Fishing For Panfish: What Bluegills, Perch, And Crappie Eat
by In-Fisherman, No Author noted.
For Educational purpose only!

Bluegills, Perch, Crappies

Do most fishermen know what panfish are eating under the ice? With bass, pike, and walleyes it’s easy. They eat fish. But panfish forage on so many things throughout the year, often switching from one food source to another several times a day, that determining what they eat can be impossible without a thorough understanding of the lake’s biota.

Even biologists don’t know in most instances. Fewer than one percent of all micro-organisms have been identified and classified worldwide, according to biologists writing for Time. Of the macro-invertebrates, which provide the bulk of a bluegill’s diet, only about 10 percent have been identified. Jeff Zernov of Aqua-Vu underwater camera fame recently brought in a video showing millions of macro-¬invertebrates rising from the bottom to dance in front of his underwater lens at sunset. None of us, including our resident biologist, knew what we were seeing.

The good news is that panfish forage lots in winter—which is why they can be caught so readily at times. But what exactly are they eating? With little doubt, panfish are eating zooplankton at some point every winter. Perhaps all day every day. And will that knowledge help you catch them? Only one way to find out.

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