Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 30
Ice
Anglers
Popular
Panfish
Mixed
Catch
by Mike Bleech
photos by the author
Green weeds can be key in locating panfish under the
ice. All of the popular panfish often congregate near
green weeds.
30
In Pennsylvania, the most popular panfish include crappies, Yellow
Perch, Bluegills and Pumpkinseeds. Some panfish anglers target
one specific panfish species. During the ice fishing period, however,
most anglers are pleased with mixed catches. One or two species
may be preferred, but you will commonly see a variety of panfish on
the ice around successful ice anglers.
One primary reason for mixed catches is that similar to identical
fishing tactics are used for all of the popular panfish species.
Another reason is that all of the popular panfish species may be in
the same place, particularly during the ice fishing period. A third
reason is that all of the popular panfish are excellent table fare.
Our more popular panfish tend to be of similar size. Crappies are
often somewhat larger, commonly longer than 10 inches, compared
to 9 inches being a great size for Bluegills and 8 inches being big
for Pumpkinseeds. Yellow Perch are often longer than 10 inches.
More significantly, their mouths are larger in proportion than other
popular panfish, and they tend to take larger prey.
Ice anglers who want to target Yellow Perch or crappies often use
larger jigs and baits specifically to avoid smaller fish like Bluegills
or Pumpkinseeds. If a mixed catch is desirable, the jig and bait size
should be suitable for all species. Bluegills and Pumpkinseeds have
proportionately smaller mouths, and they are generally smaller than
Yellow Perch or crappies, so jig and bait size should be downsized to
the correct size for these smaller panfish.
A nearly universal terminal rig used to ice fish for panfish is
a small jig tipped with a grub. Small refers to hook size more so
than the overall jig size, within reason. A 1/32-ounce leadhead jig or
teardrop jig tipped with a grub will put an ice angler in the game for
all of the popular panfish.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2015
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 43
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2015 - Cover4
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