| Matt Johnson Outdoors Dog Day Panfish |
| Matt Johnson Outdoors |
By: Matt Johnson
Springtime panfish are
universally sought out and
that’s mostly due to their
nature of being aggressively
schooled-up and more than
eager to attack whatever you
put in front of their stout little
noses. Big sunfish and slab
crappies are caught
throughout the Midwestern belt during those times and it
provides some excellent action for anglers both young and old.
But, the springtime flurry doesn’t last forever and those same
aggressive-natured fish will once again become less energetic
and will transform into wandering nomads, only feeding when
there bellies tell them to. No longer do they devour what ever
presents itself, or at least not in areas where we once sat wide-
eyed at springtime and early summer. Now they are on a different
path, a path that leads them into the dog days of summer…
Panfish will hold shallow, there is no use disputing a statement
like that, but shallow is only relative to the body of water being
fished. Shallow can mean 2 feet in the local farm pond, yet in the
expansive reservoir across the street it can mean 8 feet of water
off a break. Panfish typically hold shallow during the spring fling
and they are beginning their open water adventures. The shallow
water bite may last for a period of time, but those areas will
change as the season progresses, and usually into conditions
that make fishing them tough. Thick weeds begin to sprout up
and fresh budding lily pads turn into thick mats of green and
brown walls separating you from the underwater world.
Conditions call for a new approach and fish patterns will tell you
the same. It’s time to seek out a new area, because one, the old
hot spot is unfishable, and two, the fish have found refuge in
nearby deeper water, although weed pockets are an exception.
Deeper water areas usually take the form of deep weed lines or
out in the open water of the main lake and mid-depth basins.
Around this time most lakes experience an influx of thick,
infectious weeds, which surround much of the shorelines and
usually have a deep and shallow edge. Many lakes will see this
veritable force beginning in 4-6 feet of water and ending where
the water drops into deeper water, usually where the break line
takes a drastic plunge. Some lakes will even have a deep edge
along a flat or where the thick mat of weeds disperses into scarce
weed patches as the bottom composition changes. No matter the
form it takes, these substantial weed lines will attract panfish, but
effectively fishing them can be difficult unless you search out for
pockets in the weeds. Weed pockets are often over-looked, but
hopefully from now on you begin seeing them as opportunities
instead of just spaces of nothingness. These weed pockets all
have the potential of producing panfish. Panfish are abundant
underneath the vegetated barrier and they are scurrying about
picking off tiny morsels here and there. You can bet a sunfish or
crappie will snatch up an easy meal if it presents itself out in the
open water of one of those pockets. Some days you can set over
one of these pockets and catch one fish after another. Several
characteristics make weed pockets as effective as they are. Weed
pockets provide an excess of sunlight, which will attract what
attracts panfish, mainly baitfish and other forage. Weed pockets
also seem to have a different bottom composition in the
immediate area, which will also attract surrounding organisms
and water dwelling insects. Just like weed pockets grab our
attention, they grab the fish’s attention as well. Weed pockets are
a part of my plan of attack when I hit the water in search of Dog
Day Panfish.
Many anglers stop pursuing panfish once the shallow water bite
ceases, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Locating summer
panfish shouldn’t be intimidating and many times the fish are
located in areas you seek out when bass or pike fishing. Weeds
play an important role in summer panfish locations and the
presence of deep weeds make things just that much better. Deep
weeds and weed lines will draw in a huge smorgasbord of
organisms for panfish to feed on and in very high numbers. The
cool water of the deep weeds is comforting to panfish and you
can expect to find them there until the weeds change or the
temps begin to drastically drop. Classic summer panfish spots
will remain true throughout much of the summer months and the
panfish holding on them usually won’t go far if harsh weather
presents itself. Deep weeds are a classic summer spot and
should be a part of every panfish angler’s daily routine once the
summer suns take form.
