Sunfish ID Thread

[Swattie87]

Got out for a couple hours this morning on a large WW creek in SCPA. Didn’t catch any Bass, but had a good morning on sunnies. Started with a small Bugger, but once I realized it was gonna be a panfish type morning I tied on small foam Hopper-like thing and fished it like a more subtle popper, pounding woody debris along the banks and shade lines.

The first four fish I caught coincidentally were the four common sunfishes found in the Susky watershed. There are other less common ones, and various hybrids, but these are the four main ones you encounter:

In order below:

Bluegill
Redbreast
Green
Pumpkinseed

 

[Swattie87]

Everyone post some of the other species found in other parts of the state. Or any you’re not sure of, and we can debate.

 

[TheBluegillMaster]

99 percent sure this is a red ear. we went on a trip to PA and caught this one, can’t remember where. (We ate it)

 

[dc410]

This should be a fun thread, thanks Swattie. I do think the one in post #3 is a red ear sunnie, but I could be wrong!

 

[wildtrout2]

My first bluegill on a fly, ever.

 

[Fish Sticks]

Looks like blue gill, redbreast, green, pumpkinseed?

 

[jifigz]

Looks like blue gill, redbreast, green, pumpkinseed?

He already told us that in his post..... But yes, that yes accurate.

 

[jifigz]

99 percent sure this is a red ear. we went on a trip to PA and caught this one, can’t remember where. (We ate it)

Yeah, that looks like a shell cracker to me. I wish we had more redear sunnies and central PA.

 

[dc410]

I was carp fishing along the side of a pond this morning and I spotted a decent size carp feeding about 3’ off the bank and facing the bank. I slowly got into position and casted my fly between the fish and the bank but well past it to attempt to drag and drop the fly right in front of the carp. Just as the fly was dropping into the zone in front of the carp this little Green “carpbusting” Sunfish darted out from between two rocks and smashed my size 8 Foxee Redd Minnow. He was certainly pretty but not much of a fight on the 8 weight. 😉

Carp = Game Over!

 

[JerryC]

Picture is a couple of years old. A pumpkinseed from a lake in the Poconos.

 

[Silent Ocelot]

I was carp fishing along the side of a pond this morning and I spotted a decent size carp feeding about 3’ off the bank and facing the bank. I slowly got into position and casted my fly between the fish and the bank but well past it to attempt to drag and drop the fly right in front of the carp. Just as the fly was dropping into the zone in front of the carp this little Green “carpbusting” Sunfish darted out from between two rocks and smashed my size 8 Foxee Redd Minnow. He was certainly pretty but not much of a fight on the 8 weight. 😉

Carp = Game Over!

View attachment 1641231207

I love catching greenies, they're allegedly the most aggressive sunfish, although I personally think that redbreasts fight the best. Sucks that he spooked your carp though, I'll but that was an unexpected encounter. Sometimes that's how it goes...

 

[Hilltop]

 

[Fish Sticks]

Gorgeous Redbreasts!!

 

[Silent Ocelot]

The fish in the middle photo does not look amused.