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Fish: Redear Sunfish

Ice fishing for red ear sunfish!

Post By: Troutbisquits      Posted: 1/25/2023 4:09:18 PM     Points: 2142    
New species for me! Red ear sunfish. Very cool fish I can't wait to catch more. I made a video if anyone wants to check it out! Not going to lie it's somewhat rough footage. But heck I'm just a goofy dad who loves to fish... Not trying to get famous or rich here... anyways here be the vid if you want to watch it. For those FXR Plus subscribers, you can figure out where this was from a recent conditions report I made [log in for link]

P.S. have any of you noticed that these fish are extremely light biters? I don't know if it was just this time out or if that's how they always are but the bite was extremely light and hard to detect. Oftentimes I would notice slack in my line as a signal for a bite instead of a tug!
 Reply by: Hawaiian Punch      Posted: Jan. 25, 7:00:45 PM     Points: 10957
I watch my flasher till a fish shows interest in my bait,then I watch the line where it goes through the tip . . .I watch for the line to go slack . . . .as they pick up and hold the jig and slack line tells me the fish is holding my jig.The lighter the line,the better the read is.
 Reply by: Troutbisquits      Posted: Jan. 26, 7:37:29 AM     Points: 2142
HP that is pretty much exactly what I had to do. Even then they seemed to bite even lighter than other panfish I've caught.
 Reply by: Walleye Guy      Posted: Jan. 26, 8:11:53 AM     Points: 186
Sounds like fun, how many red ears did you get?
 Reply by: fishslap      Posted: Jan. 26, 8:24:30 AM     Points: 19
I’ve had mixed results at that lake with the best action being on bass. Sad they put trout in there within the last year. I couldn’t keep them off last time I was there. I have iced fished for redear at other Colorado locations also and found their behavior was the same as bluegill with the exception of when there were bigger redear mixed with gills. When that was the case, the redear were more aggressive, probably to compete with the numerous gills. Bluegill can be incredibly light biters also.
 Reply by: Barnacles      Posted: Jan. 26, 8:36:31 AM     Points: 3274
Very cool mixed bag. I covet the sunfish. Haven't caught one in Colorado since the 90's.
 Reply by: Barnacles      Posted: Jan. 26, 8:37:20 AM     Points: 3274
Meant to say red ear
 Reply by: Troutbisquits      Posted: Jan. 26, 5:05:50 PM     Points: 2142
Walleye guy, I was only there from 6 to 830 but I think I caught 5 or 6 Red ears.

Fishslap. Yeah I bet that lake is good for bass, I was definitely surprised about the trout in there. The only other place I have caught a Redear does not allow ice fishing.

Barnacles thanks! I definitely want to make a trip to Havasu for the giant 4lb redears.
 Reply by: ForestGnome      Posted: Jan. 27, 8:40:08 AM     Points: 291
Those guys are really light bighters unless they are at the top of the chain in the area.

The moment large pike show up they and blue gill move low and slow.


It must be a midwest thing where panfish are more common but everyone and their mother used to use these little wire rod tips we called spring bobbers that would bounce like the dickens on those super light panfish bites. They are especially good for sunfish/pumpkinseed, as well as pesky perch.


 Reply by: not too old to fish      Posted: Jan. 27, 9:35:07 AM     Points: 8374
IMO the flat ones work better and don't vibrate as much as the wires. I believe the flat ones are more sensitive to light bites.
 Reply by: Wreckstar      Posted: Jan. 27, 1:49:27 PM     Points: 3399
I think targeting a specific fish and catching that fish is super rewarding and fun. Good job and good to see you enjoy those moments as much as I do!
 Reply by: Troutbisquits      Posted: Jan. 28, 12:12:02 PM     Points: 2142
Thanks Wreckstar! I love the specific species/method hunt! I'm starting to run out of new species to catch in Colorado though. Whitefish, Golden Trout, Spotted Bass, and Flathead Catfish are what's left on my list.

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