when herb phillips was in oswego ( i liked that store ) i got a great deal on panther martins and got a bunch of differnt sizes..... trout love them but so do big blue gills ! just wondering what other lures do you folks toss for the famous panfish
I like and pour my own "RoadRunner" style jigs. Versatile fish finders and will catch anything that swims. Took my buddy and wife to catch a mess of gills this past week. She likes to vertically jig for whatever will bite with a 24" Ice Blue rod and spring bobber. Located gills suspended 20 ft. down over 30 fow and told her to drop her jig, count to 18 and start jigging. We filled their little cooler with 3 dozen nice gills in a few hours. Released many more gills, a few perch, and a dozen nice crappies 10" to 13" whose lucky day it was. They don't care for crappie and I wasn't keeping any that day.
I’ve been on a mission the last two weeks forgoing the long trips to Erie for some shorter trips to the fingers for panfish. This time of year is tough but I’m a stubborn old fart and can’t take a hint. All of the lakes I hit were pretty good in the spring until late July so I know they have fish in them. First trip was south end Canandaigua. Fished the south end for a couple hrs. Only tiny bass and tiny rockbass.Next Cayuga. Just a couple tiny perch and I tried all my usual haunts. Yesterday was Keuka. I fished the east side of the bluff. Just a couple descent size Rockies a couple nice sunfish, a pickerel and no perch. Tried for lakers and could not mark any. I’ve been disappointed in the perch population here. Seems the only place you can find them is in the belly of a laker!The “ gem” find of the summer is Owasco. I have been able to catch as many perch as I want along with a few huge sunfish. I thought I had a winner in this lake until I read the mercury contamination warning posted last April by the DEC. This years fishing guide does not highlight the mercury there so I have no clue what the true story isI have not been to Skinny yet. I might hit it soon. It should be good for action but bad for size as always.Almost forgot one. I even tried Cuba lake in the southern tier. Good ice fishing, not so good open water. Only one Crappie for the 180 mile roundtrip.
Found them today.. Took a gamble and drove 3/4 of the way down Owasco. Landed right on a big school along the drop in 30’. Had to use crabs on a drop shot to get them going. I didn’t keep any so they are still there.
Had a good morning with a friend and his wife. Couldn't find anything they wouldn't bite. A couple 10 1/4" and a few over 9"s. Had all we wanted to keep by 0930, C&R'd till 1100, home in time for lunch and a nap.