Week of June 14, 2026: Panfish and bass tactics
It breaks my heart when someone comes into the shop, perhaps after an early start and many hours in the car, first through the door and eager to buy a dozen of “what’s working?” and I have to tell them the bad news.
I will tell them which flies would take trout, but first, I feel it is incumbent upon me to tell them about the water temps.
The look of confusion, disbelief and frustration gives me actual pangs of sympathy. “The good news,” I tell them, “is we can fish for panfish and bass.”
One can see who is going to go out and catch trout anyway. “Catch and Release” can still be practiced, but if the water is 71 degrees and devoid of oxygen, what is the point? Still - every angler has the prerogative to fish. At least stay out of the Trout Conservation Areas and keep the fish that go belly up.
Others know or are keen to learn that most of the trout flies we use, I find, will take warm water species. If you think about it, they share the same habitat and logically eat the same food. They may take that food a bit differently. I am humbled by the quick takes of pan fish or a bass’s patience when following a streamer or inspecting a popper. Panfish and bass are not easy prey by any means.
While trout often necessitate a dead drift, panfish seem to like their nymphs with a bit of life. A quick twitch may get them to bite. Similarly, when stripping a popper, a pause between tugs suggesting the quarry is resting, can induce the gulp. Overall, the experience is not wholly different to stalking a trout. Check out guide and guru, Bart Lombardo’s Panfish on the Fly pages on Facebook and Instagram. There, you will see the same dedication trout fly tyers and anglers have for warm water fish. Followers of this site share fish pics and fly ideas.
Dry dropper rigs with rainbow warriors, zebra midges, and chronomids are deadly. Twitching the topwater dropper - a hopper or beetle will support a midge - gives life to both and can convince a skeptical blue gill into a taste. Elk or deer hair stimulators make fine top flies for dropper rigs. Go big!
I got out to the mouth of the Musky on the main stem of the Delaware on Saturday and Round Valley Reservoir early Sunday morning to cast a bit from the bank. I had better luck at the reservoir, but each place offers the opportunity for some exciting fishing. Catching the right time is key, of course.
Whether on moving or still water, I usually begin with streamers. Cast out and strip back. Sinking leading or not, the moves are about the same, but try varying the retrieve and how far you allow the fly to sink. If nothing is that active, I switch to dead drifting before putting on a strike indicator or stimulator and switching to nymphs. Even on the lakes and reservoirs, aquatic insects are present. Prince nymphs and chonomids are especially effective.
See you out there,
Roy B.