Caught Something Interesting at Smithville

[APKape]

I've caught this type of fish a couple of times at Smithville. This time I decided to Google it and find out what it is. Looks like a Green Sunfish. Only caught them up the lake above the Old Trimble Lake. They seem to hang out around thick timber or large rocks and boulders. It’s a real pretty fish; iridescent blue on the cheeks and body, bright yellow/orange around the edges of the fins (site said it was spawning male). They are a tick little fish too. Anyway, thought I’d share my interesting catch. I’ve attached a link to a picture.


http://nc.water.usgs.gov/albe/Pics/p...en.sunfish.jpg

[jackb]

Pretty fish; In illinois we use to call them rock bass. You can catch them below the dam at Truman too.

[kc outdoorsman]

makes good flathead bait

[APKape]

Pretty fish; In illinois we use to call them rock bass. You can catch them below the dam at Truman too.

Spunky little fish. When I fish around the mouth of Lynn/Roberts Branch, there is a large drop off with a lot of large rocks. When the water is real clear, I'll pull up to the rocks and dip my jig about 12" down and watch these little buggers fly out from between the rocks. I caught one that was a little larger than my 1.5" jig. Never seen this type of fish before and thought they looked kinda neat.

[MOfishmgr]

They are fairly common and like rocks. KC Outdoorsman is right, they make excellent flathead bait. They are used in hatcheries to cross with bluegill to make hybrid sunfish. They are different than true rock bass that are in ozark streams. They ar epretty aggressive and easy to catch along rip rap.

[keeferfish]

They like rock creek also. Caught a couple Saturday. Fight good, but disappointing becuase I thought I had a good crappie every time I hooked one.

[Bob # 1]

Pretty fish; In illinois we use to call them rock bass. You can catch them below the dam at Truman too.

As jackB said:
Here in Indiana, Mich.
Rock Base

[MellerAM]

makes good flathead bait

The Best Flathead bait

[APKape]

Holy smokes! Looks so!

[Smitty 79]

They work well on blue and channel cat out of the Mississippi river as well.
Last year one of my buddys caught a 12 pound channel and a 28 1/2 pound blue on them!!!
I've caught a channel on bluegills before but always thought blues wouldn't take live bait. Live and learn!!!!!