Fishing Tips for Green Sunfish

When you think back to the first time you tried fishing, do you remember the first fish you ever caught? It was most likely a sunfish because they are so common in North American waters. Sunfish come in multiple subspecies, and one of them is the green sunfish which typically are blue-green with a pale blue mottling on the sides of its head.

Being one of the smallest species from the sunfish family, the green sunfish seldom grows beyond 6 inches long. Because of their long body, they often make weedy areas their home. They are commonly confused with and associated with smallmouth bass.

Most anglers often disregard them because of their small size and bony structure. However, they are a hit among youngsters and beginner anglers who are only trying to fish for the first time or improving basic fishing skills. Be careful, though, because some schools could get aggressive once they have established dominance in a body of water.

If you are curious about the green sunfish and consider catching them on your next fishing trip, here are some tips:

1. Know Where and When to Catch Them

Green sunfish are not hard to catch, but the difficulty lies in the time it takes to locate schools of them. They are commonly found in ponds, lakes, reservoirs, river backwaters, and other freshwater bodies with lower elevations. Chances of finding them are highly likely in waters with abundant vegetation, particularly weeds where they lay eggs, too.

The best time to catch them is during the late spring because it is their spawning season, and they can be found in shallow waters. This makes it easier to spot and catch them.

2. Select the Proper Fishing Equipment and Tackle

The key to a productive fishing trip is having the proper equipment, which is true for green sunfish. Because of its small size, a light tackle is the best option for these fish. This allows anglers to cast small baits or lures farther, making them more sensitive to light bites. Those with a 5- to 6-foot range work well with sunfish. Spinning rods are also effective.

In addition, use the lightest line you can find and match it with your rod and reel. Be mindful of the direction you are casting it because if any structures are floating around, the line might get caught and break easily. Overall, using a light line reduces the chances of the fish recognizing it during the day, which is when they feed the most.

3. Keep the Hooks Small

Because green sunfish have small mouths, the ideal hooks to use are the small ones. Using larger-sized hooks would make your target fish unable to bite it. Thus, the size must be just right, and it should be able to hold both the bait and the fish securely.

Note that using a small hook applies whether you plan to use live bait or lures. The most effective and highly recommended ones are sizes No. 6 to No. 10. Meanwhile, long-shanked ones are easiest to remove from the fish’s mouth. This also makes unhooking of undersized or extremely young fish easy so they can be set back into the waters. If you are going to use live bait, such as a worm, place them on the hook so that they cover the angle just enough.

4. Make Sure You Are Using the Right Lures or Baits

In general, green sunfish eat anything edible in their perception that floats in front of them. If you have decided to use live baits, the most commonly used ones are worms and nightcrawlers, mainly because they are accessible and readily available. You might consider other effective baits such as crickets, grasshoppers, red wigglers, and mealworms.

On the other hand, if live baits are unavailable, you may use artificial lures. No worries, because they also work well on green sunfish. Some of the best lures to use on them are black jigs, tiny spinners, small flies, and poppers.

5. Employ the Right Technique to Catch Them

Unlike the bigger freshwater fish species, green sunfish rarely put much of a fight, so that most techniques will work. However, because they primarily feed on freshwater vegetation and small insects, fly fishing would be a fun and effective method of catching them. This is especially true during warmer months when a lot of aquatic insects are breeding and hatching.

You can try jig fishing, too. It is a more active technique when it comes to catching green sunfish, which is why many anglers find it a lot more enjoyable. Artificial lures lead to fewer chances of catching small fish so that you can focus on the larger, more grown ones instead.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your fishing gear, start planning that trip to the nearest stream near you, and have a fun time catching these blue-green fish!