What is the best bait for bluegill, crappie and other panfish? I have a flyrod too and I have heard a foam spider drives them crazy.

I'm a big picture person too so if you can throw in a pic off BPS site that would be nice too.

Thanks

Crickets and worms for bluegill, small minnows for crappie.

8-)

I find that you could throw almost anything in the water and catch a bluegill. I usually catch them when I am trying to fish for other types, usually bass or shallow water catfish. I think I've even caught small ones when I accidently drop my hook in the water without anything on it.

As for actual bait though, I would recommend "dough balls" for bluegill. Just pinch off a piece of bread, wad and roll it up between your fingers, and work it onto your hook. They really seem to like bread... Like rw said, crickets and other bugs work well too.

I have caught many bluegill on a 10' crappie rod using a small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jighead with a small curly tail grub and a Berkely Crappie nibble. As an added bonus, Crappie and Bass go for them as well. Bass on a Crappie rod, now that's fun!

Red worms are very effective but much messier than the other baits suggested.

If you are limiting this to artificials, a variety will work well. I used to use small Kastmaster spoons for bluegill, but even though they were good, I switched to crankbaits, like Rapala Mini Fat Raps and tiny Countdowns. Crappie and perch I'd also use small cranks and 1/16 oz. or 1/8 oz. jigheads dressed with a grub.

But I think any of these species will take most artificials that they can get in their mouths, and some too large for their mouths as well.

I never used a fly rod, but one time my partner brought his along and he was getting good bluegill action on some sort of wet fly.

Leeches and Minnows for Crappies

Nightcrawlers and grubs for Bluegills

I agree with all the above regarding small jigs (1/16 - 1/32oz). Obviously worms will catch anything too. For bluegill I find hook and line size is far more important than the specific bait. Use a very thin line (I prefer 15lb power pro braid because then you can straighten your hook out of snags and just bend it back into shape) and a small hook -- no bigger than #4 but preferable #8 or #10.

The fly rod is my favorite way to catch them and I get most success using very small poppers over shallow water and/or tight up against weeds/brush/rocks/etc. Poppers like these (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_97604_175002003_175000000_175002000_175-2-3) are perfect. Get both sizes (4 and 10) because sometimes they're looking for bigger foods. Also the bigger bugs make a louder noise upon landing -- some days that's what they want. You can also try bead heads (e.g. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10201408_175002003_175000000_175002000_175-2-3) but most wet flies will work. The important thing is to use a wet fly that reaches/works the correct depth --e.g. a heavy bead is little good in very shallow water and vice-versa.

Hope this helps. PM me if you need more info.

I find that you could throw almost anything in the water and catch a bluegill. I usually catch them when I am trying to fish for other types.

I agree....I caught 2 big crappies' on 10-12 deep diving crank bait!  Usually hook them on a small jig with a grub though.

Small beads of bread on a #2 hook w/ a split shot up the line or weightless. Or try a 1/8 - 1/16 oz. jig w/ a grub, chartreuse is always a good jighead color.

If you go with bread, chum up an area with small "sheets" of bread, Crappie love it.

little chunks of nightcrawlers

I have caught many bluegill on a 10' crappie rod using a small 1/16 or 1/32 oz. jighead with a small curly tail grub and a Berkely Crappie nibble. As an added bonus, Crappie and Bass go for them as well. Bass on a Crappie rod, now that's fun!

i have caught a 6# LMB on 2# test while fishing for panfish like that. it was a sick fight nd i caught a 10# cat like that aswell.

Waxworms! Waxworms! Waxworms! Slide a small or medium size hook all the way through the body and BAM! Bucketsfull! Maggots seem too small and don't stay on a hook at all-Waxworms! 8-)

Sweet Corn...They love it!! I've also used bread and crappie nibbles.  ;D

Welcome aboard!

8-)

We had pretty good bluegill fishing the other night using crickets...thanks for the suggestion.

When your not flat broke,bee moths and crickets,and drift worms.

When you have 4 kids bills and not much $ coming in small pcs. of raw bacon!

Don't scough until you try it! It works very, very well

When your not flat broke,bee moths and crickets,and drift worms.

When you have 4 kids bills and not much $ coming in small pcs. of raw bacon!

Don't scough until you try it! It works very, very well

I have used bee moths once and seemed to work well. They seemed to stay on the hook waaay longer than crickets.

Pittsboro is just down the road from me....I'm in New Ross.