Sunfish Fishing in Illinois for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Perch and Other IL Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Illinois and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Illinois

While you can find panfish in virtually all fishing waters in the state, the most consistent stringers tend to come from larger lakes including Carlyle Lake, Cedar Lake, Crab Orchard Lake, Fox Lake, Heidecke Lake, Kinkaid Lake, Lake Clinton, Lake Lou Yeager, Lake Of Egypt, Lake Michigan, Lake Shelbyville, Lake Springfield, Lake Taylorville, Newton Lake, Rend Lake and Sangchris Lake. Smaller waters, and especially private ponds, may serve up an occasional monster on occasion.

The Illinois state record bluegill, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish and warmouth all came from private pond. The state record redear sunfish was caught at Marion CC Lake and the state record yellow perch came from Arrowhead Club Lake.

Panfish are prolific spawners and repopulate the waters as fast as they are harvested. A common problem with panfish fishing is that the waters are under-fished causing panfish to overpopulate. As a result they tend to stay small in size due to lack of food source.

The list of panfish is comprised of many fishes each called by a variety of names. The bluegill tops the list and is the most common.

Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus

Other local jargon names for the bluegill include common yellow perch, sunfish, red-breasted bream, red-spotted sunfish, long-eared sunfish, white bass as well as a host of variations and cross breeds. These fish tend to run in schools and congregate near their food supply. Panfish can be found in depths of 35 feet or more but are more commonly found in one to ten feet depths depending on time of day and weather conditions.

Check for Illinois bluegill fishing articles in the articles section.

Crappie are also considered panfish. For details on crappie visit our crappie fishing section.

Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
World Record: 2.1 lbs.
A favorite for private and farm ponds, the green sunfish is native to lakes and ponds and prefers heavily vegitated areas. Their diet consists of small invertebrates, insects and larve. Use light line, size 12 hooks and worms, crickets or cut bait. They tend to run in schools so competition for food can make them easy prey for anglers. Prefers water temperatures from 70 to 80 degrees. Also known as a rock bass or goggle-eye.

Hybrid Sunfish
These hybrids are a cross between bluegills and other sunfish including green sunfish, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish and others. A high percentage of the hybrids are male which limits the reproductive process. They prefer warm water 70 to 78 degrees and do quite well in private ponds and small lakes. They prefer areas with heavy vegitation and cover. Fish for them on light tackle with small hooks using worms, insects, prepared bait and cut bait.

Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
World Record: 5.4 lbs.
The redear sunfish can be found throughout the warmer states and grows larger than most sunfish. It is typically yellowish on the sides, white on the belly and dark green or brown on the top side. The red stripe alomg the edge of the ear (opercle) is the distinguishing mark for males, and it is orange on females.
Prefers water temperatures from 70 to 80 degrees. Also known as stumpknocker and shellcracker. The usual sunfish baits like worms and grubs work well on light line with small hooks. Rarely doe the redear sunfish rise to take flies and baits off the surface.

Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
World Record: 3.0 lbs.
Native to the eastern half of the USA, the rock bass is good eating and fun to catch on light tackle or a fly rod. You can find rock bass in streams and rivers where they prefer clear water eith rocky bottom and vegetation. They feed primarily on smaller fish, insects, and crustaceans. Worms, grubs and cut bait work well. The rock bass, aka goggle-eye, green sunfish and sometimes branch perch, prefers water temperatures from 64 to 72 degrees.

Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus
World Record: 2.4 lbs
The warmouth sunfish has a larger mouth than most sunfish and can eat larger prey. It is rather golden in color overall, darker greenish on the top side and kighter on the underside, with mottled spotting similar to a crappie. Adult warmouths feed on insects, mollusks, minnows and small fish. They prefer snady bottoms of quiet areas in creeks, streams and rivers and look for heavy vegitation for cover. The warmouth prefers water temperatures from 78 to 86 degrees. It is also known as goggle-eye, stumpknocker, mudgapper and warmouth bass. Fin to catch on ultralight tackle and quite a fight when you hook a fat little two-pounder.

White Bass
Morone chrysops
World Record: 6.8 lbs.
The white bass has silver sides with horizontal dark stripes and is often called sand bass, stripes, barfish and silver bass. They are a good fighter, fun to catch and they tend to run in schools. Often big schools of several hundred or more. Their primary diet is bait fish and other smaller fish but they also eat worms and insects. Fish for the white bass on light tackle with jigs, spoons, minnow-imitation lures and live bait including worms and minnows. White bass often school deep, particularly in summer and winter - moving shallower in spring and fall. Their prefered water temperature range is from 63 to 76 degrees.

Yellow Bass
Morone mississippiensis
World Record: 4.2 lbs
Often referred to as stripers or stripies, the yellow bass is generally silver or golden on the sides with yellow bellies and dark horizontal stripes. They are found in most states from the Mississippi River east and a few western states. The yellow bass prefer water temperatures ranging from 55 to 67 degrees and remain active in warmer, and sometimes colder water.They average about half a pound and tend to run in schools. Use spoons, spinners, or live minnows and experiment with depth until you find their comfort zone for the day. Light tackle is ideal.

Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
USA Record: 3.75 lbs
Possibly the best tasting of all the panfish, yellow perch are a favorite for fish frys. They are generally yellow, to gold, to brown in color and most often lighter shades of these colors. Dark vertical bands decorate their sides. They average about a third of a pound and 6 inches long, many larger ones are often caught as well. They are often mis-named as perch, rock perch and many others. Their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, onsects and worms. Yellow perch prefer water temperatures from 66 to 70 degrees but remain active in temperatures outside this range. They are fun to catch on ultralight tackle and can be caught year round. They are a favorite of many ice fishing enthusiasts. Use worms, minnows, small jigs. spinners or cut bait.

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IL Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill & Other Panfish in Illinois.

4 lbs - 12 oz

3 lbs - 8 oz

60 - 85 Degrees

Prefers slightly stained to murky water with little or no current. Survives in most warm bodies of water.