PANFISH: Double Jig

THE DEADLY DOUBLE JIG RIG…Game Plan For PILES OF PANFISH

Tips from Spence Petros for using this technique to cover water (troll) and locate schools of panfish. Just as effective today as it was back then.

Fig. 2

FIGURE 2 - When trolling to find panfish, floating markers are a big help. A marker is thrown - "A", soon as contact is made with a good-size panfish. Troll back and forth through the school as shown. Often the school will move - "B". Troll around marker in widening circles. If contact is made again, toss out another marker.

MORE TIPS

👉 I generally troll to find panfish. And if a concentration can be pinpointed, casting will then be in order. Trolling covers far more territory than casting; plus, it allows much better control of your lure's speed and depth.

👉 Since I'm always trying to stack as many factors in my favor as possible, a double jig rig is used. This setup allows me to test different colors, sizes, dressings and actions, plus it produces quite a few doubleheaders, which are always extra fun.

👉 If I'm searching for a mixed bag, a crappie-type jig of 1/16 to 1/8-oz. will be used on the short line, while a smaller, bluegill-type offering (nymph, wet fly, extra-small jig) will be tied on the longer line.

👉 A split-shot above the three-way swivel replaces the jig weight if a second fly or nymph is used.

👉 Clear-water lakes usually mean a little deeper presentation, especially when the sun is bright.

👉 In clearer lakes, particularly when some sun is out, white or pearl plastic bodies with pink jig heads are top crappie colors on jigs. Under reduced water clarity or light conditions, chartreuse, yellow and lime get the nod.

👉 For numbers of the sunfish family, dark colors like black and brown best imitate the forage they stuff themselves with much of the year.

Fishing Facts, 1986