Troy Smutka uses horizontal approaches to find and catch midsummer panfish.

I love fishing for all species of freshwater fish. Each has its own attractive features. When it comes to panfish, I like their willingness to bite, even in tough weather conditions, their scrappiness on light tackle, and their tastiness in the frying pan. While I spend much of my time on the water chasing walleyes, bass, pike and muskies with family, friends, and clients, I always make time for panfish.

The question I am asked most frequently about sunfish and crappies in the warm months of summer is how to consistently locate and catch larger fish. Many people tell me they have no trouble finding huge schools of small sunfish, but can’t seem to catch larger ones.

Find the right lake

The first thing that is needed is a lake that has a good population of larger sunfish and crappies. Looking up DNR test netting data, asking questions at bait shops, or going onto websites with forums or fishing reports like FishingMN.com can quickly help you locate these lakes. Many lakes simply have stunted panfish populations, and looking to catch a bunch of larger fish will amount to an exercise in futility. Do some homework before you hook the boat up and you will be much more successful chasing larger panfish.

How to find them

I look for weeds when hunting summer time slabs. Some lakes have weeds scattered everywhere, while others have very distinct weed lines. Depending on water clarity, some lakes have weeds only shallow, while others have them as deep as 25 feet. For larger sunfish and crappies, I look for shoreline points and off shore reefs that come up shallow, but have quick access to deeper water. Access to some of the deeper water in any given lake is crucial.

The next feature I look for on these points and reefs is the presence of weeds. What I often find is thick weeds shallower on these features, with the weeds thinning and topping out further from the surface of the water as you move deeper on the structure. I like to chase summer panfish starting mid to late morning, once the sun is up and the water surface temperature has warmed for the day. Calm, sunny days are great days for this because the bite for larger predatory fish like walleyes, bass, and muskies has often slowed or even come to a stop, so insect activity gets going, which brings minnows to the surface, and the panfish follow in suit.

In the warm water months, crappies and sunfish often suspend. They can be almost anywhere between the bottom of the lake and the surface, and almost anywhere on the lake.

Crappies and larger sunfish will often move close to the weedy tops of points or reefs in sunny, warm calm waters, because that is where the minnows will come out of the weeds to go after insects. The larger pannies will gorge on the minnows and insects alike. The first depth I target is the same depth that the weeds top out at on the point or reef. The fish may be right above these weeds, or may be off to the side of the weeds close to the depth of the weed tops. To finish closing in on the fish, I cover water with horizontal fishing techniques, and constantly watch my sonar split into down and side imaging.

How to catch them

My favorite techniques for covering water to find and catch summertime panfish are casting and slow rolling small jig spinners or tiny crankbaits; or, on calm days, using a topwater approach with a Rapala Ultralight Pop. I use ultralight spinning gear, including 8-foot moderate-fast action model light power rods and ultralight spinning reels spooled with 4-pound-test nanofil clear line.

If you enjoy catching sunfish and crappies as much as I do, take advantage of conditions that aren’t favorable for other fish to target some nice pannies this summer.

If you enjoy panfishing, you’ll enjoy the August issue of MidWest Outdoors, available the first full week of August at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.