Panfish

Panfish Commonly Found In The Pacific Northwest
The name panfish derives from the fact that these common fishes are able to reproduce in such numbers that they are food for people throughout their range. The name also denotes that several will often easily fit in a frying pan. None of the panfish species listed here are native west of the Mississippi River. Thanks to Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission and Cornell University for supplying much of the information and artwork on panfish found here. Panfish are school fish, which makes them easy to find. They are often voracious, competitive, unsophisticated feeders which makes them easy to catch. All of the species listed here can be found near the surface of the water during much of the year, which makes them fair game for fly fishers.

Bluegill
(Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegills have small mouths and oval-shaped, almost rounded, bodies. Body coloration is highly variable with size, sex, spawning, water color, bottom type, and amount of cover. In general, they are somewhat lavender and bronze with about six dark bars on their sides. Males tend to have a copper-colored bar over the top of the head behind the eyes. The breast is silver

to slightly blue most of the year, with some yellow or orange during spawning season. Females are generally lighter colored than males. Two distinctive characteristics are the prominent black spot on the rear edge of the gill-cover and a black spot at the base of the posterior portion of the dorsal fin. Habitat - Bluegills prefer the quiet, weedy waters where they can hide and feed. They inhabit lakes and ponds, slow-flowing rivers and streams with sand, mud, or gravel bottoms, near aquatic vegetation. Spawning Habits - Bluegills are well known for "bedding" in large groups, with their circular beds touching one another. Bedding occurs in water two to six feet deep over sand, shell or gravel, and often among plant roots when the bottom is soft. Spawning occurs from April through October with the peak in May and June, when water temperature rises to about 78-80 degrees. A female may lay 2,000 to 63,000 eggs, which hatch 30 to 35 hours after fertilization. Insects, insect larvae and crustaceans are the dominant foods of bluegills, with vegetation, fish eggs, small fish, mollusks, and snails being of secondary importance, although they may dominate their diet during certain times of the year. Age and Growth - Growth is rapid in warmer waters. A one-year-old fish may be four inches long. Spawning may occur the first year. Bluegills can live up to 11 years, but most are less than 7 years old. The rate of growth varies considerably in different bodies of water. A six-inch bluegill is typically two to four years old. Because of their voracious appetites and tenacious attitudes when hooked, bluegills, though small are highly respected gamefish. Bluegills feed at all depths. At times they will actively feed on hatching insects and will take dry flies and small poppers. The World Record - 4 pounds, 12 ounces, was caught in Ketona Lake, Alabama, in 1950.

Black Crappie (pronounced croppie).
(Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
The black crappie is a silvery-green to yellowish fish with large dorsal and anal fins of almost identical shape and size. The sides are marked with black blotches which become more intense towards the back. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins also are marked with rows of dark spots. Crappies have compressed bodies, small heads and arched backs. It has a

large mouth with an upper jaw extending under the eye. Black crappies thrive in clear, natural lakes and reservoirs with moderate vegetation. They are also found in large slow-moving less turbid rivers, provided the water is not too murky. Crappies prefer water from 70 to 75 degrees but will tolerate water over 80 degrees. They are gregarious and often travels in schools. Spawning occurs when water temperatures reach 62 to 65 degrees. They nest in colonies. Circular nests are fanned by males over gravel or soft-muddy bottoms and frequently around submerged vegetation in waters from three to eight feet deep. After spawning, males guard the eggs and fry. Females may produce between 11,000 and 188,000 eggs. Primary food items are crustaceans, aquatic insects and small fishes. Adults mainly eat small fish, particularly open-water forage fish, such as juvenile shad. Sexual maturity is reached in the second or third year, with few fish surviving beyond their fifth year. Black crappies are excellent game fish and are highly regarded by fishermen. They are easily caught during pre-spawning periods when the fish are congregated in large schools. They will strike subsurface flies, such as small streamers and wooly buggers. Crappies tend to suspend in mid-water, so you may have to experiment to find the right depth. At times they will take small poppers, especially if they are feeding on baitfish that are congregated at the surface. The World Record - 4 pounds, 8 ounces, was caught in Kerr Lake, Virginia, in 1981.

Yellow Perch
(Perca flavescens)
The yellow perch is the most widely distributed member of the perch family and is common throughout the northern half of the United Staes. Favored habitat of yellow perch are weedy, warm water and temperate lakes. They spawn in

the spring when water temperatures are in the 45° to 50°F range. The female swims among sticks and weeds in open, shallow water near shore as she emits a long, gelatinous ribbon of eggs. In this manner, the semi-buoyant, adhesive egg mass is woven among the weeds and brush. Males, as many as a dozen, follow a female and fertilize the eggs. Eggs may number from 10,000 to 48,000, depending on the size of the female. No parental care is given to the eggs, which hatch in approximately 3 weeks. Schools of young perch feed on zooplankton. Young perch are slow swimmers, and the schools provide abundant forage for black crappie, older yellow perch, and even trout. Larger yellow perch become important competitors with more highly valued sport fishes in some lakes. Yellow Perch are not regarded as hard fighters when hooked. But they are excellent eating. Fish for them with small streamers. Once the depth of a school is located, they are often very easy to catch. IGFA world record is 2 pound, 11 ounces, caught in Yuba Reservoir, Utah, 1984.

Little poppers and divers also work very well as strike indicators for a suspended nymphs.  Tie a length of leader to the bend of the hook on the popper and then tie a small bead head nymph to the other end.  This two fly rig can be deadly.  

Abel Aluminum Reel Handles

New for 2008! Abel 6061 aluminum reel handles are 1/8th inch longer than the standard wooden handles. They feature knurled finger grip and are fitted with a hand-pressed DelrinÆ insert for the absolutely smoothest feel this side of vanilla ice cream. Their weight precisely matches the weight of the counterbalance. They won’t chip, fracture, splinter or snap no matter the temperature or conditions. They are, in a word, forever. In Small, Medium and Large sizes for various sizes of Abel Reels. Available in any solid color finish. $25 on a new reel. Older reels will be retrofitted for $40, or $40 for a handle you wish to install yourself.  New Abel Solid Color Chart

Indicator Taper

Loreto, Mexico Bluewater Fly Fishing 2008

June 26 - July 3, Timing is for prime dorado fishing!

Trip report 2003.

Trip report 2004.

Trip report 2005

Trip Report 2006

This trip is based on double occupancy in rooms and boats.  It is designed to accommodate fishing couples or fishing pairs.  This trip will only be booked for two people fishing together and rooming together.  Single anglers may apply, but will only be booked if a suitable fishing/room partner can be found.