Cold weather pan fishing

[sailinghudson25]

I moved to a populated area where fishing in local ponds is highly restricted. I thoguht it was all catch and release, but found out panfish and trout are ok. I've done tons of fishing from april to mid october, but switched to other activities in the fall/winter. The water isn't frozen at all yet. The little guys are eating much this time of year in NY? What are they naturally eating this time of year?

[Flatcoat1]

Even though it is not ice fishing for you yet, think that way. Go small. May want to use light lines and even an ice bobber with small jig with a maggot of some sort. Slow, slow, slow. Trout may be a little more active. If you can use live bait for them then I would use a crawler/worm or a minnow.