Panfish

Panfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, and crappie, might be the most fun you can have fly fishing with a light rod. These aggressive, willing fish will smash surface poppers in the middle of summer with a ferocity that belies their size, and fighting a large bluegill on a 3-weight rod is genuinely exciting. Panfish fly fishing is also the ideal introduction to the sport for kids and new anglers, delivering fast action with relatively simple technique in accessible locations across the country. Don't let the casual reputation fool you. Dedicated panfish fly anglers take their fishing as seriously as any trout enthusiast.

From best fly patterns to seasonal timing and gear recommendations, our panfish content covers every angle of targeting bluegill, crappie, and sunfish on the fly. Dig into the articles below.