Panfishing from a pontoon boat can be very relaxing and rewarding for the whole family.
Pontoon boat fishing for panfish is fairly simple. All you need is several fishing poles and some basic equipment. Cane poles can be a lot of fun for everyone. We use the telescopic type of fishing poles so they are easier to put away or store.
A spinning rod and reel outfit is my favorite fishing set up. I use an ultra light reel and rod to get the maximum amount of fight feel from any size or any kind of panfish that I may catch. Using 6lb to 8lb test line is usually adequate, unless you are fishing in the lily pads or some heavy weed cover. Then you may consider some heavier line in order to pull your fish out of the rough without breaking your line. Make sure you get a reel that has a good drag system. Then if you do have the lighter line on the reel, that drag system can help protect your catch from breaking the line.
The tackle box should have small hooks size #6 to size #10 available for the small mouths on a bluegill or crappie. You will also need a hemostat pliers in order to remove the hook from the panfish. Panfish tend to swallow the hook if not set quickly after a bite. If they do swallow the hook and you cant remove the hook without killing it, just cut the line as close to the hook as you can and let the fish go. The hook will dissolve over time as the fish grows. Other tackle will include some small spoons and spinner baits that you can cast out in order to locate some schools of fish or catch a straggler fish that is away from the school. The sizes should be the 1/6oz to 1/4oz size lures. If you are fishing around some weeds or edges of a drop off, use a jig tipped with live bait such as a minnow or worm. This technique can be very effective to locate some big panfish or whatever might be feeding on the panfish like a largemouth bass.
Other techniques are just a simple bobber or float rig and a number 6 hook. Place a grub, nightcrawler, or smaller worm, or a jig with a minnow on it and you are good to go panfishing. When you catch some sizable keepers, place them in a fish basket over the side of the boat or if you have a live well type set up. Dont put them in a cooler filled with water because they will die quickly. They need to stay alive until you clean them.
Pontoon boat fishing for panfish has brought many years of enjoyment to the whole family. Make sure you know the rules of what size fish is legal to keep in case you catch a bass or walleye while panfishing. After all that is what they feed on too!
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Crappie Fishing Secrets and Techniques
