Chip Leer gives his advice on how to catch panfish in the fall.

 It’s a simple yet deadly setup. You’ll want to keep the jig in or close to the sonar cone, so leave the long rods in the locker. I favor a 6’3” medium-light spinning rod such as 13 Fishing’s Muse Gold strung with 6-pound Bionic Braid.

Tie a three-way swivel to the end of the main line, then add a relatively long dropper (say, 24 inches) of 4-pound test BIONIC mono.  A 3/16- to 1/4-ounce drop-shot weight should do the trick on the tag end. Tip: By adjusting the weight’s location on the dropper, you can raise or lower the jig in the water column to position it slightly above the level of the panfish.

Tie a 12- to 16-inch tagline of similar 4-pound mono to the swivel’s trailing eye, then add a small jig. Northland Tackle’s Helium Stonefly is my favorite, but any of the neutrally buoyant Helium Series heads work fi ne. Don’t worry about adding meat; the IMPULSE body adds all the scent and animation you’ll need.

Armed with this rig, you can inch your way along weed edges and break lines, or hover over a school of fish. Either way, keep rod motions to a minimum. The jig and soft bait’s natural subtle action is perfect for panfish that typically aren’t aggressive and not inclined to chase down prey.

The light jig is easy for fish to inhale, and you typically don’t feel the fish until it turns to swim away with your lure. When you feel a light tug, execute a gentle, sweeping hookset and chances are good you’ll be firmly hooked up with another fat fall panfish.

If you like fishing for panfish, you’ll love the September issue of MidWest Outdoors magazine, available now at newsstands or by subscription.