What's your go-to bait for panfish?

[Tarpon4me]

Of all the fish species on the planet, I think everyone that has ever picked up a fishing pole has targeted a species of panfish at some point in their life. Infact, I know plenty of anglers that will only fish for panfish, and many sub-species specific. I know some that will only fish for bluegills, others warmouths, and others crappie. Funny how that is eh? Well, just as particular as the species that are targeted are the baits that are used to do so. With that said, what is your go-to bait when you target your favorite panfish?
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[Tarpon4me]

You know, I spent many years using crickets and becomming discouraged when the head or abdomen got bitten off and they wouldn't hit it anymore. Many angers swear by crickets, and I did too, until I tried wax worms. Even if there is only a tiney piece of wax worm left, they will still take a swipe at it. At 3.50 a container, you can't hardly beat them considering you catch a fish every couple worms, rather than with crickets as you might catch a fish every 4 or 5 crickets.

Catapillars would have been my top choice, however, they are only availible in the spring around here. They are, beyond a shadow of a dought, the most deadly panfish bait i've ever used. I simply hover my boat under a tree on the river and give it a good shake. LOL, they fly all over the boat, no container necessary. You just grab one as he crawls by. I've never caught a smaller sized bream on a catapillar, and they always slam the bait, no pecking. It probably has alot to do with the time of year as well, but what a pleasant coincidence. [cool]
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[bendopolo]

1/3rd of a big nitecrawler on a dropshot with my trusty #10 Circle Sea Hook and 1 glass bead + a split shot on the bottom. Those damn fish keep eating my bead. Hmmm....
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[Bluegillman]

Never tried catapillars. You said Breams sounds like ur'e from South Carolina? What do those catapillars look like?
I too used crickets when I was at my sister and brother in law in Mississippi at Enid lake and those baits were hot on those bluegills.
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[Tarpon4me]

Yes Sir, i'm from SC. What gave it away? LOL [] The caterpillars i'm refering to look like this guy:

[url "http://bugguide.net/node/view/156989/bgimage"][/url]

Harmless little bugger, but deadly on big panfish.

Crickets are an excellent bait, and I would never knock anyone using them. But, if you count bites versus actual hook ups, I think the smaller wax worms take the prize. I know crickets seem to work exculsively well for War mouths, or Morgans as we call them along the Pee Dee. I've caught smaller morgans with wax worms, but all my larger fish were caught off crickets. But, on the same not, i'm not targeting panfish to eat, unless I am targeting crappie. I use the smaller hand sized ones for live bait. There isn't a much better live bait for a big flat head than a hand sized fly bream or a pumpkin seed. A lot of anglers i know that fish Santee Cooper swear by big crappie for monster cats, but I can't bring myself to use a big crappie for bait. Too good to eat. LOL
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[davetclown]

word of caution, if you dont know your pillar dont use it...

some are protected and some on the endangered list...
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[Tarpon4me]

That's actually pretty good advice Dave. I know there are no protected species around here, but in different parts of the world there are. Also, like you mentioned, some catepillars pack a nasty punch if you grab the a hold of the wrong one. LOL, those thorns don't play. The little fella in the picture above is our most common in the South East, and they are far from extinct or dangerous. But, they do make one heck of a bait![cool]
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[davetclown]

there are a number of hornworm species...
I find these guys fastenating....
but ya have to know your horn worms species before taking them fishing, some are protected, the luna moth is protected in michigan, on the endangered list.
[center][url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato_hornworm"][/url][url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato_hornworm"][/url][/center] [center]Tomato hornworm larva[/center] [center][url "http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/field/tomato_hornworm_larva.htm"] tomato hornworm larva[/url] [/center] [center]single horn, I have seen them with horns front and back.[/center]


the tobaco horn worm or tomato horn worm turns in to a brown moth, I find them quite usefull when it comes to fishing, one of the biggest bass I ever caught was trolling a horn worm on a crawler harness...
[url "http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/field/hornworm_larva.htm"] tobacco hornworm larva[/url]
I think the horn is more to scare would be atackers, I have never been stung by one of its stingers, front or back... not for the lack of them trying... how ever my dad told me when I was vary young that they do bite... I will take his word for it, keep my hands away from their mouths.. [laugh]

I have touched the horns and they seem flimsy enough, but dont take my word for it...