Weeds are very important, no doubt about that, and I usually
seek out some form of weeds, whether it’s pockets or deep weed
lines, but don’t let vegetation be your only guide to a day of
success. Open water and mid-lake flats can equal victory on
some days too. This pattern holds true for crappies more than
sunfish, but every body of water is different and locations can
vary. Crappies will roam out in open water, and usually it’s the
open water areas of a bay or the areas adjacent to deep weed
lines and structure. Crappies like chasing down baitfish that are
daring enough to adventure out into the open. The crappies
know it’s an easy meal and that they have a huge advantage over
their prey in situations like that. It’s not uncommon to find
cruising pods of crappies out in 30 feet of water, suspended 10
feet off the bottom. Crappie locations during the hot summer
months can be very frustrating on some lakes, and the
possibilities seem endless.
In order to narrow things down, you need to grab a lake map and
look for possible springtime locations (where the crappies were
just recently at) as well as nearby deeper water. Figure out where
the deep weed line is and where, if any, is there deeper structure.
Crappies will hold near and around deep structure during the
summer, then when the opportunity presents itself they will slide
out into the open water to feed. You will even find lakes where the
crappies hold out in the open water for extended periods of time,
and they won’t feel the need to seek refuge around deep
structure. Cruising the break line and deep open water adjacent
from shallow structure with the electronics running is a good
way to locate a school of crappies. Once a school is located, it
won’t take long to figure out whether or not they are hungry.
Why is it that during the winter months we target panfish in 30, 40
or even 50 feet of water, yet during the open water months we
stop searching once we can’t find them in 5-6 feet of water?
Panfish will utilize deep water just like walleye, bass and pike.
Deep water shouldn’t scare panfish anglers, and having the
willingness to target deep water during the summer months can
really increase your catch. Some days it just takes patience and
the motivation to look for meandering fish.
I’ve only touched on a few of the options that are available for
panfish during the summer months, and don’t let these
possibilities be your only resort. Fishing is constantly changing
and we must change with it and adapt to the given conditions.
Watch for pockets in the weeds, check for deep weed lines and
pay attention to your electronics for pods of schooling fish in
deeper water while motoring from spot to spot. By doing a few of
these things you can eliminate some of the guesswork and
wasted time spent on the water. But in the end, every day on the
water is a good day if you have a fishing rod in your hand. Enjoy
the summer and good luck!!!
Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson
Springtime panfish are
universally sought out and
that’s mostly due to their
nature of being aggressively
schooled-up and more than
eager to attack whatever you
put in front of their stout little
noses. Big sunfish and slab
crappies are caught
throughout the Midwestern belt during those times and it
provides some excellent action for anglers both young and old.
But, the springtime flurry doesn’t last forever and those same
aggressive-natured fish will once again become less energetic
and will transform into wandering nomads, only feeding when
there bellies tell them to. No longer do they devour what ever
presents itself, or at least not in areas where we once sat wide-
eyed at springtime and early summer. Now they are on a different
path, a path that leads them into the dog days of summer…
Panfish will hold shallow, there is no use disputing a statement
like that, but shallow is only relative to the body of water being
fished. Shallow can mean 2 feet in the local farm pond, yet in the
expansive reservoir across the street it can mean 8 feet of water
off a break. Panfish typically hold shallow during the spring fling
and they are beginning their open water adventures. The shallow
water bite may last for a period of time, but those areas will
change as the season progresses, and usually into conditions
that make fishing them tough. Thick weeds begin to sprout up
and fresh budding lily pads turn into thick mats of green and
brown walls separating you from the underwater world.
Conditions call for a new approach and fish patterns will tell you
the same. It’s time to seek out a new area, because one, the old
hot spot is unfishable, and two, the fish have found refuge in
nearby deeper water, although weed pockets are an exception.
Deeper water areas usually take the form of deep weed lines or
out in the open water of the main lake and mid-depth basins.
