The first time I remember using a small jigging spoon for panfish was a dozen years ago. Local guide Josh Hagemeister and I were fishing a very deep hole on Clearwater Lake for crappies. The slim ...

What makes a good jig? Honestly, it’s not that complicated. The two main considerations are size and color. For size, I’ll use anything from a 1/8 ounce to micro jigs that are 1/64 or even 1/80 ounce.

Lakes throughout Minnesota are giving up nice numbers of panfish. Many anglers recommend small tungsten jigs or jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head for the most success. Anglers will want to stay ...

Besides the scouting benefits of an underwater camera, anglers also can learn a great deal by watching how fish react on camera to their baits and their jigging style. It’s also an eye-opening ...

EARLIER THIS MONTH, my son Nathaniel and I spent an enjoyable afternoon fishing for panfish on Greenbrier Lake with local fishing guide Dan Hodkinson. The weather was nice, the fish were biting (just ...

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Sometimes there just seems to be magic in the air along the canals and inlets scattered about the 6,000 acres of marshland known as the Coastal Club. That magic transports veteran ...

With the new year soon upon us and the predictions of a cold winter already coming true, it’s time to break out the ice fishing gear. Many lakes already have their first coating of ice, and that clear ...

RAMSEY, Minn. — A small minnow suspended beneath a float is a standard crappie offering across the Upper Midwest. Similarly, many bluegill anglers rarely use anything other than a small jig tipped ...

During the early season before the spawn, crappie and panfish bites can be difficult to detect at times with traditional methods. They're much lighter than what you'll get during the spawn and in the ...