Recently published fishing articles/columns

At the risk of sounding like I am jumping on the latest eco-fad bandwagon, I am pro-green… sunfish. 

Not that I am anti-bluegill, but the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, is an over-looked, underappreciated sport fish.  Always cooperative, always hungry, this thick sunfish will smash lures bluegill shy away from.  It may not be the largest sunfish, but it does have one of the largest mouths. 

One can even accomplish a version of “bass thumb” from an afternoon of lipping green sunfish with a thumb. Oddly, when I mention that I have a “green thumb” at dinner parties, someone suddenly switches topics and starts questioning me about soil amendments.  

The only finger one might insert in the mouth of an average bluegill is a pinky… and that’s just really weird.  According to my calculations, a bluegill would have to be 3 feet long and weigh around 27 pounds before you could lift one by thumb.    

When hooked, a bluegill uses its dish shape and turns 90 degrees to the line angle. With resistance maximized, it turns in tight, vibrating circles. It’s all he’s got.  The result is some vaudevillian hand trembling finale. 

Green sunfish still won’t make your reel scream, but they are a hoot on a fly rod and you can feel a determined head-shake as they power this way and that.  No need to “match the hatch” like with finicky trout; green sunfish have more of a “match this!” attitude.  There have been numerous occasions when I’ve had to work to find something in the tackle box they would not hit. 

And don’t forget the colors.  That fringe of yellow/orange on the fins contrasting with the dark olive body and the blue striped operculum… almost as exotic as a peacock bass.   I’ve always thought bluegill were misnamed and disappointingly pale in color, except during spawn. 

Another quality of green sunfish that I admire is that they are survivors.  
 

“But that tiny pond on the top of the hill has never been stocked.”  

Uh-huh.  Now, step aside because I’m going to go catch a spunky pint-sized green sunfish. 

During heavy rain events, they power upstream in the tiniest trickle through fields, up hills, eventually landing in some unconquered water hole.  Once there, they are capable of withstanding extreme conditions in turbidity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen to rival even the freakish bullhead.  

You don’t really set out to create green sunfish habitat; it will find you.  As ponds age, they become more and more shallow as erosion carries soil particles downstream.  In its golden years, a small pond may only be able to support green sunfish. Until your bank account can accommodate bulldozer rental, just enjoy this dwindling gem of a fishing hole.  Green sunfish are almost always biting.  And, even if your kids let the bobber run a little too long, there is ample space for hook removal. 

But, you probably will never see a recommended stocking rate for green sunfish.  Largemouth bass are usually the goal in stocking programs and because green sunfish have such large mouths, they compete directly with young bass for prey items.  Bluegills, with their tiny, geez-I-hope-I-can-get-the-hook-out mouths, are limited to smaller prey items and thus are a good compliment to most stocking recipes.  And if you aren’t exactly sure of your sunfish identification skills, be advised that a little green sunfish can go a long ways. Like making a sandwich and thinking you are adding a dollop of mayo when it is actually horseradish. 

Bluegill politely “kiss” insects off the pond surface on warm summer evenings; green sunfish give big uncomfortably sloppy strange Aunt smacks.  The green sunfish is an admirably feisty fish, with the fundamental feature of a mouth large enough to provide a good, slightly thumb-scarring handle. If there were no bass, we’d all be watching “Green Sunfish Masters” on Saturday mornings.  

 

My kids currently are struggling through Shakespeare in school. Otherwise, the title might have been derived from the 1979 song by the Clash. Whatever the heading, “where to start casting” and “how long to remain there,” may be the two most important decisions you make on the water.
 

Fishing conditions are continually changing. Although the differences may seem subtle at the time, they can influence fish location and behavior significantly. The ability to choose correctly can make a huge difference. For example, during a past Bassmaster Classic, one angler remained in an area that was productive in practice but failed to weigh a single bass after two full days of fishing. However, another pro also never left a small area of one creek, but it ended up being a $500,000 winning decision.
 

Ice fishing season is in full swing in my area. One mistake I’ve made in previous years has been not moving enough. I now drill more holes to find that deep channel, vegetation edge, firmer bottom or submerged structure that is holding cooperative fish instead of waiting and expecting sluggish, grumpy cold fish eventually to swim beneath me. With a new hole, one technique to try is to rocket something like a Lindy Darter or Rattl’n Flyer Spoon down to get some attention, slamming it on the bottom to stir up silt for inquisitive species like yellow perch. If that doesn’t work, I’ll follow up with a temptingly baited Lindy Tungsten Ice Worm, barely making it tremble.
 

For water in a more liquid form, professionals attempt to process a multitude of variables and can go hours without a bite in one spot, believing that any minute the fish are going to turn on. They know that seasonally, and even daily, there are places where fish can be arriving, or reloading - such as spawning flats, the mouths of tributaries or rip-rap along dams. Committing to an area, especially in tournament situations, can help protect this spot from other fishermen. Also, there are times when staying anchored reduces the chances of disturbing spooky fish from boat activity.
 

Wind speed and direction can change dramatically throughout the day. A little chop seems to awaken even the most comatose chilly fish. An increase in temperature of a mere degree or two can flip a feeding switch. A shift of the sun angle can be significant too. Recently, my son and I seemingly experienced three completely different days during a single six-hour fishing trip. A frenzy occurred only during a 20-minute window when the sun finally appeared and gave our BOOYAH spinnerbaits the extra flash needed to trigger the shadow-lurking pike.
 

When impounded reservoirs release water downstream, the resulting current rings a dinner bell. Fish relocate to energy conserving holding stations behind points and boulders to wait for the food to come to them. Keen anglers also are constantly aware of the bait movements because if predators aren’t there now, they soon will be.
 

Sometimes it may seem like expert anglers just pick a spot and go with it. But don’t be fooled; they have chosen the location by processing the sum of their experiences. Some factor made them begin casting there. And the pudding proof could occur with a fish early. Or, that initial fish could be one of those statistical outlier fish that now has you pointed in the wrong direction. It is important to consider if you are ahead or behind fish transitions.
 

When you do “find ‘em,” it can’t last forever. Fish spook and leave or may just become tight lipped. Downsizing from large crankbaits such as a Bomber Fat A to a finesse plastic like a YUM Dinger can be fruitful. Other times, you just might need to leave and come back later. But for how long? Elite Bassmaster anglers’ answers vary. One thought 30 minutes usually is enough for a spot to rest but another pro’s return time might be anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 ½ hours. A third pro shared that an hour is a good length of a break but added that “you just have to feel it.”