Panfish are not hard to catch, but they are easy to miss if your lures are too big. This is the short list of what works for bluegill, crappie and perch, with the sizes and the retrieves that put them in the net.
| Lure | Size | Best for | How to fish it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tube jigs | 1/32–1/16 oz | Bluegill, crappie, perch | Cast and let it fall on slack line; most bites come on the drop |
| Marabou jigs | 1/16–1/8 oz | Crappie in brush, all panfish | Slow swim or a vertical jiggle right in the cover |
| Small soft plastics | 1–2 in | Bluegill on beds, pressured fish | Under a float or on a jig head, twitched in place |
| Tiny spoons | 1/16–1/8 oz | Perch, crappie in open water | Vertical jigging with a flutter fall |
| Small inline spinners | #0–#1 | Covering water to find fish | Steady retrieve, just fast enough to keep the blade turning |
| Micro crankbaits | 1–2 in | Bluegill and crappie along edges | Slow wobble retrieve with occasional pauses |
| Ice jigs and tungsten | 1/32–1/16 oz | Winter panfish through the ice | Finely tuned jigging directly under the hole |
Go smaller than feels right. Most anglers fishing for panfish are throwing lures one or two sizes too big. A 1/32 oz tube under a float will out-fish a 1/8 oz jig on pressured bluegill almost every time.
Color is simple: chartreuse, white and pink in stained water; natural brown, green and black in clear water; and a bright head on nearly anything, because panfish often hit the jig head rather than the body.
Most panfish bites happen on the fall. Cast, let the lure sink on a slack line, and watch your line where it enters the water — a pause or a sideways twitch is the bite, and it happens before you feel anything.
A float or a slip bobber is the best teacher there is for this. It makes the bite visible, and it holds your lure at the depth the fish are at instead of dragging it past them.
You can carry everything you need for a day of panfish in a single small tray. This is what goes in it.
The single most productive panfish lure there is. Small, cheap, and they get bit on the fall even when nothing else does.
Check current price on Amazon →The crappie standard. The marabou breathes in the water, so it works even when you hold it almost still.
Check current price on Amazon →Two inch plastics and smaller. Thread one on a tiny jig head and you have the most natural presentation you can throw for pressured fish.
Check current price on Amazon →A slip bobber holds your lure at a set depth and makes the bite visible. The most useful piece of panfish tackle after the jig itself.
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Panfish lures sit at the small end, where every step in size matters. The lure size chart maps sizes to weights, the jig head weight calculator sizes the head to the depth, and the species size chart shows what you are actually likely to catch.
A 1/32 to 1/16 oz tube jig or a tiny soft plastic under a float, in dark natural colors for clear water and chartreuse for stained water.
A 1/16 oz jig with a 1.5 to 2 inch body is the standard. Drop to 1/32 oz when the bite is tough or the fish are suspended high.
Fish the same lures slightly larger and deeper, and target the outside edges of cover rather than the middle. The biggest fish in a school usually sit on the edge.
Chartreuse and white in stained water, and black, brown or motor oil in clear water. A bright jig head helps in every condition.
Not always, but it makes a big difference when you are learning or when fish are suspended. It holds your lure at the right depth and shows you the bite.
Best crappie lures · Lure size chart · Jig head weight calculator · Lure color chart · Hook size chart
Rods and reels: Best Rod for Beginners · Best Spinning Reel Under 100
Fishing line: Best Braided Fishing Line · Best Line for a Baitcaster · Best Line for a Spinning Reel
Bass and panfish lures: Best Bass Lures · Best Crappie Lures · Best Striped Bass Lures
Trout and walleye lures: Best Trout Lures · Best Walleye Lures
Catfish tackle: Best Catfish Rig · Best Catfish Hooks
Knots: Best Knots for Braid
Tools and storage: Best Fishing Pliers · Best Fishing Scale · Best Fishing Net · Best Tackle Box
Wearables and electronics: Best Fishing Gloves · Best Fishing Sunglasses · Best Fishing Waders · Best Fish Finder
Weight and size come from published manufacturer specifications. Panfish lures are small enough that line diameter and bobber size change how they fall, so the sink behavior on the water rarely matches the catalog figure exactly. Match the lure to a light rod so the rod loads and the cast stays controlled.
Disclaimer: The numbers on this page are estimates based on published specifications and standard formulas. Real-world results vary with brand, gear condition and how the equipment is set up. TackleCalc is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with any manufacturer. Nothing here replaces the instructions that come with your own gear.