Flying for Panfish During the Winter?

[Dangerous Toadstool 0]

Can I fish for panfish durin the winter months. Common sense tells me yes because they have to eat something, but what will they bite on when its cold?

[TheCream 0]

2 winters back I whacked the heck out of bluegills for about a 3 day span of warm weather in January. These were pond fish, and they came in pretty shallow when I caught them. Temps were probably around 50 degrees or so for that span, no ice on the pond. I got all my fish on small nymphs under an indicator. Last winter we never had a warm spell long enough to melt ice, so I had to tie all winter.

[oatka 0]

Yes, you can (if your state allows it...I'm guessing they do). I've gone out in the middle of winter on warm days too. I usually don't worry about what they are eating...mostly because THEY never seem to worry about what they are eating. Small enough to fit in their mouths is about the only concern of mine.

 

Good luck!

[RickZieger 0]

Ifg I can get out I go with natural type flies in small sizes.

Usually size 14 and 16 for the patterns, PTN, Hares Ears,leeches.

Most are weighted with a glass bead and fished very slowly.

 

Rick

[ditz2 0]

I agree with Rick. I seldom fish much in the winter any more but I always found them deep and fished very slow. Depending on the water probably but they are more difficult to find in cold weather but when you do there is usually a lot of them in a very small area. I used small yellow wet flies mostly because that was all I had available. I am sure nymphs would work great. Weighted flies may sink too fast in some cases so try unweighted too and let sink for a loooooog time to get it down to the fish. I usually never moved the unweighted flies. Just a slow sink. If no bites re-cast to the hot spot. Sometimes the fish were really tight and the hot spot was only a couple of feet in diameter. Have fun. If you can find them you will catch a bunch.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

here in michigan we don't find much open water in the winter but we ice fish for them and I tie flies to do that usually small black stone patterns and wax worm patterns are the best

[MVHagey 0]

Not to hijack the thread, but is it dangerous for the fish to be caught in the winter when food is scarce?

[troutguy 0]

Only if you cut their heads off and eat them.