I really enjoy catching crappie, I usually will target a certain species in my area, and try to catch just that. This year I'm going for Crappie in general (gonna try for some shad for the first time too). I'm a big fan of rubber baits, so I'm using jigs of different types (1/32-1/16 oz.heads) rigged with a slide bobber and stopper (since they are usually pretty shallow during the spring) and I like using twist on weights (doesn't pinch the line, and no knots needed) I use just enough weight to make the bobber work, counting the jig weight. cast to shallows with some sort of structure and vegetation present. Cast close to structures and cover, jig softly and slowly.

I also take live minnows to rely on if the rubbers aren't working, i use what ever local bait-shop minnows with a basic drop shot and slide bobber rig and i hook minnows right below the dorsal fin(don't hit the lateral line). If you use minnows make sure you get them from a shop close to where you are fishing, make sure they look good and healthy. I've botten minnow from some gas stations and had all of them die before i even start fishing. So i try and buy them from an actual bait shop, if I can.

I love going after crappie, perch are second and bluegill a close third.

Also cshackelford, if you don't have a bait shop close to your fishery of choice, put some ice in with your minnows, it'll keep them alive longer. Just try to keep the ice and minnow's water separate, the chemicals in the ice can kill the minnows. I use to do this all the time, we'd get minnows and ice, drive over an hour to the lake and the minnows would still be fine

crappie,bull bluegills on popping bugs,wite bass on streamers

then, if you are in the Mountains of Montana, the panfish might be Brook Trout. Sure had fun on some of the tributaries of the Big Hole, unfortunately so very long ago.

My favorite is jumbo perch through the ice, spend many hours on the ice every year. My personal best is 2lbs 4oz just over 14 1/2 inches, looking for that one over 15. They can put up a great fight on an ice fishing pole.

In the Chicago area Yellow Perch are considered the desireable species with sunfish(including bluegill) a close second. Crappie also come in high on the list. More effort is probably expended on sunfish but perch will always be the local target. Tom

I love to catch Perch when I am somewhere where I can catch them. But all of the local ponds around me there are only sunfish and bluegill.

I love Crappie i nomaly get then right before dark on a worm or minnow. You try to find the spot in the weeds that they clear and you get a sand bar and just jig there.

Bluegills and green sunfish, which I catch on a 5/6 weight fly rod and then use the catch for catfish bait.

I would have to say crappie is my favorite. Although it is hard to beat a bunch of 'gills in the frying pan.

Undoubtedly crappie. We fish in the timber with slip bobbers and live minnows but dure'in the spawn when they can be scattered in the weeds I use a wooden bobber, for distance, and a 2 to 3 inch mister twister thrown and retrieved slowly to find them (leave about 3ft. of line below the bobber). We also dead stick a line with split shot and minnow over the side of the boat just off the bottom and catch crappie, catfish anf jumbo perch. The perch have been over 17inches and that's a dandy perch anywhere. Good luck to all fish'in the whole year.

My favorite panfish to eat is yellow perch, by far. My favorite to catch is sunfish (bluegills, pumpkinseeds, etc.) because they give a good fight for the size... and they're pretty good eating, too. As far as what to catch perch on, small minnows and anything that imitates small minnows work. As far as color for artificial lures,good old fashioned black back/silver sides/white belly or black back/gold sides/white belly still do a good job. Perch-colored baits work good, too (perch, like walleyes and other members of the perch family, are highly cannibalistic). Small Rebel minnows or original Rapalas and ice-fishing Rapalas (long, thin profiles) are the best hard baits for perch. For soft artificials, twister tails or Cubby nail tails on jigs (my preferred way to fish) fished either right on the bottom or under a Thill float work great, too. For live bait, I've caught some good-sized perch on 'crawlers and leeches, but the big boys seem to prefer the thin, long minnows and... if it's legal in your neck of the woods... juvenile perch make good baits (check with your local DNR about whether or not you can use small perch in your area). And if you catch any sizeable ones, give us some Polaroid Proof. Go get 'em, man!

Favorite to catch- definitely bluegill especialy with fly rod. Favorite to eat bluegill, crappie then yellow bass .

'Gills and specks!

Posted By mo65 on 11 Feb 2012 04:11 PM
'Gills and specks!

Define a 'speck'.

bluegill on an ultralight with nightcrawlers Great fun.

I like catching any of them. I fish for yellow perch more often then others.

Posted By fisherfanatic on 12 Feb 2012 01:19 PM

Posted By mo65 on 11 Feb 2012 04:11 PM
'Gills and specks!

Define a 'speck'.

Crappie.

Posted By wellsley on 15 Feb 2012 03:17 PM
I like catching any of them. I fish for yellow perch more often then others.

ya what wellsley says

Posted By bass or bass? on 15 Feb 2012 07:34 PM

Posted By fisherfanatic on 12 Feb 2012 01:19 PM

Posted By mo65 on 11 Feb 2012 04:11 PM
'Gills and specks!

Define a 'speck'.

Crappie.

fisherfanatic, at this time the term speck would be crappy as bass to bass has said. but here in michigan the term speck is used also on the brooktrout. maybe that is what throw ya a bit