I have recently found a small inland lake that, I am told, holds bluegill, crappie and Bass. I am also told that the fish are all small in size. This is a private lake, no public access. How do you recommend I start fishing it? My understanding is that the fish are stunted due to being overpopulated. Do I start keeping all the panfish I catch? I’m allowed to keep 25 sunfish per day. Any thoughts are appreciated!!

Sounds like it could use some culling if the fish are small unless it's only a few years old lake. I'd get a few packs of #10 hooks and wax worms and go to town.

This time of year I would try using a fly rod and a rubber spider or very small popper. If you are after just Bluegills, worms are hard to beat. Small minnies for the Crappies. How big is the lake? Don't rule out fishing about 10 inches deep in the middle of the deepest part of the lake if it is hot weather, or real deep if nothing appears to be in the shallow areas. If what you say is true about no public access and there is also no inlet/outlet stream....the daily limit does not apply. It must be absolutely 100% non-access private though.

The Lake is not a new lake. It is spring fed with a small outlet.

If there is an outlet stream you have to follow the state limit. That was how the DNR explained it to me. Good luck!

Actually targeting sunfish? We curse those things when they get on our lines.

Hey feed the coons if there are tons of 3-4 inchers throw some to the coons. You will never cull enough out just keeping your limit. UNLESS you can take about 10 kids with you each trip....

True, fun for kids, beginners......

Some use a couple of flathead catfish to cull the excess small fish.

Otters ate all the big ones, Kids love catching little ones on a small light rod.

Toss in a few 2lb large mouths

Yes. Better yet, throw in some northern pike. They will reduce the amount of smaller fish.

maybe he wants buckets of coon/otter bait!

Or bury them under the tomato plants next spring.

toss in some northerns.

I'm not sure if we can do that here. If it's classified as a game species then that might be considered wasting the resource and a violation of our conservation act. I'll find out because our creeks are loaded with spawning suckers in the spring and I often thought a load of those in the freezer would make good bait and fertilizer for the garden.

Why wouldn't just eat them? Scale them quick with a beer bottle cap screwed to a wood handle. Cut behind the head until through the spine pull down and off comes the front fins and the guts. Dip in a mix of milk, egg and mustard then coat with seasoned cornmeal or packaged fish fry mix. Fry until golden brown only a minute or two per side.

Pull out the top and bottom fins, eat the tail and pick meat off the bones.

Quick, simple and delicious. Great for any size bluegill.