Let's talk about small game fishing

 

Let's talk about small game fishing

 

            OK, so everybody wants to catch the big fish. You can convince absolutely no one about of concept that small fishing is better. However, there are times when small fishing is required or even unavoidable. Maybe you're trying to catch bait fish for example. Or you're with younger members of the family and the smaller fish are going to be more suitable for them. Maybe it's all that's available in the particular water you're angling in. Whatever the reason, there is lots of different methods for catching smaller ‘pan’ fish and a variety of species to catch here in the Bucks County area.

        First and foremost there are sunnies, also known as pumpkin seeds and bluegills, depending on what kind of markings they have and where you're catching them. Sunnies are far the most easy small fish to catch and where you can use almost any variety of bait on them. Worms are the most common, but you can also use corn, marshmallows, hot dog, sliced up bits of other fish, bugs, and they also make a variety of synthetic pan fish bait, of which garlic maggots I find to be the most effective. They’re also the easiest fish to try to catch with a bobber or “floating fish rig” Personally, I prefer using oval spring bobbers due to the fact that the position of the line as it is attached to the bobber makes it easier to snag a fish after the strike. You can also use smaller lures to attract them. I find teardrop spinners to be the most effective but believe it or not, I've even caught them on poppers. An interesting little trick is also to bait the water. This is easily done with a slice of bread or even some old discarded bait that you didn't want to use for any other purpose. Just toss it in the general area where you will be fishing and wait for the scent to reach out to the surrounding fish. Sunnies can also be caught and used for bait, whether whole or sliced into strips they are very effective catching larger fish.

        Next we'll go over perch, which come in two different varieties. Regular perch, which are yellow and black striped or white perch which are very silverish white. Both were seen as invasive species in most parts of the world and considered a pest fish to most fishermen. But you're going to catch them one way or the other, especially if you're fishing with worms, so you might as well enjoy it. I have also been able to catch them on occasion with spinner lures and rooster spinners in particular. With these lures, you'll find perch striking them at the very last second as you're pulling it up onto shore. A quick word of warning here…whether they are yellow or white perch, they are very spiny and rather difficult to grab on to. It is best to grab them by the mouth when unhooking.

Next is a fish that I didn't even know was in the Bucks County area until earlier this year the Roanoke bass. Not technically a bass, but for some reason called one, probably because of its larger mouth. I have found Roanoke bass swimming in the Neshaminy Creek. Surprisingly susceptible to larger popper lures and spinner bait, the Roanoke bass makes for an interesting, if brief fight. They strike hard and fast, and fight the entire way up. They tend to hide in shaded patches of water, and often lie under large groups of algae covered areas as well. This can make them rather difficult to catch as you're likely to get snagged on something, but that is the risk of fishing anyway so take your chances and enjoy your successes.

        Lastly, I want to go to over catching juvenile bass or “fingerlings”. While it’s not the best idea in the world because you always want to catch more adult sized bass, it is sometimes unavoidable and can be kind of fun for the younger kids to catch their first bass. Just remember to throw them back. You can catch them the same as regular bass with small lures. I've found 1/18 brightly colored teardrop spinners to be best and bait like worms and grasshoppers. Just expect much less fight from the smaller bass of course.