My kids get excited about southern panfish. They talk about the brook trout and the largemouth bass, but it is the sunfish, bluegill, and pumpkinseed that they look forward to when we get close to our annual summer trip to Virginia.
We have plenty of panfish in New England. They are as willing to eat flies and lures up here as they are in the Old Dominion. But south of the Mason Dixon Line the panfish are bigger. After spawning in the shallows and leaving pot holes of gravel over large swaths of the ponds and lakes, they hold in massive pods and compete to attack any foreign object that hits the water’s surface. If I’m being honest, I get excited thinking about southern panfish.
Again, the south is not the only place panfish can be found. They’re located coast-to-coast, and include a handful of genera. There are Perca, with perch being the most common examples. Crappie are Pomoxis. But Lepomis are the panfish archetype. These are the “true sunfish.” They are often an important part of the new angler’s fishing journey. Few true anglers ever grow tired of their aggressive strikes and fights. Plus, they are awfully tasty.
Today I’m sharing five interesting facts about panfish. There is plenty more that could be said, but this information should add to your appreciation of this fascinating quarry. Or, at the very least, you’ll be able to impress your kids.
