12/6/2015......Another Amazing Morning With The Fliers......

Comment

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on December 6, 2015 at 5:28pm

Thanks Slip.......they fight pretty good for their size but not as strong as a bluegill or a crappie........I often target them with telescopic gear which makes every species a little more challenging if you will.........they are cold water tolerant which gives us some extra sunfish activity here on the Albemarle...........one thing about Fliers they are always in schools..........you often catch numbers when you find them.........they do frustrate some anglers because they will attack larger baits and steal minnows without being caught with their smaller mouths........but I've had them take whole blood worms before when I was going after big redears...........

Comment by Slip Sinker on December 6, 2015 at 5:18pm

cool looking fishes... are they good fighting? how do they compare to the crappie or the bluegill?

Comment by dick tabbert on December 6, 2015 at 3:20pm

Tony I didn't think fliers they were this far north.

Comment by Tony Livingston on December 6, 2015 at 3:14pm

Here in Indiana, fliers are only found in a few southern swamps and rivers.  The current state record is a whopping 3.5 ozs.

Comment by dick tabbert on December 6, 2015 at 3:09pm

Awesome flier Jeff still on the top of my bucket list. FLAWLESS

Comment by Snakebite on December 6, 2015 at 3:04pm

Thanks for the great info Jeffrey, I just know I've not spoken to anyone that fishes the Mississippi River basins that has caught one. Looks like they have a smaller mouth than a comparable sized BG.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on December 6, 2015 at 2:51pm

Hey Snakebite thanks.......probably 95% of the nation's Fliers can be found in Georgia, The Carolinas, Florida and extreme southeastern Virginia........one of the smallest natural ranges of a North American Sunfish........Traditionally much smaller than bluegill on average.......we are extremely fortunate in my region to have quality and numbers........not for everyone but a lot of fun with the right gear........notice in some of the pictures today I was using 1/32 ounce ball jigs with either a minnow or a pinched crawler piece.......both were successful on todays bite.......

Comment by Snakebite on December 6, 2015 at 2:42pm

Flier right? Nice fish. Are these just a Deep South fish?