Around this time most lakes experience an influx of thick,
infectious weeds, which surround much of the shorelines and
usually have a deep and shallow edge. Many lakes will see this
veritable force beginning in 4-6 feet of water and ending where
the water drops into deeper water, usually where the break line
takes a drastic plunge. Some lakes will even have a deep edge
along a flat or where the thick mat of weeds disperses into scarce
weed patches as the bottom composition changes. No matter the
form it takes, these substantial weed lines will attract panfish, but
effectively fishing them can be difficult unless you search out for
pockets in the weeds. Weed pockets are often over-looked, but
hopefully from now on you begin seeing them as opportunities
instead of just spaces of nothingness. These weed pockets all
have the potential of producing panfish. Panfish are abundant
underneath the vegetated barrier and they are scurrying about
picking off tiny morsels here and there. You can bet a sunfish or
crappie will snatch up an easy meal if it presents itself out in the
open water of one of those pockets. Some days you can set over
one of these pockets and catch one fish after another. Several
characteristics make weed pockets as effective as they are. Weed
pockets provide an excess of sunlight, which will attract what
attracts panfish, mainly baitfish and other forage. Weed pockets
also seem to have a different bottom composition in the
immediate area, which will also attract surrounding organisms
and water dwelling insects. Just like weed pockets grab our
attention, they grab the fish’s attention as well. Weed pockets are
a part of my plan of attack when I hit the water in search of Dog
Day Panfish.
Many anglers stop pursuing panfish once the shallow water bite
ceases, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Locating summer
panfish shouldn’t be intimidating and many times the fish are
located in areas you seek out when bass or pike fishing. Weeds
play an important role in summer panfish locations and the
presence of deep weeds make things just that much better. Deep
weeds and weed lines will draw in a huge smorgasbord of
organisms for panfish to feed on and in very high numbers. The
cool water of the deep weeds is comforting to panfish and you
can expect to find them there until the weeds change or the
temps begin to drastically drop. Classic summer panfish spots
will remain true throughout much of the summer months and the
panfish holding on them usually won’t go far if harsh weather
presents itself. Deep weeds are a classic summer spot and
should be a part of every panfish angler’s daily routine once the
summer suns take form.
Weeds are very important, no doubt about that, and I usually
seek out some form of weeds, whether it’s pockets or deep weed
lines, but don’t let vegetation be your only guide to a day of
success. Open water and mid-lake flats can equal victory on
some days too. This pattern holds true for crappies more than
sunfish, but every body of water is different and locations can
vary. Crappies will roam out in open water, and usually it’s the
open water areas of a bay or the areas adjacent to deep weed
lines and structure. Crappies like chasing down baitfish that are
daring enough to adventure out into the open. The crappies
know it’s an easy meal and that they have a huge advantage over
their prey in situations like that. It’s not uncommon to find
cruising pods of crappies out in 30 feet of water, suspended 10
feet off the bottom. Crappie locations during the hot summer
months can be very frustrating on some lakes, and the
possibilities seem endless.
In order to narrow things down, you need to grab a lake map and
look for possible springtime locations (where the crappies were
just recently at) as well as nearby deeper water. Figure out where
the deep weed line is and where, if any, is there deeper structure.
Crappies will hold near and around deep structure during the
summer, then when the opportunity presents itself they will slide
out into the open water to feed. You will even find lakes where the
crappies hold out in the open water for extended periods of time,
and they won’t feel the need to seek refuge around deep
structure. Cruising the break line and deep open water adjacent
from shallow structure with the electronics running is a good
way to locate a school of crappies. Once a school is located, it
won’t take long to figure out whether or not they are hungry.
Why is it that during the winter months we target panfish in 30, 40
or even 50 feet of water, yet during the open water months we
stop searching once we can’t find them in 5-6 feet of water?
Panfish will utilize deep water just like walleye, bass and pike.
Deep water shouldn’t scare panfish anglers, and having the
willingness to target deep water during the summer months can
really increase your catch. Some days it just takes patience and
the motivation to look for meandering fish.
I’ve only touched on a few of the options that are available for
panfish during the summer months, and don’t let these
possibilities be your only resort. Fishing is constantly changing
and we must change with it and adapt to the given conditions.
Watch for pockets in the weeds, check for deep weed lines and
pay attention to your electronics for pods of schooling fish in
deeper water while motoring from spot to spot. By doing a few of
these things you can eliminate some of the guesswork and
wasted time spent on the water. But in the end, every day on the
water is a good day if you have a fishing rod in your hand. Enjoy
the summer and good luck!!!
Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson
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