I love to use a little ice fishing pole when fishing for pan fish. The lighter line will allow you to float small bait. It's much more fun to pull in a pan fish on a small pole then one that could horse anything in. I like to jig using worms or insects like crickets off of docks usaully just out of visable range. If you jig it slightly and slow it really attracts them. Bluegil will chase anything but they get skiddish and some times only nibble instead of strike a bait that why a lighter line and smaller pole like an ice fishing ploe works great to feel the bite.