Sunfish are usually in shallow water around some kind of cover, especailly back in coves, and they are easy to catch, so they are great fish for kids. Take a bucket of crickets, grubs or worms and you can catch a lot of fish on everything from a cane pole to rod and reel.
Where To Find Sunfish in Lakes
Sunfish like brush, weeds and rock cover in shallow water, but will hold deep, especially in the winter. Hot summertime shallow water seems to attract them. They bed in late spring, and some, like bluegill, will bed several times, usually on the full moon, during warm weather. You can find them very shallow when bedding. Look for beds in the backs of protected pockets with hard bottoms like sand or gravel.
Baits To Use Fishing For Sunfish In Lakes
Sunfish will hit just about any kind of bait. Earthworms are the traditional bait for sunfish and all species will eat them. But crickets, grubs, catapla worms, and even small balls of bread, will catch them. The bait can be alive or frozen. Artificials that work range from dry flies to small spinners like the Mepps #2. They will hit small jigs, all kinds of small flies and small crankbaits.
Fish live bait either under a cork to keep it out of the cover or on the bottom without a cork on clean bottoms, especially when bed fishing. Cast small flies and other artificials around weedbeds, brush and rock cover. There are usually many sunfish holding under docks in the shade and brush or weeds around them helps.
Tackle To Use Fishing For Sunfish In Lakes
Cane poles, fiberglass poles like the Bream Buster, fly rods and ultralight spinning tackle is the way to go. KISS fishing - keep it simple while trying for sunfish. A simple 12 to 13 foot pole with four pound test line, a split shot and hook and bait is all you need. Add a cork for some situations. Go with fly tackle with rubber crickets or popping bugs for a good fight. Or a ultralight rod and reel with four pound line will also work with cork, sinker and hook, and will throw small jigs and spinners. S
Sunfish in lakes give great fights on light tackle. A half pound bluegill will make your line sing. And they are good to eat!
