Sunfish Fishing in Wisconsin for Bluegills, Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Rock Bass, Warmouth, White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch and Other WI Panfish.

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

You could search for a long while before finding fishing waters in WI absent of one or more species of sunfish. They tend to be everywhere. Fish for them in ponds, rivers, parks, small lakes and major Wisconsin lakes including Beaver Dam Lake, Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, Castle Rock Lake, Fence Lake, Gile Flowage, Green Lake, Grindstone Lake, Holcombe Flowage, Lac Vieux Desert, Lake Butte des Morts, Lake Chippewa, Lake Chetac, Lake du Bay, Lake Geneva, Lake Kegonsa, Lake Koshkonong, Lake Michigan, Lake Monona, Lake Mendota, Lake Pepin, Lake Poygan, Lake Puckaway, Lake Superior, Lake Winnebago, Lake Wisconsin, Lake Wissota, Long Lake, Namekagon Lake, North Twin Lake, Pelican Lake, Petenwell Lake, Rainbow Flowage, Shawano Lake, Shell Lake, Tomahawk Lake, Trout Lake, Turtle Flambeau Flowage and Willow Reservoir.

Lake Michigan was home to the Wisconsin state record bluegill and the WI state record green sunfish came from Wind Lake . Big Round Lake produced the Washington state record pumpkinseed sunfish. Lake Michigan - Sturgeon produced the state record white perch and the WI state record yellow perch was caught from Lake Winnebago.

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 Wisconsin 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

Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
World Record: 3.0 lbs.

Warmouth
Lepomis gulosus
World Record: 2.4 lbs

White Bass
Morone chrysops
World Record: 6.8 lbs.

White Perch
Morone americana
USA Record: 4.6 lbs
The white perch is named for its color which ig generally white or silver with shades of adaptive color from its environment to help it hide from predators. They are a good tasting fish and are even fished commercially. They are quite prolific and can be considered a nuisance in some waters. They prefer water temperatures from 62 to 70 degrees. Also known as perch, silver perch, perch and grey perch. White perch make a great fish fry with nice filets coming from ones approaching a pound. Use light tackle to fish for white perch. For bait, use worms, minnows, jigs, spoons and small lures imitating baitfish.

Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
USA Record: 3.75 lbs

For general information on local fishing visit the Wisconsin 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.

WI Sunfish Fishing - All About Fishing for Bluegill & Other Panfish in Wisconsin.

4 lbs - 12 oz

2 lbs - 10 oz

60 - 85 Degrees

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