Panfishing with a fly rod is incredibly effective and fun. Whether bluegills, crappies, and pumpkinseeds are your favorite fish or not, they offer a great opportunity for springtime fun with a fly rod. The best way to hone your fly-casting and line-handling skills is to go to an area lake, find some panfish, and catch a bunch of them on a fly.

Floating llines on a 5 or 6 weight rod are what you need, along with some flies...

Surface poppers often work great, and are a blast to fish.
Nymphs, size 10-18, slowly stripped throught schools of panfish, are almost a sure thing.

Small streamers like #8 wooly buggers are excellent, and will also attract bass.