiest jumbo panfish Mecca's are often bodies of water where catching these fish does indeed challenge the ice angler, demanding the right...

By Bill Mitzel Soon, it'll be rotten out there. Not rancid like spoiled produce, but soft and dark nonetheless. I'm talking about the ice. It's thick and resolute now, but it won't last forever, actually, scarcely longer than a few weeks, less in some areas. Fortunately, though, ice...

By the Ice Team Many ice anglers of today understand that winter's fish live in water at its clearest. In such conditions, fish tend to locate and choose prey based on visual evidence. That might sound like mumbo-jumbo, but it means that what your bait looks like is more important under...

By Chris Hustad Here's a scenario that I'm sure most ice fishermen will play out a lot of the times during the winter. You're setup for some perch ice fishing, with a few fish coming here and there, but you're seeing a lot of action on your bobber or fish displaying on your sonar. If...

Our Outdoors Nick Simonson I cannot recall how many times I have watched fish rise up on the Vexilar as I work my lure in the water column only to have the fish pause at my offering then head back to the bottom. Be it a small jig with a wax worm or a spoon with a minnow head, it is...