Panfish
Panfish is a category for multiple different species. All of these species are easily recognizable, however, due to their flat, pan-like appearance. Commonly targeted species of panfish in Connecticut include Sunfish, Black Crappie, and Pumpkinseeds. These fish can be found in almost any body of water and are almost as easy to catch as shooting fish in a barrel.
While you can catch panfish on almost all baits that can fit in their mouths, there are a few that work better than others. One of the best baits for panfish is just a basic nightcrawler or any bug that you can fit on a hook. These can be found either in bait stores or you can find them in nature for free. Although live bait can catch any fish, panfish, in particular, enjoy a nice feast from one of these bugs.
Panfish almost always are found in the shallowest parts of the water, whether this be on shore or at a sandbar. Panfish usually don't really care where they live since they tend to move around bodies of water year-round.
When panfish spawn in the northeast, it usually happens in the earlier months of the summer and in late spring (around May to early July). Like bass, Bluegill beds are in very shallow water and can be very distinguishable in clear water. Similar to a bass's spawn, the fish will clear out a patch of sand and kick rocks and shells on it to make it suitable for the fish to lay its eggs. Fishing for fish on beds is prime because they need to eat a lot of food to reproduce correctly. Panfish also become very aggressive to intruders in their beds and will strike at almost anything that comes across it so they can protect their eggs.
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