A Passion for Panfish

Written By: Jerry Darkes

Longear sunfish are found in warmwater rivers and streams across the Midwest. They rival trout in coloration and beauty. Photo by Jerry Darkes

In freshwater there is little doubt that trout get the most attention from fly anglers.  It’s easy to understand why.  Trout are beautiful fish and they live in beautiful places.  Their appetite for aquatic insects provides a perfect avenue to pursue them using bits of feather and fur attached to a hook.

Because of this other suitable fly-fishing targets often get overlooked.  Anglers may travel far and wide in search of trout and ignore opportunities close to home.  The popularity of trout fishing has created problems of overcrowding on many waters.  Climate change is causing river closures during high water temperature periods along with the possibility of decreasing suitable coldwater habitat for trout in the future.

The extensive variety of panfish available across North America provide a viable option for most fly fishers.  The term “panfish” refers to an assortment of generally smaller freshwater fish that are of size that they will fit in a frying pan.  Bluegill, sunfish, yellow perch, white perch, crappie, and rock bass fill this role in many places.  They are abundant, found in an assortment of habitats, and tolerant of a wide range of water temperatures.  Many of these species also rival trout in attractive coloration.  Unlike trout, keeping panfish for a tasty meal lacks the negative connotation applied when trout are kept.

Despite their diminutive size, panfish provide great sport on lighter weight outfits.  Here a 5-weight is at the heavy end of the spectrum.  A 3- or 4-weight is often preferred to present

a wide assortment of fly patterns including dry flies, small poppers, wet flies, nymphs, and small streamers.  They are aggressive feeders, generally much less selective than trout.

True to their name, rock bass, also called red eye, are found around rocky areas in lakes, rivers, and streams. They hit a wide variety of flies aggressively. Photo by Jerry Darkes

Panfish are more tolerant to errant fly presentation, which also makes them an ideal target for inexperienced anglers.

The same outfit employed for trout is usable for panfish, but a dedicated line for this purpose will add to the enjoyment.  Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Panfish Line is specifically designed to meet the needs of the panfish anglers.  This line has a specialized warm-weather coating and core for use in high temperatures where a standard trout line, designed for coldwater use, becomes limp and sticky.

The taper profile is designed for short to medium distance use and will deliver an assortment of fly styles effectively.  The 45-foot length head aids in roll cast presentations and mending.  The 6-foot front taper helps turnover the leader and fly in breezy conditions.  The AST Plus additive gives superior shooting ability and durability.  It also helps to minimize pick up of algae on the line keeping it cleaner for a longer time.

In the Amplitude Smooth configuration, the Panfish Line is fully featured.  In addition to AST Plus, it has welded loops, Improved Dry Tip, and SA ID.  At a moderate price, the Panfish Line gives exceptional performance.