Best times of day for panfishing?

[Andy Grow]

Going out with the boy to do our first round of panfishing here in the U.P.

What is the best time of day to have a chance at catching some fish? Size doesn't matter, just want to get something on the line now and then, to keep his interest up.

We are fishing from a floating pier/dock...no boat (yet).

Thanks!

[SimsShark]

I've caught panfish all day before. the time of day where I catch the most is late afternoon-last hour of daylight. If you're not too worried about size and you have a lot of bait steelers taking your bait switch to a smaller hook. That usually works for me. Take a size 6 or 8 and load it up with a trout work or mill worm. Good luck out there.

[icefishermanmark]

any time as long as it's not dark. Especially this time of year, you can catch panfish in the early morning, or high noon.

[deputy865]

I fish for gill's alot, and i would say that not really early but about like 7:30AM til about 7:00pm is best..try a little spot fishing first and find out whats goin' on...

Shane

[Basilwilliam]

Andy, Anytime you can go fishing with your kids is the best time to fish for panfish. In addition to the other methods listed I would highly suggest a few small fly fishing flies. You can "dabble" these off a pier or deck with regular tackle and you stand an almost 100% chance of hooking into some bluegill/sunfish. The smaller the flies the better. The fish you catch might not be very big, but the action is usually fast enough to keep a young ones attention.

Heres a picture of my oldest with one of his first fish he caught using a fly:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/basilwilliam/fishing/BlueGillFishing1.jpg

[OrangeParson]

Basil has the right idea, "fly fishing " for gill's. At almost anyplace you can buy fishing stuff you can pick a casting bubble. Just fill it with a little bit of water, tie on a 3' leader & fly and use any gear you want. Have a good time......Dennis

[Andy Grow]

Thanks everyone for replying. We went out to Monocle Lake tonight, fished off the floating fishing pier...got nothing. Had a few nibbles, as one worm kept getting shorter and shorter.


BUT - we had a good time. It was our first time out and I would have liked to have caught something...anything...to show the kid what it's all about. Will definately be better once we have our boat!

[Splitshot]

First hour of daylight and the last if your after the bigger gills. The little ones will bite anytime and sometimes so do the big ones.

[booktens]

:yeahthat: Most of the time.;)

[wonder why]

if you have a boat or can get one to use on monocle lake then you should go out and find the cribs. the sportsmans club put some out there on the south west shore. it is usually got fish on it. perch walleye and smallmouth bass. the point to the west of the boat ramp is also a good spot. good luck.

[duckman#1]

Andy, sent you a PM on where to catch perch in your area.
I live in southern Mich and I'm telling a yooper how and where to catch perch in the U.P.? go figure eh?

I was surprise by the lack of gills up there. The perch made up for it tho :evil: