The weather is warming up, and the panfish are moving up onto beds in shallow water to spawn.
Redear sunfish are bottom feeders, but move to shallow gravelbeds to spawn. They are typically larger, stronger, and meaner than the average bluegill, making them a lot of fun on light tackle. The cicada pattern, too, has boosted this fishery. While filming I could see more than twenty bugs struggling on the surface, so there's no confusion as to why a popper placed in front of a fish brings home the beef every time! I even managed a rise from a respectable snapping turtle on a dry fly...
