Hey guys , I’m gonna be fishing Basswood the week of the 4th of July. My buddy was wondering where would we find panfish? What would the technique be ? Any suggestions would be appreciated .

What part of Basswood will you be fishing? I went to back bay in July last year found excellent panfish fishing in shallow water (3-5 ft) around isolated vegetation using small jigs tipped with crawlers under slip bobbers. We found the best luck in sparatic lilly pads or pencil reeds.. we had a large group and could've easily limited with bluegills from 9 to 11 inches. Best of luck!!!

Havenstriteshane: "What part of Basswood will you be fishing? I went to back bay in July last year found excellent panfish fishing in shallow water (3-5 ft) around isolated vegetation using small jigs tipped with crawlers under slip bobbers. We found the best luck in sparatic lilly pads or pencil reeds.. we had a large group and could've easily limited with bluegills from 9 to 11 inches. Best of luck!!!"

Did you try any of the GULP! baits? I was hoping to use that instead of packing in worms.

I am taking my 2 teenage kids who love catching bluegills but they are also really experienced at leaving the worms sitting in the sun.

Worms just allows them to swallow the hook. Completely unnecessary on basswood. I use cubby mini mites and slurpee tubes. Be prepared to set the hook when your bobber lands. They eat it before it hits the stop. Slurpee tubes with no bobber for finding them.

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Get some larva (maggots) in red,blue,and white. Vados bait shop in Spring Lake Park, Mn have them. Or order some. Can catch 8 sunfish on a tiny jig without re-baiting.

With the slurpee tubes the key is getting the right size jig head. The ones that come with the jig heads you can cut the lead away until it swims just right. I used 10 lb fireline straight to the hook once the reeds and rice grew in that way I could rip the jig out without getting stuck.

I use ice fishing jigs even in the summer when targeting sunfish under a bobber.

Interesting!

Zwater: "I use ice fishing jigs even in the summer when targeting sunfish under a bobber."

I do the same thing. It works GREAT. Small ice jig with small soft plastic. I really like the 13 Fishing panfish soft plastics. Made for ice fishing but work wonders for bluegill, perch, sunfish.