OK, so what are you going to use?

You are probably thinking I am jumping the gun, but open water will be here quicker then you know. So already, I am getting my tackle ready, so I don’t waste last minute time. An earlier thread addressed where to go, but what to use is another question. I have a couple favorite panfish rods, an 7 foot ultra lite and a 8 foot noodle rod. Spool them with 2 and 4 pound test line. Clear mono for me. My bobbers are about the size of a thumb nail. Keep it lite and simple, tie jigs directly on, no snaps or swivels for me. Never use a sinker, the weight of the jig is plenty. When the water first opens up, it is still kind of cool, so my jig selection consists of the same jigs I use for ice fishing. Ratsos, Purists, Rat Finkies, etc.. As the water warms, I gradually move up to a little larger jig, such as Flicktails and Mini mites. I always take Waxworms along, and sometimes some minnows. A little meat to entice them. As the water warms and the days get longer, sometimes don’t have to use meat. They will smack a plain jig fished shallow under a bobber, providing you work it a little with short jerks.
OK, I am fired up. Can you tell I got the fever really bad.

I am ready for open water! I can just see those slabs coming up out of the water! I would pretty much say the same things as Ron, but I also like to use small hair jigs under a bobber. Spring is one of the best times to be able to have incredible catches. Ron and I have routinely been able to catch 200 a day and sometimes even more. It’s not like that every time, but it is really good more times than not. We keep a meal or two and let the rest go.
I love to ice fish, but I’m always ready for the ice to go when we get to this time of the year!

Good Fishing,
Mike

Ron pretty much covered it. Besides plastics under a bobber, a small bobber that is, minnows and/or waxies work great too. As the water warms up catching crappies and bluegills under a bobber is fun. I like to use sensitive St. Croix rods [can be factory or custom made at HOF] in medium light and light power with fast tips for fishing panfish. I am getting more and more into the light action rods for crappies and bluegills as it feels like a much bigger fish on the end of your line with these rods. The medium light rods are fun for casting plastics along the Zumbro River in town and along the shores of the small lakes also. For casting jigs with B-Fish-N plastics or crankbaits on the Mississippi River I like the St. Croix 6ft 6inch medium rods and sometimes will use a medium light too. I use the same rods for jigging along with 6 footers too. For trolling crankbaits I have 8.6 ft and 10.6 ft along with 7ft St. Croix baitcaster rods in medium power fast tip. For three ways with live bait I use 7ft St. Croix baitcasters and also my 8.6 ft rod sometimes. As you can tell I’m a St. Croix rod nut. lol. Just love them St. Croix rods. Both factory ones and custom made ones work great as long as the blanks are St. Croixs.

Thanks, Bill

hey man dont feel bad. ive been buying since december!!! its never to early to start gearing up and i hear ya about being fired up

The buying never stops as a person always has to have the right lures at the right time with him to catch the fish it seems. Since you live on/in Pepin have you tried the plastics from B-Fiah-N Tackle. Their ringworms, K-tails and paddle tails work great.
Thanks, Bill

The first thing I’ll be throwing in the water again this year will be a Reaper! I’ve even got some biguns to entice those toothy critters.