Yesterday in Part One of this article, we looked at where you have your best chance of finding panfish in the spring. Now let's look at the lures and presentations that work best.
Lure Presentation
My preferred bluegill presentation consists of a tiny jig (1/32 to 1/90 oz.) often dressed with small grub; it also works as well as anything you'll ever try on lure-shy crappies.
I discovered this purely by accident while using the double-jig rig I'll soon be explaining. On several occasions, crappies turned off the "crappie presentation," and any further action that occurred that day came on the ultra-small bluegill rig. The fish weren't active but some would nearly always be tempted to nip at this mini-snack.
The Two-Jig Rig
The correct lure presentation is a big factor in spring panfish success. Lure speed is very important. So is lure size, color, and depth. To cover as many of these factors as possible, and to appeal to both bluegills and crappies at the same time, I use a two-lure rig.
The two-jig rig evolved from missing too many hits when fishing crappies. While using 1/8-oz. jigs that had one-and-a-half to two-inch-long bodies, crappies would often grab the lure behind the hook, nice sized bluegills would peck at it, or fish regressing into a neutral feeding mood would start to shy away from this presentation.
The addition of the smaller jig generally allowed me to more than double my catch on just one jig. Light-hitting crappies or bluegills that would just peck at the larger lure would take the smaller bait. If I missed too many bumps, usually because of high winds causing poor feel and big bow on the line, I'd go one step further and add a little "meat" to the tiny jig. A small grub like ice-fishermen use (weed worm or wax worm) will cause fish to hold on longer, giving you better opportunity to hook them.
Double-jig rigs can give little more casting weight and distance than just one jig, plus you still are keeping the baits small. It will allow you to better experiment with colors, sizes, lure actions, and retrieve speeds. Double jigs also double your fun, as double-headers are quite common. Even mixed-species doubles frequently happen.
Besides casting the double-jig rig from shore, I troll it from a boat using an electric motor. This tactic is generally preferred after the spawning season has ended. How fast the lures are retrieved or trolled depends on fish activity, depth of cover, depth level producing the most action, and the types of jigs being used.
Although it is legal to fish two jigs on one line in almost all states, check your local laws. Two lures on one line is illegal in Minnesota--a silly rule, especially when the powers that be let you spear northern pike. In Michigan you can spear pike and muskies. Come on guys--those antiquated laws would be laughable if they weren't so destructive and unsportsmanlike.
Big Jigs
Let's examine the selection process of larger jigs. The jigs that are used on the shorter dropper from the swivel will catch the bulk of the crappies, but active bluegills have no qualms about hitting them. My number-one choice for crappies under most conditions is a twister-type grub about 1-1/2 inches long on a 1/8-oz. pink or fluorescent jig head. White or yellow are great producers, while I often use silver in clearer waters on sunnier days. In off-colored water I prefer a chartreuse body, or I go to a small-bladed lure like a Blakemore Road-Runner for extra vibration.
At times crappies are quite inactive and won't chase a lure. This forces me to fish jigs at slower speeds and/or to slow down the rate of descent. At speeds too slow to make twister tails wiggle, a lure change is in order. The Lindy Fuzz-E-Grub, with its ultra-sensitive marabou tail, works fine at these lower speeds, as does the Knight's Tube Jig. To obtain a slower falling or gliding presentation, Mar-Lynn's Puddle Jumper is super. Rig it so the flat side is parallel to the water's surface.
The bluegill presentations involve a number of ultra-small lures, most commonly 1/32 to 1/64 ounce. When using ice-fishing spoons, grubs, or fly rod lures such as nymphs, size 10 hooks work best. Plastic-bodied Rat-Finkee's and Purest are favorites (Custom Jigs & Spins, 1504 Highwood, Pekin, IL 61554) and remember, when things are tough, add a piece of "meat" to these offerings.
Double-jig rigs are best fished on ultralight spinning gear along with four-pound-test line. I use a highly visible line (not yellow) on my reel along with a green or clear line for use between the lures and three-way swivel. A good, moderately priced, ultralight graphite rod such as my favorite--a Lew Childre 5-foot, 6-inch one-piece ultralight (Model sGul-156s)--coupled with a quality, smooth-turning ultralight reel makes a fun package.
If a bobber is needed, just snap one on in front of the double-jig rig. When casting, stop or tighten up on the line just before the lure hits water to prevent tangles. Work the bobber in a stop-and-go manner.
If you find that a larger lure is catching nearly all the fish (say it's a 1-1/2 inch twister on a 1/8-oz. jig head) change both lures to 1-1/2 inch twisters on 1/16-oz jig heads. This will enable you to retain the same weight, retrieve the speed, and depth level.
If it's the tiny jig that's turning all the fins, use two tiny jigs and put a split shot on the line above the three-way swivel to give needed casting weight. You can also use a casting bobber for extra weight.
Play with retrieve and trolling speeds to find the right combination. Sometimes short bursts of speed or high lifts followed by slow-falling lures work best. A slow-to-medium, absolutely steady speed is frequently the key. At other times quivering or twitching a lure almost in place will be the answer.
When the first warm days of early spring hit your area, think panfish. You can have a lot of top-flight action.
Copyright (c) 1996 Spence Petros. All rights reserved.
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