Horn worms feed on nightshade plants wich include tomato, wild nightshade, potato and tobaco, pepper... I have yet to find one on a potato plant, but it is a night shade species...

[url "http://entomology.unl.edu/k12/caterpillars/hornworm/hornwormpage.html"]http://entomology.unl.edu/k12/caterpillars/hornworm/hornwormpage.html[/url]

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there is the luna pillar worm wich turns in to a larg yellowish green lunar moth. quite a site to see, in the pillar stage it is the same size and color as the horn worm with subtle differances..

the last lunar moth I saw was in Kentucky better than 40 years ago, how ever I was astounded to find a lunar moth pillar here in michigan 7 years ago, I had picked it up and was going to take it fishing, but when I took a close look I noted there were dis-similarities to the ones I pick off my tomato plants.. this horn worm was missing its horns..... [center][url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actias_luna"][/url][/center]

after bringing the larve home I got to looking at it, tho I have never found one in the latter part of september and this one I found in a yard that I had been maintaining. I was compelled to take it back to the exact spot where I found it and released it back in to the yard.



an invading species called the gypsy moth pillar has proved unfavorable in michigan for fishing.. must have a nasty taist or something, I've tossed them in to a school of gills and they wont touch them...

the venus butterfly piller works well here, maybe it is something the fish are used to, they will nest in apple and hawthorn trees that over hang ponds and rivers.

the monarch butterfly pillar is protected nation wide and in several other countries, the larve feed exclusively on several milk weed plant species...

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a good incect feild guide book is a must have... I picked one up from boarders 10 years ago, it will tell you if the pillar is endangered or not in your area... and whats better is the feild book I have gives me info on most all incets including spiders...

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where store bought brown crickets are good bait, and cant bite hard enough to hurt, I prefer the wild black crickets... and grass hoppers .... secadas....

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another tomato horn worm is the ... [center][url "http://www.birds-n-garden.com/snowberry_clearwing_hummingbird_moths.html"][/url][/center]

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follow this link to veiw a large veriety of pillars...
its just to much fun identifying them all...

[url "http://ipm.tamu.edu/greenhouse/identification.html"]http://ipm.tamu.edu/greenhouse/identification.html[/url]
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[davetclown]

