Early spring panfish

Whether you are fishing for fun or looking for a good meal, it’s tough to beat the fight of a panfish on an ultra-light rod. With the warming spring winds, panfish are working their way up to the shallows. The first place to look are sharp drop-offs leading to shallow flats. They’re waiting for that water to warm up before they make their way into the shallows. A sure-fire way to target these fish is to use a 1/32 jig with a nail tail tipped with a wax worm under a slip bobber. Another way is to cast your jig and retrieve it along the bottom. Both methods will help you catch more panfish. For the ultimate sensitivity and cast ability try spooling your reel with 5-pound test PowerPro braided line—this will help you detect the lightest bites.