“Panfish” isn’t one fish — it’s a group name. Connecticut DEEP defines panfish as yellow perch, white perch, calico bass (black crappie), rock bass and all sunfish species. They’re small, plentiful, great fun on light tackle and — as the name says — terrific in the frying pan.
WhereAlmost every lake, pond and large river in CT — sunny coves, weeds, docks and fallen trees.
WhenMay is prime time: warming shallows bring them in to feed and nest.
HowLight or medium-light rod, 4–8 lb line. A worm or small shiner a few feet under a bobber, or a 1/32–1/16 oz jig with a 1–2" soft plastic.
LimitsNo minimum length or daily limit statewide (white perch on the CT River: 7" minimum, 30 a day). Keep what you’ll eat and release the big spawners. Always check the current CT Fishing Guide.
These are panfish
Yellow PerchThe classic panfish — schools in weed edges and flats; great through the ice.
White PerchSchooling fish of lakes and the tidal Connecticut River (7-inch minimum and 30 per day there).
Calico Bass (Crappie)Black crappie — suspends around brush and docks; small minnows and jigs.
Rock BassRed-eyed sunfish of rocky shores and rivers.
BluegillThe most common sunfish; beds on sandy shallows in late spring.
PumpkinseedColorful sunfish with an orange-red ear spot; shallow, weedy water.
Redbreast SunfishRiver and stream sunfish with a long black ear flap.
Green SunfishBig-mouthed sunfish of small ponds and slow water.
Hybrid SunfishCrosses between sunfish species.
WarmouthUncommon sunfish of weedy, muddy-bottomed ponds.
Banded SunfishA small native sunfish of acidic, weedy ponds.
Orangespotted SunfishA small sunfish rarely seen in Connecticut.
Often mistaken for panfish
Largemouth BassIn the sunfish family, but managed and fished as a black bass (game fish) — not a panfish.
Smallmouth BassAlso a black bass — not a panfish.
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Bullheads & CatfishOften caught by panfish anglers, but not panfish.
Chain PickerelA predator of the pike family.
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TroutColdwater game fish with their own regulations.
Source: CT DEEP Freshwater Fishing Guide definitions and Panfish Primer.