[center]all these links below have one thing in common, these pillars all reach 4-5 inches in lenth..[/center] [center] [/center] [center]why havent you seen one, well they are so well camoflaged they are near invisible...[/center] [center] [/center] [center][url "http://www.birds-n-garden.com/tersa_sphinx_hummingbird_moths.html"][/url][/center] [center][/center] [center][url "http://www.birds-n-garden.com/white-lined_sphinx_hummingbird_moths.html"][/url][/center] [center] [/center] [center][/center] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/gallery?f=30&_st=1"]http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/gallery?f=30&_st=1[/url][/left] [left] [/left] [left][/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3281"]Cecropia silkmoth[/url] (Hyalophora cecropia) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3282"]Columbia silkmoth[/url] (Hyalophora columbia) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3283"]Ceanothus silkmoth[/url] (Hyalophora euryalus) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3284"]Promethea silkmoth[/url] (Callosamia promethea) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3285"]Tuliptree silkmoth[/url] (Callosamia angulifera) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3286"]Sweetbay silkmoth[/url] (Callosamia securifera) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3287"]Calleta silkmoth[/url] (Eupackardia calleta) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3288"]Cincta rothschildia[/url] (Rothschildia cincta) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3289"]Lebeau's rothschildia[/url] (Rothschildia lebeau) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3290"]Polyphemus moth[/url] (Antheraea polyphemus) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3291"]Oculea silkmoth[/url] (Antheraea oculea) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3292"]Luna moth[/url] (Actias luna) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3293"]Ailanthus silkmoth[/url] (Samia cynthia) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3294"]Rocky Mountain agapema[/url] (Agapema homogena) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3295"]Tamaulipan agapema[/url] (Agapema galbina) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3296"]Mexican agapema[/url] (Agapema anona) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3297"]Agapema solita[/url] (Agapema solita) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3298"]Mendocino saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia mendocino) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3299"]Walters' saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia walterorum) [/left] [left] [url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3300"]White-streaked saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia albofasciata)[/left] [left] [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3750"]Virginian Tiger Moth or Yellow Woolybear Moth[/url] (Spilosoma virginica) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3769"]Banded Tussock Moth or Pale Tiger Moth[/url] (Halysidota tessellaris) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3782"]Spotted Tussock Moth or Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth[/url] (Lophocampa maculata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3734"]Garden Tiger Moth or Great Tiger Moth[/url] (Arctia caja) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3808"]Milkweed Tussock Moth or Milkweed Tiger Moth[/url] (Euchaetes egle) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3778"]Hickory Tussock Moth or Hickory Tiger Moth[/url] (Lophocampa caryae) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3744"]Salt Marsh Moth or Acrea Moth[/url] (Estigmene acrea) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3305"]Io moth[/url] (Automeris io) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5102"]Owl Moth[/url] (Thysania zenobia) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3337"]Imperial moth[/url] (Eacles imperialis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3727"]Harnessed Moth[/url] (Apantesis phalerata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3684"]Bella Moth[/url] (Utetheisa ornatrix) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4294"]Primrose Moth[/url] (Schinia florida) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3683"]Cinnabar Moth[/url] (Tyria jacobaeae) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3611"]Bicolored Moth[/url] (Eilema bicolor) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3701"]Little Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia virguncula) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4844"]Black Bit Moth[/url] (Celiptera frustulum) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5003"]Common Oak Moth[/url] (Phoberia atomaris) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4192"]Armyworm Moth[/url] (Pseudaletia unipuncta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4801"]Cotton Moth[/url] (Alabama argillacea) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5006"]Moonseed Moth[/url] (Plusiodonta compressipalpis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5343"]Corn Earworm Moth[/url] (Heliothis zea) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4272"]Spanish Moth[/url] (Xanthopastis timais) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4856"]Hieroglyphic Moth[/url] (Diphthera festiva) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4870"]Graphic Moth[/url] (Drasteria graphica) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3334"]Royal Walnut Moth[/url] (Citheronia regalis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3657"]Painted Lichen Moth[/url] (Hypoprepia fucosa) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3761"]Great Leopard Moth[/url] (Hypercompe scribonia) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3351"]Rosy maple moth[/url] (Dryocampa rubicunda) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3733"]Ranchman's Tiger Moth[/url] (Platyprepia virginalis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3746"]Fall Webworm Moth[/url] (Hyphantria cunea) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3345"]Spiny oakworm moth[/url] (Anisota stigma) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3586"]Unicorn Caterpillar Moth[/url] (Schizura unicornis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3763"]Painted Tiger Moth[/url] (Arachnis picta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3752"]Wandering Tiger Moth[/url] (Spilosoma vagans) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3748"]Agreeable Tiger Moth[/url] (Spilosoma congrua) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3708"]Ornate Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia ornata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3336"]Pine-devil Moth[/url] (Citheronia sepulcralis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3726"]Mexican Tiger Moth[/url] (Notarctia proxima) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3666"]Little White Lichen Moth[/url] (Clemensia albata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3723"]Figured Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia figurata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3736"]Ruby Tiger Moth[/url] (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4301"]Ragweed Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia rivulosa) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4338"]Brown Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia saturata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3640"]Packard's Lichen Moth[/url] (Cisthene packardii) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3490"]Walnut Caterpillar Moth[/url] (Datana integerrima) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3613"]Pale Lichen Moth[/url] (Crambidia pallida) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3751"]Vestal Tiger Moth[/url] (Spilosoma vestalis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3704"]Virgin Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia virgo) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4290"]Leadplant Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia lucens) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3869"]Polka-Dot Wasp Moth[/url] (Syntomeida epilais) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4304"]Thoreau's Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia thoreaui) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3589"]Red-humped Caterpillar Moth[/url] (Schizura concinna) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4306"]Three-lined Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia trifascia) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4345"]Bleeding Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia sanguinea) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3325"]Range caterpillar moth[/url] (Hemileuca oliviae) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3735"]St. Lawrence Tiger Moth[/url] (Platarctia parthenos) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3728"]Banded Tiger Moth[/url] (Apantesis vittata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3257"]Brown House Moth[/url] (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4355"]Goldenrod Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia nundina) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3873"]Texas Wasp Moth[/url] (Horama panthalon) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3614"]Uniform Lichen Moth[/url] (Crambidia uniformis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3749"]Dubious Tiger Moth[/url] (Spilosoma dubia) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3639"]Subject Lichen Moth[/url] (Cisthene subjecta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3620"]Pure Lichen Moth[/url] (Crambidia pura) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3346"]Consular oakworm moth[/url] (Anisota consularis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3348"]Peigler's oakworm moth[/url] (Anisota peigleri) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3629"]Kentucky Lichen Moth[/url] (Cisthene kentuckiensis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3770"]Sycamore Tussock Moth[/url] (Halysidota harrisii) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3349"]Oslar's oakworm moth[/url] (Anisota oslari) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3636"]Striated Lichen Moth[/url] (Cisthene striata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3853"]Edwards' Wasp Moth[/url] (Lymire edwardsii) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4837"]Forage Looper Moth[/url] (Caenurgina erechtea) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4322"]Northern Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia septentrionalis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3335"]Splendid royal moth[/url] (Citheronia splendens) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4982"]Four-spotted Fungus Moth[/url] (Metalectra quadrisignata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4831"]Vetch Looper Moth[/url] (Caenurgia chloropha) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5001"]Maple Looper Moth[/url] (Parallelia bistriaris) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4030"]Bristly Cutworm Moth[/url] (Lacinipolia renigera) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3992"]Speckled Cutworm Moth[/url] (Lacanobia subjuncta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3871"]Lesser Wasp Moth[/url] (Pseudocharis minima) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5333"]Cadbury's Lichen Moth[/url] (Comachara cadburyi) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4102"]Zebra Caterpillar Moth[/url] (Melanchra picta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5345"]Tobacco Budworm Moth[/url] (Heliothis virescens) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5340"]Pink Star Moth[/url] (Derrima stellata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4812"]Velvetbean Caterpillar Moth[/url] (Anticarsia gemmatalis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4984"]Black Fungus Moth[/url] (Metalectra tantillus) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4979"]Common Fungus Moth[/url] (Metalectra discalis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4835"]Clover Looper Moth[/url] (Caenurgina crassiuscula) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4983"]Richard's Fungus Moth[/url] (Metalectra richardsi) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4435"]Green Cutworm Moth[/url] (Anicla infecta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5342"]Orange Sallow Moth[/url] (Rhodoecia auratiago) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4953"]Palmetto Borer Moth[/url] (Litoprosopus futilis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4660"]Dingy Cutworm Moth[/url] (Feltia jaculifera) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4118"]Bronzed Cutworm Moth[/url] (Nephelodes minians) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4805"]Yellow Scallop Moth[/url] (Anomis erosa) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3852"]Yellow-Collared Scape Moth[/url] (Cisseps fulvicollis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3353"]Bicolored honey locust moth[/url] (Sphingicampa bicolor) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3350"]Pink-striped oakworm moth[/url] (Anisota virginiensis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3347"]Orange-tipped oakworm moth[/url] (Anisota senatoria) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3655"]Scarlet-Winged Lichen Moth[/url] (Hypoprepia miniata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3621"]Yellow-headed Lichen Moth[/url] (Crambidia cephalica) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3776"]Silver-Spotted Tiger Moth[/url] (Lophocampa argentata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3654"]Black-and-yellow Lichen Moth[/url] (Lycomorpha pholus) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3577"]Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth[/url] (Lochmaeus manteo) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3355"]Bisected honey locust moth[/url] (Sphingicampa bisecta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3635"]Lead-Colored Lichen Moth[/url] (Cisthene plumbea) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3634"]Thin-Banded Lichen Moth[/url] (Cisthene tenuifascia) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3667"]Mouse-Colored Lichen Moth[/url] (Pagara simplex) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3619"]Pearly-Winged Lichen Moth[/url] (Crambidia casta) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3612"]Dark Gray Lichen Moth[/url] (Crambidia lithosioides) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3485"]Yellow-necked Caterpillar Moth[/url] (Datana ministra) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3747"]Pink-Legged Tiger Moth[/url] (Spilosoma latipennis) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3865"]Scarlet-Bodied Wasp Moth[/url] (Cosmosoma myrodora) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3259"]White-shouldered House Moth[/url] (Endrosis sarcitrella) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3738"]Large Ruby Tiger Moth[/url] (Phragmatobia assimilans) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3737"]Lined Ruby Tiger Moth[/url] (Phragmatobia lineata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3785"]Long-Streaked Tussock Moth[/url] (Leucanopsis longa) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3867"]Yellow-Banded Wasp Moth[/url] (Syntomeida ipomoeae) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3866"]Double-Tufted Wasp Moth[/url] (Didasys belae) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4135"]Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth[/url] (Orthosia hibisci) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5021"]Dead-wood Borer Moth[/url] (Scolecocampa liburna) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3936"]Wheat Head Armyworm Moth[/url] (Faronta diffusa) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5339"]Oblong Sedge Borer Moth[/url] (Archanara oblonga) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3799"]Delicate Cycnia or Dogbane Tiger Moth[/url] (Cycnia tenera) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3742"]Isabella Tiger Moth or Banded Woolybear[/url] (Pyrrharctia isabella) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3300"]White-streaked saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia albofasciata) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4336"]Arcigera Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia arcigera) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3706"]Arge Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia arge) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3703"]Parthenice Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia parthenice) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3729"]Nais Tiger Moth[/url] (Apantesis nais) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3720"]Oithona Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia oithona) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4328"]Lynx Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia lynx) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3707"]Anna Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia anna) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3719"]Phyllira Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia phyllira) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=4349"]Bina Flower Moth[/url] (Schinia bina) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3725"]Placentia Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia placentia) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3705"]Doris Tiger Moth[/url] (Grammia doris) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3299"]Walters' saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia walterorum) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=5201"]Carolina Chocolate Moth[/url] (Argyrostrotis carolina) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3290"]Polyphemus moth[/url] (Antheraea polyphemus) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3677"]Clymene Moth[/url] (Haploa clymene) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3679"]Colona Moth[/url] (Haploa colona) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3743"]Echo Moth[/url] (Seirarctia echo) [/left] [left][url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3298"]Mendocino saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia mendocino)[/left]

