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Longear Sunfish

Longear Sunfish

Longear Sunfish are among Indiana's most colorful freshwater species and are native fish that inhabit Indiana's streams, rivers, and lakes throughout the Mississippi and Great Lakes watersheds.

Scientific Name: Lepomis megalotis

Physical Characteristics:
  • Distinguished by their elongated black opercular flap with white border and bright blue spots across the body.
  • They're relatively small sunfish, typically reaching 6-9 inches, though some can grow to 12 inches.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Inhabit Indiana's streams, rivers, and lakes throughout the Mississippi and Great Lakes watersheds.
  • More abundant in streams than lakes.
  • Prefer streams with permanent flow and numerous pools.

Key Locations

  • Various water bodies including streams, rivers, and lakes, with populations distributed throughout the state's freshwater systems.

Specific Spots

  • Target areas around aquatic vegetation, root wads, downed trees, eddies, slow-moving deep pools, bridge pilings, weed-lined shorelines, submerged logs, brush piles, and undercut banks.
  • Focus on stream headwaters, medium to small streams, and areas with gravel or clay bottoms.

Longear Sunfish FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Small worms, crickets, or insect larvae (bee moths, spikes, mousies, wigglers). 1/100th to 1/64th oz microjigs on #10 hooks.

What flies work for Longear Sunfish in Indiana?

Small poppers, ants, gnats, dry flies, small marabou jigs, Pat's rubber legs stonefly patterns, small woolly buggers, pheasant tail nymphs, and midges.

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

Warm summer months (April through September) when they're most active, focusing on mid-spring to mid-fall for peak action.

How do you catch Longear Sunfish in Indiana?

Use slow retrieval or dead drift techniques. Dapping techniques with microjigs are effective. In colder months, fish deeper and slower. They respond well to naturally colored or silver flashy lures in clear water, bright colors in stained water, and dark colors with vibration in muddy conditions.

What do Longear Sunfish eat?

Diet consists primarily of aquatic insects (especially midges), terrestrial insects, small crustaceans, fish e.g.gs, young bass and sunfish, detritus, gnat larvae, mayflies, snails, and leeches - with adult longears consuming 37% terrestrial insects, 31% fish, 21% aquatic insects, and 7% fish e.g.gs.

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