Redbreast Sunfish
Redbreast Sunfish in West Virginia are olive-green with reddish-orange bellies and distinctive brown vertical bars on their sides.
They have small mouths like bluegills but are distinguished by short rounded pectoral fins and long dark blue-black ear flaps extending onto the gill cover.
- Redbreast Sunfish in West Virginia are olive-green with reddish-orange bellies and distinctive brown vertical bars on their sides.
- They have small mouths like bluegills but are distinguished by short rounded pectoral fins and long dark blue-black ear flaps extending onto the gill cover.
Fishing in West Virginia
Gauley River
New River
Kanawha River
Elk River
Cranberry River
Little Kanawha River
Greenbrier River
Tygart Valley River
West Fork River
Sutton Lake
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- They prefer stream environments over lakes, inhabiting rocky pools, vegetated margins, areas with submerged structure like fallen trees and stumps, and overhanging banks.
- Unlike most sunfish, redbreast can tolerate faster-flowing waters and are commonly found in moderate-size streams (4-40m average width) with low gradients.
Key Locations
- Native only to the Potomac River drainage in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, they've been successfully introduced to other major watersheds including the Greenbrier and New Rivers.
- In West Virginia waters, they're found in creeks like Bloomery Run, North Fork, Beaver Creek, and various tributaries throughout the introduced range.
Specific Spots
- Focus on pools, backwaters, and areas with current breaks.
- In streams, target deeper pools and areas downstream of obstructions.
- Fish structure areas including fallen trees, stumps, root masses, rocky areas, and protected margins near cover.
Redbreast Sunfish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Redbreast Sunfish in West Virginia?
For live bait, earthworms and crickets are most effective - try smaller redworms over nightcrawlers as redbreasts can be selective. Small leeches under an inch work well for targeting larger fish while discouraging smaller bites.
What flies work for Redbreast Sunfish in West Virginia?
Redbreast sunfish respond well to fly fishing with small nymph patterns and spider mimics.
When is the best time to fish for Redbreast Sunfish in West Virginia?
Summer fishing can be productive when they move to deeper water during high surface temperatures, and they aggregate in low-velocity pools during winter.
How do you catch Redbreast Sunfish in West Virginia?
Use subtle presentations with thin bobbers like sponge, spring, or slip bobbers. Fish structure areas including fallen trees, stumps, root masses, rocky areas, and protected margins near cover.
What do Redbreast Sunfish eat?
These fish are generalist invertivores feeding on aquatic insects (particularly dipterans, ephemeropterans, and trichopterans), terrestrial insects, small crustaceans, decapod crustaceans, small fish, and gastropods.
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