[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3281"]Cecropia silkmoth[/url] (Hyalophora cecropia)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3282"]Columbia silkmoth[/url] (Hyalophora columbia)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3283"]Ceanothus silkmoth[/url] (Hyalophora euryalus)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3284"]Promethea silkmoth[/url] (Callosamia promethea)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3285"]Tuliptree silkmoth[/url] (Callosamia angulifera)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3286"]Sweetbay silkmoth[/url] (Callosamia securifera)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3287"]Calleta silkmoth[/url] (Eupackardia calleta)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3288"]Cincta rothschildia[/url] (Rothschildia cincta)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3289"]Lebeau's rothschildia[/url] (Rothschildia lebeau)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3290"]Polyphemus moth[/url] (Antheraea polyphemus)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3291"]Oculea silkmoth[/url] (Antheraea oculea)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3292"]Luna moth[/url] (Actias luna)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3293"]Ailanthus silkmoth[/url] (Samia cynthia)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3294"]Rocky Mountain agapema[/url] (Agapema homogena)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3295"]Tamaulipan agapema[/url] (Agapema galbina)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3296"]Mexican agapema[/url] (Agapema anona)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3297"]Agapema solita[/url] (Agapema solita)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3298"]Mendocino saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia mendocino)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3299"]Walters' saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia walterorum)
[url "http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3300"]White-streaked saturnia moth[/url] (Saturnia albofasciata)
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[bendopolo]

