Redear Sunfish fishing
Lepomis microlophus. A bright red or orange mark on the back edge of the gill cover, the trait that gives the species its name.
Redear Sunfish fishing uses a popeye feather jig or an earthworm on 4 to 6 lb line and an ultralight spinning rod under 6 ft for most water, during the day. Redear sunfish typically reproduce naturally once established, so agencies mainly stock fingerlings to start a new fishery rather than replenish an existing one.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Day
- Line
- 4–6 lb
- Hook sizes
- Size 6 or 8 Aberdeen-style hooks for worms and crickets
- Stocked in
- 4 states
Identification
- A bright red or orange mark on the back edge of the gill cover, the trait that gives the species its name.
- Deep-bodied like bluegill but grows larger, with fish over a pound routine and a state record near 4.86 pounds.
- Nicknamed 'shellcracker' for its strong preference for snails and clams over the insects other sunfish favor.
- Prefers hard-bottom areas and tends to hold in deeper water than bluegill in the same lake.
Sources: fws.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , myfwc.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Tipped with a piece of nightcrawler or a wax worm and suspended under a bobber just above bottom.
Sources: fw.ky.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
Line & tackle
- Line
- 4–6 lb
- Rod power
- Ultralight spinning rod under 6 ft for most water; step up to a 6 ft light-power rod in weedy lakes
- Hook sizes
- Size 6 or 8 Aberdeen-style hooks for worms and crickets
Depth by season
Spring
Fish move onto hard-bottom spawning beds, with the best fishing concentrated around the March-April full moons.
Summer
Fish hold over hard bottom in deeper water than bluegill in the same lake.
Fall
–
Sources: myfwc.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
Redear sunfish typically reproduce naturally once established, so agencies mainly stock fingerlings to start a new fishery rather than replenish an existing one. They favor hard-bottom areas over the vegetation bluegill prefer, and their diet leans heavily on snails and clams.
Common mistakes
- Fishing soft, vegetated bottom; redear prefer hard bottoms, congregating in deeper water than bluegill.
- Assuming one spawn date; redear sunfish are caught most often on earthworms around the full moons of March and April, when their spawning activity peaks.
- Hunting redear beds blind; the location of nesting bluegill indicates where to search for redear sunfish.
Where it's stocked
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Florida
Michigan
Ohio
Texas
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1.44 lbs | Parker Erker | Stalker Lake (Yuma County) | 2022 |
| Kentucky | 3.06 lbs | Betty Truax Finchville, KY | Farm Pond Shelby County | 1982 |
| Michigan | 2.36 lbs | – | Lyon Lake, Calhoun County | 2010 |
| Virginia | 4 lbs. 12 oz. | Michael Mills | Private Pond | 1986 |
Common questions
What lures work for Redear Sunfish?
Popeye feather jig (1/32 oz), a jig in yellow and black: Tipped with a piece of nightcrawler or a wax worm and suspended under a bobber just above bottom. Small inline spinner, a spinner in silver and black. Small soft-plastic grub on a jighead, a jig in chartreuse and white.
What bait works for Redear Sunfish?
Earthworm.
Where do Redear Sunfish hold?
Spring: Fish move onto hard-bottom spawning beds, with the best fishing concentrated around the March-April full moons. Summer: Fish hold over hard bottom in deeper water than bluegill in the same lake.
How big do Redear Sunfish get?
The Colorado record is 1.44 lbs from Stalker Lake (Yuma County) in 2022. The Kentucky record is 3.06 lbs from Farm Pond Shelby County in 1982. The Michigan record is 2.36 lbs from Lyon Lake, Calhoun County in 2010. 1 more state records are on this page.