targeting diferent sunfish species

[federico del toro]

The lake that I fish hold multiple species of sunfish, do you guys use differnet techniques when targeting different species?

I've tried to single out a single species by using different baits,depths and areas (such as rocks and grass) but I always catch a mix, I've also tried fishing higher or lower in the water column, but still always catch a mix of fish

Please feel free to share some ideas

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

The two are not too distant cousins, after all. They share the same waters and orient on the same features. I think its safe to say that most gillers have at least a few bass lures in their bag of tricks.

As for targeting different sunfish species, I'm still tempted to say it is a simple bottom versus column orientation. That said, there are only a few sunfish species that are predominantly bottom feeders. Even they are opportunistic, though, when given the chance. And they usually share habitat except in strictly managed waters, like a fed pond. My unscientific guess is that your odds of catching ONLY one species in open waters is pretty slim.

[Rude Alinska]

Recently we fished a spring fed river which has varying depths and during the day, which was at first bright sunshine until about 2pm fishing was spotty.  We would pick up a shell cracker here and there but I caught a lot of small gills next to the shallow shoreline that had a lot of weed growth. We we started moving about and hunting spots we stayed away from the shallows and started casting our bottom rigs into deeper holes (10-15 ft) away from our boat.  Cloud cover came and so did a stiff breeze. Bam!  We started getting big gills and ended up with 23 nice size fish. It took a while to realize the big fish wanted to eat a big hunk of crawler and we were not pestered with smaller fish.  I defer to all the guys that answered the original question as their answers were full of great suggestions.  Our fishing has been really good this March and into April.  Fish On guys.

[Joe Hinton]

Okay, and the problem is ? You are catching fish right ? So many of us who fish from the bank feel fortunate to catch anything. Fitting fish into a select group should never be a concern for a bluegill fisherman,  catch a fish and enjoy !

[dick tabbert]

That's an interesting subject and one I never thought about cause usually when I'm out fishing I'm after any pan fish. That would be interesting breaking then down to even smaller and specific groups. Really don't even know if it would be feasible it would depend on feeding habits and cover I think there habits would be so closely related don't know if it can be done. Its and interesting subject and I'll have my ear glued to the BBG for any input when the subject comes up. Thanks Federico for an interesting subject at best I think it will get our brain fluids flowing.

[Lee]

 Great subject, I'm a Flyfisherman so my perspective is probably off kilter with most but here goes.

 

 I fish small lakes and rivers throughout Florida. The major panfish availible to me are Bluegill, ShellCracker also known as Red Ear, Warmouth, Specks ( Crappie to northeners ) Spotted Sunfish and Red Bellies. I target the different fish because I know where they most likely are and I use the flys each individual prefers. Different places for different fish!

 Spotted Sunfish and Red Bellies are river bream so I target them in rivers, they'll both take poppers/spiders/small sinking flies and tiny crawfish imitators. Fun fish to catch and very colorful normaly smaller than other bream.

 Bluegills, ShellCrackers, Specks/Crappies and Warmouth are lake fish that like different types of lakes or parts of the lake.

 Bluegill and Shellcrackers both like clearer water lakes and shoreline cover both will take poppers, spiders, sinking flies and small streamers but Shellcrackers prefer bottom flies and get Bigger.

 Specks/Crappies are ( with the exeption of spawning season ) are out in the middle of the lake and like streamers. During spawning season they get up shallow and will hit most anything subsurface.

 Warmouth may be my favorite panfish to flyfish for! Their strong aggresive live in the jungle of swampy areas and Cyprees trees they Attack poppers, streamers and crawfish imitators. There's never a doubt you have a Fish On when they hit BIG FUN on a Flyrod.

 

 I did'nt mention Bass but their darn near everywhere pesky bugger's but Fun!