Skip to main content

Longear Sunfish

Longear Sunfish

Longear Sunfish are native Arkansas freshwater fish characterized by their elongated opercular flaps that give the appearance of 'long ears' and distinctive bright coloration.

Scientific Name: Lepomis megalotis

Physical Characteristics:
  • Males during breeding season display iridescent green above, bright orange below, with blue-black pelvic fins and deep rusty orange vertical fins.
  • These small sunfish rarely exceed 12 cm in length, though specimens up to 24 cm have been recorded.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Primarily found in the Ozark-Ouachita highlands.
  • Generally absent from turbid lowland portions of rivers flowing onto the Gulf Coastal Plain due to their intolerance of siltation.
  • Better adapted to moving waters than still waters compared to other sunfish, making them more abundant in streams than lakes.

Key Locations

  • Clear rocky streams and creeks in the Arkansas River system, Kings River, Mulberry River, White River tributaries, and highland reservoirs like Beaver Lake and Greers Ferry Lake.

Specific Spots

  • Target shallow areas with gravel or clay bottoms near aquatic vegetation, brush, rocks, and logs.
  • Focus on structure like fallen timber, rock piles, and vegetation edges in 3-8 feet of water.
  • Prefer clear, shallow headwaters of streams with permanent flow, hard bottoms of clay or gravel, and areas with aquatic vegetation.

Longear Sunfish FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Longear Sunfish in Arkansas?

Small lures like 1/32-1/16oz jigs with tubes or grubs in natural colors (green, brown, white), small inline spinners (1/24-1/8oz) in chartreuse or pink, tiny crankbaits, live bait including crickets, grasshoppers, redworms, and small pieces of nightcrawler.

What flies work for Longear Sunfish in Arkansas?

Hook sizes #8-#12, with #10-#12 being optimal. Small foam topwater bugs, Micro Chubby Chernobyl with rubber legs, Foam Ants, microjigs from 1/100oz to 1/64oz on #10 hooks, Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Adams in sizes 12-18, beadhead Woolly Buggers in black or olive, and small damselfly patterns.

When is the best time to fish for Longear Sunfish in Arkansas?

Mid-spring through mid-fall when they're active in warmer months. Move to deeper waters in winter.

How do you catch Longear Sunfish in Arkansas?

For fly fishing, present flies with minimal movement - let topwater patterns sit motionless initially, then give subtle twitches to make rubber legs wiggle. Use live bait under bobbers for conventional methods.

What do Longear Sunfish eat?

Carnivorous, feeding primarily on aquatic insects (especially midgeflies), microcrustaceans, terrestrial insects, fish e.g.gs, young bass, detritus, gnat larvae, mayflies, snails, and leeches. Adults feed more extensively near the surface than other sunfish species.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Longear Sunfish.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Longear Sunfish water

    Pick Longear Sunfish and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Longear Sunfish

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Longear Sunfish are.

Open the map, filter by Longear Sunfish, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Arkansas licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Explore Arkansas waters

Top fishing waters

Popular Cities

Loading popular cities...

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.