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Illustration by Joseph R. Tomelleri ©
Lepomis macrochirus - scientific name
(Native Fish) Two broadly-joined dorsal fins with spinous and soft-rayed portions united to give the impression of a single dorsal fin, small mouth, long pointed pectoral fins, faint black spot toward the rear of the soft-rayed part of dorsal fin separates the bluegill from other sunfish, which lack this dorsal coloration. Hybridization with other sunfish species (i.e., pumpkinseed sunfish, green sunfish) occurs, with resulting offspring exhibiting intermediate characteristics.
This fish enjoys a well-deserved popularity with anglers. Many a young angler boasts the delicious bluegill as a first catch, while seasoned anglers using light tackle find it a valiant fighter. Bluegills favor warm waters (64 to 70 degrees F) with plenty of cover such as weed beds, submerged logs, or drop-offs. They usually stay in relatively shallow water, but as temperatures rise in the summer, large bluegills will head for deeper water. This fish also provides good winter sport since it remains active all winter long.
Review Fishing Guide for current rules and regulations »
The young fry eat zooplankton and algae. As they grow larger, bluegills add small fish, aquatic insects and some plant matter to their diet. The bluegill feeds off the surface of the water the midwaters and the bottom, where it can be a serious competitor with other bottom feeding fish.
The sunfish family generally prefer warm water, and are nesting fishes. That is, the males scoop out a depression where one or more females deposit eggs. The males then fertilize and guard the eggs and the newly hatched young. The bluegill spawns in the shallows in the late spring or early summer when the water temperature reaches 65 degrees F. Males build nesting colonies in gravel, sand or mud and will guard the eggs and newly hatched fry until they reach the swimming stage. The average adult bluegill is 6 to 8 inches long, although some reach 10 inches. Sexual maturity occurs at 2 to 3 years for males and 3 to 4 years for females. Average life-span of these fish is 5 to 6 years.
Illustration by Joseph R. Tomelleri ©
Lepomis gibbosus - scientific name
Dark, rigid gill flaps similar to bluegills. Has a red spot on tip of the gill flap. Pumpkinseeds can be distinguished from bluegills by the aqua-blue lines that radiate from the mouth and nose. Typically spot a bright orange belly. Pumpkinseeds are typically “taller” from belly to dorsal fin than bluegills.
Prefer weed patches, sunken logs or docks for cover. They are easily caught on a variety of baits, lures or flies and are more willing to take small fish or minnows than bluegills. As a result, pumpkinseeds populations are less likely to be stunted; as they tend to thin their own number.
Review Fishing Guide for current rules and regulations »
The young fry eat zooplankton and algae. As they grow larger, add small fish, aquatic insects and some plant matter to their diet.
Sunfish spawn in the spring and it is during the bedding season that they easily taken. Like bluegills, pumpkinseeds are community nesters, with spawning beginning in late May. They are often taken from the same areas as bluegills when bedding and in lakes with populations of both sunfish, a typical catch would include members of both species.Fly fishermen using popping bugs, rubber spiders or nymphs can be rewarded with fine sport. Anglers will sometimes catch a variety of species from the same spawning beds and the fish will sometime hybridize. The average adult bluegill is 6 to 8 inches long, although some reach 10 inches. Sexual maturity occurs at 2 to 3 years for males and 3 to 4 years for females. Average life-span of these fish is 5 to 6 years.
Illustration by Joseph R. Tomelleri ©
Lepomis microlophus - scientific name
Somewhat larger than the bluegill, faint vertical bars traveling downwards from its back, dark colored back and a yellow-green belly. The male has a cherry-red edge on its operculum (gill covering); females have orange coloration in this area. Adult fish range between 8-10in.
They are often the first fish an angler catches in his career and some fishermen continue to target them throughout life. They offer year-round angling opportunities with liberal daily limits (25 in combination). They readily take all manner of live bait; although they have small mouths so smaller offerings - leaf worms, red worms, wax worms or crickets - are preferred. The most traditional way to fish for them is with live bait under a bobber, though they will take small artificial lures (spinners, jigs and spinner-jig combinations) and can be taken on both surface and subsurface flies.
Review Fishing Guide for current rules and regulations »
The favorite food of this species is snails. These fish meander along lakebeds, seeking and cracking open snails and other shelled creatures. Redears have thick pharyngeal teeth (hard, movable plates in its throat) which allow it to crunch exoskeletons and even small clams. In recent years, the stocking of redear has found new allies due to the fish's ability to eat quagga mussels, a prominent invasive species in many freshwater drainages.
Sunfish spawn in the spring and it is during the bedding season that they easily taken. Community nesters, most sunfish make their beds in the shallows and anglers offering any manner of bait in and around the beds are usually rewarded. Fly fishermen using popping bugs, rubber spiders or nymphs can be rewarded with fine sport. Anglers will sometimes catch a variety of species from the same spawning beds and the fish will sometime hybridize.
Illustration by Joseph R. Tomelleri ©
Ambloplites rupestris - scientific name
Elongated in shape, large mouth, six spines on anal fin as opposed other sunfish which only have three, red eyes. The body coloring of rock bass ranges from golden brown to olive with a white to silver colored belly. Rock bass also have an uncanny ability to rapidly change their color to match their surroundings.
Rock bass are equal opportunity feeders, and naturally consume a variety of baitfish, aquatic insects, and crayfish. Try a small crawfish imitator. One of the best ways to catch them is with a small, finesse tube with a lightweight internal jighead. Rock bass also respond well to live bait presentations, with nightcrawlers, wax worms (bee moths), or even small minnows.
Review Fishing Guide for current rules and regulations »
It is carnivorous, and its diet consists of smaller fish, including their own young at times, yellow perch, and minnows, as well as insects, and crustaceans. Rock bass are occasionally known to take food from the surface. Adult Rock bass may eat heavily, particularly in the evening and early in the morning.
Rock bass are sexually mature at about 2 to 3 years of age. Rock bass are polygynandrous in which both females and males have multiple mates during the breeding season. Spawning occurs from April to early June in warm waters ranging from 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, with females producing 2,000 to 11,000 eggs. The male will dig a nest near the lake shallows, and will aggressively guard it. A spawning area may be heavily used, with several other Rock bass nests very close together. As a result, males can become quite aggressive as they attempt to defend territory and attract and hold females. Rock bass lack courtship displays, so the female enters the nest and joins the male in his circular behavior. Both the female and male simultaneously release their sperm and eggs into the nest. The male guards and fans the eggs, and later raises the young for a short time. Rock bass are known to grow quickly.
