Thread: Targeting Green Sunfish

They are some scrappy fighters. In the case of that little one they are very tenacious

Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

They are some scrappy fighters. In the case of that little one they are very tenacious

Yes they are .
They’re like the chihuahuas of panfish.
I can’t get over how quickly they can dart out from under a rock and be back under the rock before I can set the hook .
They are very quick and think they are ten times their size .

That is a good comparison. They are a worthy opponent

Gillchaser,
I am in the "I like them camp" when it comes to green sunfish. One lake back in the woods that I fish has some of the gill/green sunfish hybrids. I agree that the pic of the one you caught is a hybrid and your friends is a true green sunfish and a very nice one. They are lookers and it has to be a blast on ultralite fly gear. The hybrids can get to a very nice size, here's one from last year.

Great looking fish, moon. Yes, on a 3 wgt would make a terrific fight!
Bob

Made a short trip to lake McIntosh this morning.
Late start , yesterday’s trip , four hours of fishing with three hours of driving wore this old man out .
But today’s forecast was for clouds this morning with a chance of rain the rest of the week .
I expect to squeeze in some short trips in between the showers this week , but you never know.
Anyways, I took my Buttersticks and the plan was to target the green sunfish that live among the eighty yards of riprap to one side of the boat dock and ramp area .
Slightly over an hour’s fishing and I caught eight greenies , three small gills and a small redbreast.
All of the fish were small and I was wondering if that’s all that lives among these rocks , until today .
As I watched my spider as I swam it just barely over the rocks , wearing polarized glasses , I saw the mouth open on a nice one . It blended in perfectly with the bottom and all I could see was the mouth open and gills flaring .
I think it was directing that gill flare at the smaller fish that had followed my fly into its area .
I know where he lives now , I’ve just got to figure out which fly will entice him to eat .
I think the one of the attractions to catching these little fish is it’s like sight fishing . Although I’m targeting certain rocks , watch for that dark spot to dart out and grab my fly .
Two of the more colorful ones today .

Those two do have nice coloration. I know I am guilty of thinking there is probably nothing bigger than what I have already caught in smaller lakes, ponds and pools, and then you get the big surprise. Good luck with the one you saw today.