Fishing Techniques for Catching the Redear Sunfish

Redear sunfish are in the family of freshwater pan fish that includes Crappie, Bream and Bluegill. Their bodies are circular, thin and about as tall as they are long. Redear derive their name from distinctive reddish patches behind each gill. The sunfish provide a scrappy fight and a tasty meal. Knowing where to find them, the type of tackle to use and how to present a bait are key to a nice catch.

  1. Habitat

    • Redear sunfish inhabit lakes, ponds, streams and rivers in the Eastern United States. They prefer still water with little or no current, such as a side water eddy in flowing waters, and troughs in lakes and ponds. They move into the shallows to spawn when the waters begin to warm in the spring, and retreat to deeper waters in the summer months.

    Tackle

    • A light casting or spinning rod with a flexible tip provides the sensitivity needed to feel Redear nibble. When they strike, the flexible tip ensures the hook does not pull from the fish’s mouth.

      A casting or spinning reel with eight-pound test monofilament line and a number 10 hook allows bait to sink to the bottom, where the fish feed, without the need for a sinker.

    Bait and Presentation

    • Redear sunfish feed on aquatic snails, insect larvae, crayfish and fish eggs. Because they hunt meals in the silt and muddy bottom, a baited hook should be allowed to reach bottom and remain still for several minutes.

      Retrieving the bait slowly increases the chance of a rising Redear spotting it. If the fish are biting on the rise, affix a floating bobber to the line and allow the bait to hang suspended above the bottom.

    Casting

    • During the spawning season when the fish are in shallow water, fishermen cast from the shore or from boats. In unobstructed areas along a bank, avoid walking to the water’s edge to cast, which might spook the school, sending the fish to deeper water for protection. When fishing from a boat, approach a spot slowly and with the motor off.