what is the best panfish bait

NO LIE. I CATCH A TON OF GILL ON VIENNA SAUSAGES  . JUST CUT THEM INTO LITTLE CIRCULAR PIECES.

I HAVE FISHED NUMEROUS BODIES OF WATER (MOSTLY PONDS) AND THEY WORK VERY WELL. YOU JUST CAN'T SLING THEM TO HARD BECAUSE THEY FALL OFF THE HOOK VERY EASILY. I FISH THEM ON A DROP SHOT RIG, AND MAKE SURE TO WATCH THE LINE VERY CAREFULLY AS THE BLUEGILL WILL PECK THE BAIT OFF IF YOU AREN'T CAREFUL. GOOD LUCK FISHING

my favorite is fly fishing for them using spiders or poppers ( number 12-16) a trick to using a fly for surfacing fish but no fly rod or experience is to use a clear bobber, and put it about 6 ft above the fly, this way you can cast it out and reel it in until the line straightens behind the bobber, then wait a couple of seconds and give your reel a turn until you see the fly behind the bobber move, ( slight wake) then stop and wait again, you do not rely on the bobber for the strike rather you watch the bug, it is a gas when you get into panfish and start seeing the boil behind the bobber and catching fish, I have outfished many people during early spring with the topwater presentation.  it does not work all the time, but when it does it is definitely a knock out punch.

Vienna sausages and hot dogs work well. I have found that the skin or casing of a 'dog works best. I have also had good luck with wax worms and spikes. They are easy to keep and handle, especially for youngsters. Tom

Worms, and wax worms for bluegills and maybe some crappies and bass but try minnows for crappies.
Tight lines.

When fishing for Perch or Crappie I always start with minnows, but if I find myself on a hot bite, I'll switch to small curlytails-why spend the money on live bait! Tom

I'm on board with the fly fishin.  I also have great luck using the poppers and spiders, but when they are not hitting well on the surface tie on a nymph and just let it slowly sink giving it a slight twitch every now and again.  I often catch more and better fish with the fly that others with a cork and worm.

I've got a question on whether anybody has used the chartreuse worms (the green colored ones). supposedly they are able to attract more fish because of the odd color. I've never bought them because they come less to a pack. But if they work really well I might get some. Thanks in advance for your opinion on them.

Disclaimer: This info came from a bait shop owner, he is an old freind and usually reliable but what follows is hearsay and therefore not admissible in court. Supposedly these dyed worms do catch fish. All I have are secondhand reports. Most of the time when it comes to fishing I take an If I didn't see it, it didn't happen attitude. We all know that all fishermen are liars except for you and I (and I wonder about you). I seem to recall that there is a worm food or suplement that you can feed worms to dye them charteuse or neon green. Good luck. Tom

I weather pemits, I think I'll try them

You have nothing to lose except for some time and a couple of bucks. Tom

 Who's giveing you all those free curlytails? lol Seriously my brotherinlaw when the fishing is slow for gills or crappie will take a tupperware container of canned kernal corn and put 3-4 on the hook shank above the minnow or if useing jigs 3-4 on the shank to contrast a dark skirt and it has worked before.

cant go wrong with a rooster tail or a tiny frog crankbait that dives around 12-16 inches, just make sure you bend the barbs just in case that decient largemouth is hungry and swallows it!!
Oklahoma Life Member Since 2009 OKARNG 45th Inf.

I don't get the curly tails free, but a $4 package of artificials lasts a lot longer than 2 $3 packages of waxies or spikes. I have tried the Gulp maggots with little success. Tom
Fishin' fool in N.E. Illinois

Don't we all wish we could get free stuff.

 

 

Hey Tom, I never was able to get out and try the worms. The pond is muddy and high(because of rain). Next I go fishing for some gill I'll try them since all the weather stations say we shouldn't have any rain for a whole week!!!

It finally stopped raining here and things are settling down a bit. I got out yesterday with my son and his wife, he got skunked, the DIL got a couple really nice 'gills and I went 2 for 5 on bass. I'm hoping to be able to get out more this week, I think the fish are coming out of a very negative period. Tom
Fishin' fool in N.E. Illinois

I have my best luck fishing for gills with meal worms or red wigglers on bottom, I make a slip rig by using a small split shoot about 12 to 16 inches up my line then put a small bell sinker above it, also i like to fish a pop eye jig on a float about 2 to 3 foot deep tipped with a meal worm,  you would not be leave how many fish I catch using both methods.

Awesome! Can't wait to try it. The bobber and fly, that is. 

thats how I got started fly fishing, (bobber and fly) I was too young to handle a 8- 9ft rod,  but hated seeing my dad close out his limit in the time it took me to boat 6-7 fish with bobber and worms, ( everyone knows the attention span of a child.  I was 5 when I started using this technique.  In the spring it does not take long when you get in the thick of the big bull gills to have a good mess of fish,  with the bobber and fly combo I definitely do not catch at the same rate as a fly rod due to the better finness and control with the fly rod, but still outfishes worms by far,  after using this rig, it got me hooked and as soon I could control the rod, I was into fly fishing for gills, now I feel naked without having 4-5 rods with me, all different lengths and weights to get the right feel for certain conditions, it is interesting how a gill on a finicky day will grab a fly on a 3 weight rod, but you put it in a 4 weight and you lose a little finnesse and they do not want to touch it.  once the spring hits, I do not put my flyrods down unless I am forced too, it is too much fun.  keep up to date and let me know how it goes in the spring.
Just hang a sign on my computer that I am gone fishing. I may be at work, but you can't make me think of work.