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Montana Panfish Fishing

Sunfish Fishing in Montana for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Bass, Yellow Perch and Other MT Panfish.

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

Panfish typically prefer water warmer than the typical Montana lakes and rivers, Dispite that you can find one or more species of panfish in many of the major lakes in MT, including Ashley Lake, Bighorn Lake, Canyon Ferry Lake, Clark Canyon Reservoir, Deadmans Basin Reservoir, Flathead Lake, Fort Peck Lake, Fresno Reservoir, Hauser Lake, Holter Lake, Lake Elwell/Tiber Reservoir, Lake Frances, Lake Helena, Lake Koocanusa, Nelson Reservoir, Noxon Reservoir, Placid Lake and Seeley Lake. They are also common in private ponds as they are a major food source for larger predator fish.

The Montana state record bluegill sunfish was caught from Petersons Stock Dam, Castle Rock Lake gave up the state record for green sunfish, Milnor Lake was home to the state record pumpkinseed sunfish and the stste record yellow perch came out of Ashley 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
Bluegill fishing

Check for Montana 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.
Green Sunfish

Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus
World Record: 1.4 lbs
Pumpkinseed sunfish

Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
World Record: 3.0 lbs.
Rock bass

White Bass
Morone chrysops
World Record: 6.8 lbs.
White bass

Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
USA Record: 3.75 lbs
Yellow perch

For general information on local fishing visit the Montana 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. If you have a fishing related business and would like to mention it within the context of the article, we will consider your request.

MT Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill & Other Panfish in Montana.

 
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BLUEGILL

Bluegill Picture
World Record Bluegill

4 lbs - 12 oz

Montana Record Bluegill

2 lbs - 10 oz

Preferred Water Temperature

60 - 85 Degrees

Preferred Habitat

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

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