Sunfish Fishing in Idaho for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Warmouth, Yellow Perch and Other ID Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Idaho 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 Fishing Lakes In Idaho

Often, small private ponds yield the biggest panfish. Yet day in and day out the larger impoundments tend to produce the bigger stringers. Try your luck for panfish at
American Falls Reservoir, Anderson Ranch Reservoir, Arrowrock Reservoir, Blackfoot Reservoir, Brownlee Reservoir, C J Strike Reservoir, Cascade Reservoir, Coeur D'Alene Lake, Hayden Lake, Hells Canyon Reservoir, Lake Lowell, Lake Pend Oreille, Lake Walcott, Lucky Peak Reservoir, Magic Reservoir, Mormon Reservoir, Mud Lake, Paddock Valley Reservoir, Priest Lake, Ririe Reservoir, Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir or Spirit Lake.

The Idaho state record bluegill sunfish was caught out of C.J. Strike Reservoir. Hauser Lake produced the Idaho state record green sunfish. Chase Lake was home to the ID state record pumpkinseed sunfish. The state record warmouth came out of the Snake River and Wilson Lake yielded the state record yellow perch.

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

Check for Idaho 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.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus
World Record: 1.4 lbs

Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus
World Record: 2.4 lbs

Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
USA Record: 3.75 lbs

For general information on local fishing visit the Idaho Fishing home page.

If you have information, articles or photos relating to panfish which you would like to see published here, please submit them for consideration.

ID Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill & Other Panfish in Idaho.

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.