50$ cabelas credit, new to breams. Whats a must?

Converting bass fisherman trying to start fresh for bluegills/crappie/shells and looking for a few basics to get me started. Outside of my new UL Rod/Reel, I don't have anything to cast. I've looked through the various threads at the top about preferred artificial lures, yet I'm still at a loss for where to start. Right now I've had my eye on the Northland Slurpies panfish jigs, and maybe a micro crank or two, but not sure if this is the best choice. Will be lake fishing in the NE. Can you help me spend some $?

Don't overthink this decision. Almost any small jig will work.

I would definitely get some trout magnets for the bluegill. For crappie, Cabela's has a bunch of soft plastic kits with loads of different baits.

Get some jig heads in 1/32 oz and 1/16 oz.

And don't forget live bait. So, get some hooks, split shot, and floats.

Strike king --------bitsy minnow ------------solid white . 1/32 jig spinners with 1 inch black slider jig bodies .

Beetle spins always work good for panfish

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reesestix85

I've looked through the various threads at the top about preferred artificial lures, yet I'm still at a loss for where to start.

---

With any type of fishing, step # 1 is "find the fish". Once you find the fish, most small baits will catch them (as the sticky threads point out.)

In-Fisherman's 2014 Panfish guide is on the stands now. Lots of good info in there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reesestix85

Converting bass fisherman trying to start fresh for bluegills/crappie/shells ...

---

How did you fish for bass? You could probably use the same tactics with smaller baits. One of the articles in the IF panfish guide is written by a bass nut who also chases gills, crappie, perch, etc. He took his "power" bass methods and scaled them down.

You got me wanting to throw a bitsy minnow ( strike king ,tiny crank bait ) so down behind the house to the research lab ! Lol .Attachment 157193Attachment 157194

I threw a little bit of everything, but preferred throwing cranks. Its actually what got me hooked on crappie/gill fishing when I hooked into a 15 1/2 inch crappie. For Eastern PA, That's a monster. Been busy with a new child since then, but looking to get back out there this year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reesestix85

I threw a little bit of everything, but preferred throwing cranks. Its actually what got me hooked on crappie/gill fishing when I hooked into a 15 1/2 inch crappie. For Eastern PA, That's a monster. Been busy with a new child since then, but looking to get back out there this year.

---

Crankbaits work for crappie. (The guy in the IF guide talks about it, and lot's of guys on this site use 'em -- mostly for trolling, though.)

They will also work for bream, but I don't like treble hooks for bream fishing. Jigs work so well, I don't feel like I'm missing out by not using crankbaits.

I ended up re-filling my box with a variety of sorts. I love the Rebel Wake-R, really seems to get them in the shallows when nothing else will so I snagged a few more of these. Only problem is landing the occasional largemouth on them, 15" and up and the hooks have a tendency to bend. I ordered a few grubs,tube jigs, and some road runners to try out as this is the area I'm least experienced in fishing, as well as some slip bobbers and accessories for when the wife is fishing. Of course, I went above and beyond the 50$, but ill keep that a secret.

Man you gotta get yourself some strike king bitsy minnows! Everything in the water will hit them, never know what will be the next bite! I do upgrade my hooks when I get them though, I like VMC 9649. I've caught 18" bass on them and had no problems with the hooks, just take your time and play the fish to where you can grab them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Don't overthink this decision. Almost any small jig will work.

I would definitely get some trout magnets for the bluegill. For crappie, Cabela's has a bunch of soft plastic kits with loads of different baits.

Get some jig heads in 1/32 oz and 1/16 oz.

And don't forget live bait. So, get some hooks, split shot, and floats.

---

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...chaingang1.gif

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin22

Man you gotta get yourself some strike king bitsy minnows! Everything in the water will hit them, never know what will be the next bite! I do upgrade my hooks when I get them though, I like VMC 9649. I've caught 18" bass on them and had no problems with the hooks, just take your time and play the fish to where you can grab them.

---

What time of the year do you use the cranks?

Ice out to ice up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reesestix85

I ended up re-filling my box with a variety of sorts. I love the Rebel Wake-R, really seems to get them in the shallows when nothing else will so I snagged a few more of these. Only problem is landing the occasional largemouth on them, 15" and up and the hooks have a tendency to bend. I ordered a few grubs,tube jigs, and some road runners to try out as this is the area I'm least experienced in fishing, as well as some slip bobbers and accessories for when the wife is fishing. Of course, I went above and beyond the 50$, but ill keep that a secret.

---

Don't worry about going over the $50. mark. If anyone says anything just let them know that you are treating a new fishing disease plus its cheaper to self medicate than to go see a specialist. :cheers2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reesestix85

Converting bass fisherman trying to start fresh for bluegills/crappie/shells and looking for a few basics to get me started. Outside of my new UL Rod/Reel, I don't have anything to cast. I've looked through the various threads at the top about preferred artificial lures, yet I'm still at a loss for where to start. Right now I've had my eye on the Northland Slurpies panfish jigs, and maybe a micro crank or two, but not sure if this is the best choice. Will be lake fishing in the NE. Can you help me spend some $?

---

I would get 1/32oz and 1/16oz jigs and put them on with slip bobbers. Rapala crankbaits work well too for bluegill but for fishing with worms I would use trout worms or meal worms myself. Actually, I've been fishing for bluegill for soo long I'm actually wanting to know how to Bass fish now but haven't a clue lol, I'll have to make me a thread asking I suppose:yikes...

those are some nice pics

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by no luck

What time of the year do you use the cranks?

---

April on through fall . Mississippi .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eagle 1

Strike king --------bitsy minnow ------------solid white . 1/32 jig spinners with 1 inch black slider jig bodies .

---

You been lookin in my box? Bitsy minnows catch fish but are low quality. Take the split ring off and through it away and tie a loop knot if you dont you will try tuneing it for days.. The bills break off if hit on rocks while cranking but gills love'em! Panfish assassins are good to. 1/32 oz beatle spins, trout magnets and berkley 1" gulp minnows work like a champ too. Berkley power wigglers are a MUST for tipping tiny hair/feather jigs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by "G"

Beetle spins always work good for panfish

---

Started on beetle spins and a zebco 33,had a blast doing it!

I can't speak for fishing out of the Southern Regions, but here Bobby Garland Baby Shad baits are the #1 bait of choice for Crappie, on 1/16 and 1/32 jig heads. Crappie magnets on a floater also work very well.

We just had a tx this past weekend and the winner had 5lbs 6 oz on a five fish limit, all on Bobby Garland baits.