Thread: Panfish Magnet Scores!

Today I went on the flowage that has been kicking my butt on bluegill. I went to a local sport shop in the morning to buy some 2lb. Trilene XL and the owner told me where he use to get the bluegill on that flowage. Before heading out I spooled up a reel with the 2lb. line, tied on a trout magnet and did a few test cast. I was getting the same distance I was getting with 4lb. PowerPro braid. The setup was an Okuma Celio 7ft UL rod and a Diawa Legalis 2000 spinning reel.

Armed with a tip on where to look for the bluegill I hit the water. I started by casting a black/chartreuse Panfish Magnet and had a few bluegill following and pecking at it. I switched to the Bison color and started hammering them! No big wall mounters, but what a ton of fun. I honestly caught so many bluegill I lost count! Got to the point I was worried I was gonna get carpal tunnel from cranking in so many fish! To make things worse, I also caught about a half dozen perch, and couple of crappie. Then a couple of 13-14" smallmouth bass decided they needed a Panfish Magnet snack! Talk about fun, smallmouth bass on 2lb. test! I have always enjoyed fishing and have been a fishing addict, but today was the funnest day I ever had fishing!

I am sold on the Panfish Magnet! I can't believe how well this thing works. I was casting to weeded shorelines and over submerged weeds in 2-7 feet of water. I would cast it out, count it down to be just above the weeds, and crank it in real slow with slight twitches while cranking. Occasionally I would pause for a second or two while cranking it in. One trick I learned was that when you get to boat, leave it in the water and jig for a little bit. I picked up quite a few bluegill doing this.

While motoring down with the trolling motor to reposition the boat, I noticed on my side scan there were submerged stumps on the flat beyond the submerged weed edge. The stumps showed lots of fish around them and also scattered on the flat. I positioned the boat near the stumps, spot locked, and did short cast and vertical jigging. Ended up catching the perch and crappie there.

I just placed and order at Trout Magnet this morning, now I am going to need to place another. (Note to self: Get the 50 count bag of Bison colored Panfish Magnets!)

Thanks Skeetbum. River current changes keep me on the hunt also. When I do find the fish, its never where I expect them to be. I usually find by them by working an area/structure for about 15-20 minutes. If nothing is happening, I find a new type of area/structure and work it for 15-20 minutes tops. I keep doing this and keep moving until I find them. I have a small spinner bait (like a Beetle Spin) that will catch them anywhere and that is what I throw while searching. It is kind of a confidence bait that always works. Small enough to catch panfish, large enough to catch everything else. I usually go back the next day and they have moved! I think they do this on purpose just to keep me on my toes!