Sunfish Fishing in South Dakota for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Hybrid Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Spotted Sunfish, White Bass, Yellow Perch and Other SD Panfish.

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

Try to find fishing waters in SD without one or more species of panfish. It's not easy. Sunfish are found in ponds, creeks, rivers and lakes of all sizes including major lakes like Angostura Reservoir, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Big Stone Lake, Bitter Lake, Lake Albert, Lake Francis Case, Lake Kampeska, Lake Madison, Lake Oahe, Lake Pelican, Lake Poinsett, Lake Preston, Lake Sharpe, Lake Thompson, Lake Traverse, Lake Whitewood, Lewis And Clark Lake, Shadehill Reservoir and Waubay Lake.

The South Dakota state record bluegill was taken out of Stock Dam and the SD state record green sunfish was caught in Minnehaha Co. Stock Pond. Lake Carthage was home to the state record pumpkinseed sunfish and Bitter Lake produced 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

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 South Dakota 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.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus
World Record: 1.4 lbs
Shaped like a pumpkin seed and often has body coloring similar to a pumpkin color, their favorite habitat is weed-covered lake bottoms in clear water. They prefer water temperatures from 75 to 82 degrees. Also known as punky or common sunfish. Fish for them on light tackle with small hooks using worms, insects, prepared bait and cut bait.

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.

Spotted Sunfish
Lepomis punctatus
Green on the top and often reddish to brown on the lower sides, they have a dark or black ear covering which looks like a black spot. The spotted sunfish naturally inhabits streams, creeks and rivers. They prefer areas with gravel or sand and plenty of vegetation. Their favorite foods include invertebrates, insects and small fishes but will feed on virtually anything edible including plants. They will also rise to feed on the sirface. The spotted sunfish prefers water temperatures from 70 to 89 degrees. They are small but quite good eating. Fish for them with ultra-light tackle using virtually anything edible as bait on very small hooks.

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 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.

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

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SD Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill & Other Panfish in South Dakota.

4 lbs - 12 oz

3 lbs - 4 oz

60 - 85 Degrees

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