Over the weekend, I had one of the best fishing trips of the season. No, I did not catch a personal best or even anything worth keeping. I was not fishing some exotic location or hard-to-get-in private club — just the lake at a local state park.

I was not even trying out a fancy new piece of gear, only a rod, a bobber, some weights, and a hook.

So, what made the day so special?

Why would a count catching too-small-to-keep fish on a local lake, with one the most essential of gear, the best trip of the year? Two reasons: one, I got to do it with a dear friend and former coworker, and two, we were catching panfish.

Yep, panfish.

Throughout the morning, we saw a little bit of crappie, bluegill and even a rock bass. Not only did I get to spend time with a friend who shares my passion for fishing, but I also got to relax and enjoy one of the simplest forms of fishing, which most of us grew up doing.

After the trip as I was driving home I began to wonder why more anglers do not chase panfish. Almost all of us know how, and we certainly have the necessary gear, so why has it become a thing of the past? Why is it something we remember from our childhood? The answer I came up with is time.

While we often make time for fishing, the height of panfish season usually centers around the spring spawn. This is also when trout, striped bass, turkey, and walleye seasons kick off. When a choice needs to be made, panfish do not make the cut.

But what if I told you panfish season, or even the spawn, does not stop in spring? What If I told you there are plenty of opportunities to fill a creel, or just your memories, with crappie, perch, or bluegills all summer long?

Well, you can, and here are some tips to make it happen.

There can be more than one spawn. Although species such as perch and crappie typically only spawn once yearly, usually in early spring, that is not true for all species. Many species of sunfish, most notably bluegill, spawn multiple times throughout the summer.

This means they will continually move in and out of the shallow, shaded breeding areas accessible to almost any angler.

The gear is about as simple as it gets. Remember the opening of the Andy Griffith Show where Opie is shown walking with a cane pole? That would be a perfect setup for panfish. All you need is a rod, line, a hook, and a bobber if you have one available. A few small weights can be added to help get your bait deeper. Although some anglers prefer a jig or small plastics, they are all variations of this original outfit.

Almost anything can be used as bait. Red worms, a piece of night crawler, wax worms and mealworms are the most popular panfish baits. They are not the only baits available. Plenty of fish have been caught on fathead minnow, which are great for catching almost anything else that swims by as well.

Leeches are an excellent choice to weed out little guys and target only the bigger crappie or bluegill. Their tougher exterior makes it hard for the smaller fish to pick your hook clean, so it is likely a keep anytime you get a serious bit. When all else fails, or you find yourself without any other options, a small piece or breed will land more panfish than anything from the tackle store, although you will need to replenish the hook more often.

Finally do not think that summer panfish means getting deep. Although some species will abandon the warming shallows for deeper, cooler water, plenty of fish are within reach of shore. Shaded banks with overhanging cover, weed beds, and around docks are always worth exploring regardless of water temperature.

But if you want to find big schools of panfish, look no further than the closest bridge. The shade of the structure and shelter of the pilings are hard for bluegill to pass up, and you shouldn’t pass them by, either.