I'm so done with grubs and worms now. Sometimes these fish are voracious! In Perris lake they try to eat the hair off your legs while you are swimming. I think the real question is what is the strangest bait you have used for panfish. I've caught them on Lima Beans, Corn, Maggots, Catapillars,White String, Moths, Flys, Beetles, Red worms, Brown worms, June Bugs, Grass, Stems, Big deep running Bass plugs.....
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[Jaackrabbit]

Strange... hmm...

Went to my moms house for thanksgiving (She lives on a lake) Had a chunk of deep fried turkey meat that I was eating while out on the dock. I thought oh why not.. fish can have thanksgiving too, so I threw in a small piece of turkey. Man did they (Gills) ever love that stuff. After chumming the water for a bit I put a piece on the end of a rod and held the line about 2 inches from the water line and they were jumping right out of the water for it. It was the first (and only) time I've ever caught a fish without getting the line wet.
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[davetclown]

What, no bubble gum?

I have caught fish with out a hook, they grab my split shot and wouldnt let go...

I about got thrown out of my own boat for that stunt....[laugh] It was one of those days when the fish liked my line and not the line of the other two guys in the boat using the same bait...

well I caught so many gills, one finaly broke the hook off my line, so I layed the pole on the side of the boat, sinker hanging in the water when I got a bite and lifted my rod and sure enough a gill had latched on to the sinker and would not let go...
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[izbro]

Can't go wrong with those little white maggots but they are just too gross. Sorry, but I have to fish with other people, usually people who don't know much about fishing, so I use lures, and the best ones are those little green twistertails, or else instead of the twister, they have a wobbly little tail, but with a lead head jig and very small, about a half inch.
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[Santaaa]

My favorite bait is the good old fashioned nightcrawler. Strangest bait I caught a blue gill on was a leaf. A dried up brown leaf on a hook. I was bored so I wanted to see how stupid the blue gill really were so I tied a small hook to fishing line and put a leaf on the hook and jiggled the line. and sure enough a school of bluegill came charging like mad and I hooked one. I let it go but thought wow this fish is stupid. They taste good but they sure are no real challenge to catch. Crappie are a good bit harder. I have only caught a few of them 2 or three but then I don't regulary target them either. I target channel catfish. the one night I caught a crappie was the night before father's day I was night fishing and so were a bunch of other guys. Everyone was Striper fishing. I was just fishing just to be fishing. I got the only fish of the whole night. It was a crappie. It dragged my bobber up and down the lakeshore. It held on enough to drag the bobber but not enough to take it under. It took hours to catch him. dragged it for 2 or 3 hours. He was the only one of the night so it was worth it. there were probably 20-30 guys there and I showed them all up. It was a blast. I was fishing with such a close together group as I could not afford a lattern. I have a cheap kerosean one now. It was fun though. I picked up all sorts of good fishing advice from the older anglers. I ran into a guy that was part of the striper fishing club. He sure had alot of good advice for me. What do you do when they aren't biting? You fish for advice casually. Best to get them talking about stories and you get a pretty good idea of what the fishing report is. Sets you up for some nice fishing. Gives you alot of new things to try.
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[mif_slim]

I accidently voted for backyard worms, but they work the same as night crawlers...but my fav would be wax worms. Those things have a waxy skin and panfishes will still bite them even after all their insides are gone. Plus, their cleaner the Night Crawlers, you dont have to mess with the soil all up on your hands.

The craziest bait i've caught a blue gill on is a chewed winter fresh gum. I decided to try it because they eat just about anything and I wanted to see if they will enjoy cleaning thier breath with winter fresh gum...well, they did!
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[Tarpon4me]

LOL, the gum thing is funny. I think bream strike more out of impulse rather than hunger. I think anything that is white, green, or shiney is good enough to tempt a strike.

I agree with the wax worms, asside from the fact they are an excellent bait(my favorite), they aren't as messy to use as many of the other baits, and they don't stink like crickets. They are also very easy to keep alive, just stick them in the fridge and you're good to go for atleast a week with out even feeding them. WHen you get on the water, open the top for a few minutes in the sun, and they come back to life. []
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[Illinoisgiller]

I target large gills for the most part. 1/80 oz.round ball on #8 bronze jig hook. Tie it with kiptail (calf hair), tip with a wax worm and hang on.lol Mike
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[Martini78]

In my area, wax worms and red worms will yield a strike every time you throw them in the water when fishing for bluegills. Red worms seem to attract small bass, crappies, and the occasional catfish or pickerel, too.
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[Jordan5]

my go to bait is worms but if im to lazy a piece of corn or hot dog works well for them blues here in Ohio.

and only if these god for saken gypsy moths where good fishing bait. damn things are killing my trees.
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