08-24 REELLIFE print digital - Flipbook - Page 18
fishing
Pan Fishing 101 By Eric Magnuson
(Crappie and Bluegill Technique and Set Up)
Fishing for Crappie and
Bluegill, often referred to
as panfish, provides both
novice and seasoned
anglers with an exciting
challenge and a delicious
reward. These popular
freshwater species can be
found in lakes, rivers, and
ponds across Washington
State, making them
accessible targets for
anglers of all skill levels. So
grab your tackle box, and
join me as we explore the
effective techniques and
setups tailored specifically
for crappie and bluegill
fishing.
Understanding
Crappie & Bluegill
Crappie: Crappie are highly
sought after for this tasty
white meat and can grow
to impressive sizes with
the white Crappie and the
black Crappie being the
most common species.
They are known for their
tendency to school around
submerged structures
such as trees, brush piles,
and docks. If fishing from
the boat, I'm typically a
fan of casting small jigs,
and bobbers around these
structures searching for
bites - and also using my
electronics to tell me what's below, and what
are they schooled around?
With fishing docks, I begin
by jigging shallow and work
my way deeper until I feel
that “thump!” Usually, they
are just suspended a few
feet off the bottom below
the docks, but at certain
times of the day, they are
just a foot below the docks,
and hugging the boats
making it a little tougher
shooting your jig under
them, trying not to spook
em’.
Bluegill: Bluegill is smaller
than crappie but just as
popular among anglers.
They are characterized by
their distinctive blue gill
covers and can be found
