Guide To Popular Panfish Fishing Options In Rhode Island

All about fishing for perch and sunfish in RI lakes and ponds.

Throughout the state of Rhode Island you can find waters with populations of sunfish, including bluegill, white bass and yellow perch. Ice fishing for perch and sunfish is a great way for the family to enjoy a day outdoors in winter.

Panfish & Perch Lakes

Panfish can be found in many waters across RI. Many ponds, rivers and lakes including Beach Pond, Indian Lake, Johnson Pond (Flat River Reservoir), Pascoag Reservoir (Echo Lake), Stafford Pond, Tiogue Lake, Watchaug Pond and Woonasquatucket Reservoir have one or more types of sunfish.

Top Producing Panfish Lures & Bait

Check out the top producing lures and bait for bluegill, redear sunfish, rock bass and warmouth, as well as other smaller sunfish. Click here for the best lures for white bass, yellow bass, white perch and yellow perch.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Rhode Island State Record Sunfish

The state record bluegill was caught from (Unknown).

The state record white perch was caught out of Tucker's Pond.

The state record yellow perch was caught from Pascoag Reservoir.

The state record common sunfish was caught from Indian Lake.

The term "panfish" comprises many species, each called by a variety of names. The bluegill tops the list and is the most common.

Bluegill Fishing Basics Video

The core principles shown in this video will work for most sunfish, perch and other panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Rhode Island, and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, insects, crustaceans and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves, for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

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.

Sunfish information in other states.