Small Fish - Big Fun

Cole

Pancake

January 1, 1970

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7 min read

I have been a die-hard minnow and panfish angler since I first started fly fishing. These species can be just as exciting to catch as many traditional gamefish, and they're usually found in highly accessible waters. During the summer, they may be the only fishing biting in the shallows on sunny afternoons. There is no better way to hone your light tackle sight casting and hook setting skills than hitting skinny summer water in pursuit of non-salmonid native gems.

Species

Two of my favorite warmwater fish to catch on the fly are panfish of the Lepomis genus and Creek Chub (Semotilus antromaculatus). Each of these are prolific in their respective environments and excellent species for new anglers to target. The Lepomis genus includes Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Warmouth and many other distinct species and hybrids. The vibrance of their color rivals that of an autumn brook trout and they certainly fight harder than salmonids of similar size and weight. Good panfish water can hold individuals as big as dinner plates that patrol shallow flats with gravelly or sandy bottoms. Lepomis are aggressive, territorial, and unlikely to shy away from your leader or fly.

Creek chub are native to small streams of eastern and central North America. Most individuals are 6 inches or smaller but extraordinary specimens may grow to over a foot. They have earned the nickname ‘Tiny Tarpon’ for their large, silvery scales and pound-for-pound strength. Creek chub hang out in moving water with rocky structure, undercut banks, or vegetation for shelter. There is a good chance you’ve already landed a creek chub or two if you’ve visited smaller trout streams.

Gear

In my opinion, panfish and creek chub are best experienced on a shorter 1 to 3 weight fiberglass rod. Pond banks and small streams are often overgrown in the summer but you won’t need to make long casts. I typically use nylon monofilament leader and tippet no thinner than 5x. These fish usually aren’t picky at all about fly pattern but size matters - they tend to literally try to bite off more than they can chew. It is best not to go bigger than size #10 for panfish and #14 for chub or other minnows. Tiny poppers, terrestrial patterns, and attractor dry flies are reliable choices.

Techniques

Pursuing these fish is a great way to practice making accurate mid-distance presentations. Creek chub and panfish are easily visible in low flow streams and clear, shallow ponds. Try to put the fly right on their noses or slightly upstream to grab their attention. It can be quite the challenge to land flies into tight spaces between weed beds and under tree branches. The line control skills you build chasing smaller species will certainly carry over to heavier rods and bigger water. So, once the weather warms up again, consider giving the big game fisheries a break and throw some flies at the smaller guys.

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