Try Panfish Now

Most kids learn to fish by catching panfish -- bluegill and green sunfish. Panfish are present in all waters, and in most small lakes and ponds, they are numerous. They're always hungry and easy to catch. I don't know too many veteran anglers who don't fondly reminisce about watching a bobber bounce as bluegill nibbled on the bait. As we progress as anglers, we often leave panfish behind while we pursue more "grownup" fish species. However, whatever your age, you can't deny that bluegills and green sunfish can be a blast to catch. And now is the time to catch them. Check out the 2012 Kansas Fishing Atlas  Find a pond, state fishing lake or community lake and fish the shallows. Bluegill have been on the spawning beds  for some time, but they're still shallow in many lakes. They'll hit small jigs, but the best way to catch them is still a small bobber and a hook baited with a piece of worm. It's hard to believe a fish that small can pull that hard, and if you're lucky enough to find some big bluegills -- 9- to 11-inchers -- hang on! Take a youngster and you'll find yourself watching the bobber through young eyes, and you'll feel 10 years old again.