We fish for bluegill, longears and greens up here in Ohio. All the sunfish seem to have good firm meat.
How we fish for them depends on which lake we're fishing. The deep one with the flooded timber holds fish in that wood at 12-15 feet all year long. We ice fish there, too. in open water, we usually tie up to a tree and slowly feed line out (never losing contact with the line) to the right depth and jig or yo-yo a fly or tiny hook tipped with a waxworm or mealworm. If they're there, you get hit almost immediately. If not, adjust the depth a little up or down. This method really hones your "touch". We also pick them up trolling for something else, usually on a Roostertail. Our best fishing has been just before sunset when they come to the surface to feed on all the rising bugs. Then you just cast and retrieve or use a slip float set about a foot deep.
At the other lake we fish, we usually find them shallower in the weeds, under the overhanging trees, unless the water temp has really gotten hot. With them, we tie on a fly tipped with a waxie , set a bobber at about a foot and plunk it in or near the weeds. If you have a good muddy flat to fish, you can cast and retrieve a micro craw or frog or any other tiny jig over the flats can come up with fish.
Pick up the new issue of In-Fisherman. It has a couple of good articles on winter fishing for panfish. They recommend using a whole redworm in the winter instead of a piece like you might use in warmer weather. Good luck - Roberta