Fresh Lake Panasoffkee Fishing Reports

Anglers slow trolling small spinnerbaits and jigs have been experiencing steady action. Quite a few of the fish were of good size. Lately, more largemouth bass joined in on the party. Overall, bream and bass pretty tough with the cold water.

As the water heated up, so has the fishing for panfish, known in the south as bream (pronounced "brim"). My go to lure was a 1/16 ounce black Beetle spin lure. It is very easy to use and catches every species. Small jigs produced as well, as did live wigglers under a float. Anglers caught shellcracker (redear sunfish), bluegill, crappie, spotted sunfish (stumpknocker), and bass. Action should continue through the summer, some rain will help as the waters are getting low.

The topwater bite has been very steady for anglers fishing with me of late. Rapala and Heddon poppers produced most of the bass. Fly anglers scored using deer hair bugs as well. Mornings were best as it was often slick calm. Later in the morning we switched to Beetle spin lures and other panfish lures to catch bluegill, shellcracker, stumpknocker, longear sunfish, crappie, and more. Best spots were Lake Panasoffkee and the Withlacoochee River near SR44.