Sunfish Fishing
in Tennessee for Bluegills, Flier Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Longear
Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish,
Rock Bass, Spotted Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Bass,
Yellow Perch and Other TN Panfish.
One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water
streams, ponds and lakes throughout Tennessee 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 Tennessee
They are everywhere. Choose Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cherokee
Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Hull Lake,
J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake,
Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake,
Tellico Lake, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake and Watts Bar Lake and
you'll find healthy panfish. Ponds, rivers and smaller lakes also
have panfish.
Fall Creek and a private pond each turned out the tieing Tennessee
state record bluegill and the TN state record flier sunfish was
pulled out of Blair Lake. North Cross Creek was home to the TN
state record green sunfish and Dogwood lake served up the Tennessee
state record pumpkinseed sunfish. The state record redbreast sunfish
came out of the Holston River and the state record for redear sunfish
came from a pond. Melton Hill Reservoir and the Hiwassee River
produced a tie for 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 Tennessee bluegill fishing
articles in the articles section.
Crappie are also considered panfish. For details on crappie visit
our crappie
fishing section.
Flier Sunfish
Centrarchus macropterus
World Record: 1.25 lbs

Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
World Record: 2.1 lbs.

Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis
World Record: 1.75 lbs.
Anglers love the longear sunfish for several reasons. They feed
on the surface making them vulnerable to fly fishermen, they are
easy for kids to catch on worms or cut baits and they make great
bait for larger predator fish. The longear sunfis prefers water
temperatures from 75 to 80 degreesand is sometimes called red-belly
bream, red perch, blackear and red bream. Use ultralight tackle,
they'll eat just about anything edible.
Redbreast Sunfish
Lepomis auritus
World Record: 1.7 lbs.
The males are quite colorful with red, orange or yellow breasts
with dark green upper bodies. Females are colored the same but
in drab shades of the same colors. They prefers water temperatures
ranging from 76 to 84 degrees. Redear sunfish are also commonly
called longear bream, redbreasted bream and yellowbreast bream.
Worms, larve, crickets, insects, cut bait and prepared bait all
work well on small hooks and light line.
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
World Record: 5.4 lbs.

Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
World Record: 3.0 lbs.

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.
Tilapia
Oreochromis aurea
World Record: 4.4 lbs
Most tilapias are omnivorous with a preference for soft aquatic
vegetation. They are typically found in warmer waters in the southern
states, both east and west. Prefers water temperatures from 70
degrees and above, and has difficulty surviving water temperatures
below 50 degrees. Tilapia are of similar size and shape to crappie.
Fish for them like you might for bluegills using worms, crickets
and dough balls on a size 12 hook.
Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus
World Record: 2.4 lbs

White Bass
Morone chrysops
World Record: 6.8 lbs.

Yellow Bass
Morone mississippiensis
World Record: 4.2 lbs

Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
USA Record: 3.75 lbs

For general information on local fishing visit
the Tennessee
Fishing home page.
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TN Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill
& Other Panfish in Tennessee. |