Sunfish Fishing in Minnesota for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Bass, Yellow Perch and Other MN Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Minnesota is the land of ten-thousand lakes and you can be sure a high percentage of them have one or species of panfish as residents. State records typically come from small lakes and private ponds that receive little fishing pressure. The larger, more consistent schools of panfish come from some of the major lakes in this state including Big Stone Lake, Cass Lake, Kabetogama Lake, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, Lake Pepin, Lake Traverse, Lake Vermilion, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Minnetonka, Lake Minnewaska, Lake Superior, Lac Qui Parle Lake, Leech Lake, Lower Red Lake, Otter Tail Lake, Rainy Lake, Upper Red Lake and many others.

The Minnesota state record bluegill was caught out of Alice Lake and the state record green sunfish was pulled from North Arbor Lake. The Middle Fork Zumbro River gave up the state record hybrid sunfish while the state record pumpkinseed sunfish was caught from Leech Lake. The state record yellow perch was caught from Lake Plantaganette.

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 Minnesota 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 vegetated areas. Their diet consists of small invertebrates, insects and larvae. 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

Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus
World Record: 1.4 lbs

Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
World Record: 3.0 lbs.

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 preferred water temperature range is from 63 to 76 degrees.

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, insects 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 ultra light 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.

For general information on local fishing visit the Minnesota 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. We will gladly give you credit for your contribution.

MN Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill & Other Panfish in Minnesota.

4 lbs - 12 oz

2 lbs - 13 oz

60 - 85 Degrees

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