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.

For pan fish which in this area are crappie, bluegills, sunnies and perch I use a 9' St. Croix UL rod with 4 pound test and a small Shimano Sahara reel. Early spring is a small bobber with a 1/64 jig tipped with a small piece of worm or 1" tubes. Throw right near shore nect to the weeds and you can usually fill a 48 qt cooler pretty easily.