They're called panfish for a reason

The term panfish refers to a wide range of edible freshwater and saltwater fish that are small enough to cook in a small pan. In the Midwest, this includes bluegills and all their sunfish cousins, crappie, white bass and yellow perch. Here are some tips to help you convert fun-time to fry-time. Use properly sized baits. While these fish may have big appetites, their mouths don't always match their aggressiveness. Use small jigs, baits and hooks to provide a better opportunity for a successful catch. 1/32- and 1/64-ounce jigs are not too small.When choosing your line-rod-reel combination, think small. Light two and four pound-test lines offer low visibility to the fish and light tackle allows a more delicate presentation of the bait; besides adding fun for the angler.The sun warms smaller ponds earlier in the year while larger ponds and lakes take more time for the temperatures to climb. Fish small or shallow water in early spring then move to larger areas later in the season.If you don't leave a hook or two snagged in weed-beds, submerged logs or stumps, you aren't fishing the best spots. Panfish seek cover around these areas for two reasons, protection and food. To be a good fisherman, you have to fish where there are fish.The wind can help energize a quiet fishery, especially if it's preceded by calm, warm weather. Also, the wind blowing consistently against one shore will push plankton and feed towards that shore, in addition to raising the oxygen level in that area.Now that we've filled the creel, we need a plan for the dinner plate. In 1901, Hugo Ziemann, the Capital's chief kitchen steward, wrote The White House Cookbook. He included his own preparation instructions: "Most of the smaller fish are usually fried. Clean well, cut off the head, and, if quite large, cut out the backbone, and slice the body crosswise into five or six pieces; season with salt and pepper." "Dip in Indian meal or wheat flour, or in beaten egg, and roll in bread or fine cracker crumbs-trout and perch should not be dipped in meal- put into a thick bottomed iron frying pan, the flesh side down, with hot lard or drippings." "When they are fried quite brown and ready to turn, put a dinner plate over them, drain off the fat; then invert the pan, and they will be left unbroken on the plate." "Put the lard back into the pan, and when hot slip back the fish. When the other side is brown, drain, turn on a plate as before, and slip them on a warm platter, to be sent to the table. Garnish with slices of lemon." Cyndi Fliss from Bevent, Wisconsin put together her own special recipe for the panfish that her family catches. Rather than the deep fryer, she chooses chowder. The ingredients are simple: • 6 bacon strips, cut into 1-inch pieces;• 2/3 cup chopped onion;• 1/2 cup chopped celery;• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed;• two cups water;• 1/2 cup chopped carrots;• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley;• 1 tablespoon lemon juice;• 1/2 teaspoon dill weed;• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt;• 1/8 teaspoon pepper;• 1-pound panfish fillets (perch, sunfish or crappie), cut into 1-inch chunks;• 1 cup half-and-half cream. In a 3-quart saucepan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon to paper towels; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. Sauté onion and celery in reserved drippings until tender. Add potatoes, water, carrots, parsley, lemon juice and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Add fish and bacon; simmer for 5 minutes or just until fish flakes with a fork. Add cream and heat through. Yield: 4-6 servings. Now you have the entire recipe from catch to cook. All you need to do now is find the time, it will end up being the most important ingredient in the mix. "Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." – Herbert Hoover Along the Way Ohio's wild turkey hunting season opened on Saturday, April 25 in the 83 counties that comprise the south zone, and on Saturday, May 2 in the five counties of the northeast zone. As of May 3, Ohio's wild turkey hunters have tagged 11,044 birds so far during the 2026 spring season This year's results include all birds taken statewide through Sunday, May 3, as well as the 2,058 turkeys checked during youth-only hunting. In 2025, hunters checked 10,078 wild turkeys during the same time period, with a three-year average (2023 to 2025) of 10,335. The 10 counties with the most wild turkeys checked so far in 2026 are Tuscarawas (326), Highland (314), Gallia (310), Adams (305), Belmont (305), Monroe (300), Guernsey (288), Brown (269), Meigs (267), and Jefferson (262). Local harvests include: Allen: 67 (53); Crawford: 37 (31); Defiance: 138 (125); Hancock: 52 (32); Hardin: 86 (64); Henry: 44 (38); Putnam: 47 (30); Sandusky: 36 (25); Seneca: 84 (83); Wood: 22 (17); and Wyandot: 91 (82). The Division of Wildlife has issued 48,546 spring wild turkey permits that are valid throughout the 2026 season. Hunting is open in the south zone until Sunday, May 24, with hunting hours 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. Hunting hours in the northeast zone are from 30 minutes before sunrise to noon until Sunday, May 10. The northeast zone's hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset from May 11 to May 31. Step Outside • The Division of Forestry has reopened both horseback riding trails and all-purpose vehicle areas at Pike, Richland Furnace, and Perry state forests. The trails had been closed for the winter season. The bridle trails will remain open until late November, and state forest APV areas will remain open until early December when they will be closed again for the winter season. • May 21: Spring turkey shoot, HCCL (Hancock County Conservation League), 13748 Jackson Twp. RD 168, Findlay. For details: crowegirls1@gmail.com • Thursday: Trap and Skeet Practice, open to the public. 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. • May 23: 3-D Archery Match, mixed animal targets. Field and Stream Bowhunters; 11400 Allen Township 109, Findlay. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Contact: John Fenimore at 419-957-8764. • May 27: Exploring Archery, Learning the Basics. This free class is being conducted by the Ohio Division of Wildlife at the Findlay District Office – 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, OH. Hours: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Topics include proper stance, archery techniques, and target practice. This class will cover the basics with a Genesis bow and discuss equipment options for bow hunting. All equipment will be provided. Participants are asked not to bring outside equipment. meet at the Wildlife District Two Office for the classroom portion followed by shooting outdoors. If the weather is unfavorable, a range will be set up indoors. If you have any questions, please contact Jaron.Beck@dnr.ohio.gov. • May 28 – June 1: Ohio Territorial Primitive Blackpowder Muzzle Loader Match, 9 a.m. Hosted by Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders Club, 8831 Township Rd. 19, McComb. This is an interesting and fun match for both shooters and for those interested in getting into the sport. The public is welcome. Matches include: Rifle: Offhand, Hunter's, Longhunter, One Gun, Rifle Frolic, Cross Sticks, Light Bench, Hunter Bench, Flintlock, Sighted Smoothbore, Senior, Ladies Hunter, Ladies Offhand,Ladies Rifle, AB Primitive. Pistol: Pistol, Revolver, Pistol Hunters, Over 60 (2 hand hold optional). Youth: Junior, Intermediate, Youth HuntersContact Information: Richard Dittman (Match Director) richarddittman@yahoo.com. Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders Contact: Kevin Silveus: roadkill4u@hotmail.com. On Facebook: Visit: www.facebook.com/findlayblackswampmuzzleloaders • May 30: Ladies' Day, 12 noon – 4 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186, Mount Blanchard. Women of all ages are invited to learn more about the shooting sports. These include shotgun, pistol, and rifle shooting. This free event is being organized by Jackie Schnapp; she can be contacted at 419-957-0459. • June 7: Primitive Blackpowder Muzzle Loader Match, round ball only, Bull Match. 1 p.m. Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders Club, 8831 Township Rd. 19, McComb. Email: roadkill4u@hotmail.com. On Facebook: Visit: www.facebook.com/findlayblackswampmuzzleloaders • June 7: Trap Shoot, 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186. • June 20: Youth Fun Day, open to all ages 18 years-of-age and under, no prior experience is required. Event begins at 12 noon. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186, Mount Blanchard. Kids have the opportunity to learn more about gun safety while getting to shoot rifles and break clay targets with a shotgun. Firearms, targets and ammunition will be provided. This is a free event, but donations are gladly accepted. For questions, contact Bill Dick 419-575-8996. Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via e-mail at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.