By Koaw - Updated 2021
I get asked a lot about what gear I use in the field. Now, you definitely don’t need top-of-the-line gear to catch sunfishes and have a good time but below you’ll find gear that I’ve thoroughly field-tested and I recommend these to you. T
he products are links to Amazon where I purchased much of this gear. If you happen to make a purchase after clicking on an image then Koaw Nature may receive a small finders fee. I thank you for supporting our spreading of knowledge!
SUNFISH GEAR
You don’t need fancy, top-of-the-line gear to catch common sunfishes. Of course, a smoother reel makes life a lot easier. When I’m not messing around going for big common sunfishes, I use my Shimano NASCI C3000 on the St. Croix Triumph 6 ft light rod with fast action. The combination allows for finesse, strength and smoothness. I’ve used a number of the Shimano Sedona Series reels and they are also great for the price.
I loathe using monofilament on spinning reels; the memory of the line makes casting a nightmare. Instead, get yourself some braided 4, 6 or 10 lb braided line that has a nice thin diameter and is strong. A smaller test line is fine (and more common on light gear) but I prefer landing fish (as opposed to the fight) and not snapping line in snags hence why I don’t use a smaller test. Using 4 to 10 lb fluorocarbon leader is optional, but will decrease that line visibility to the fish and be stronger than a similar-sized monofilament line.
SUNFISH TACKLE - HOOKS
A simple hook & cut worm rig will land you any common sunfish. I had never tried the Owner 5185 Series Mosquito Hooks until I did my sunfish survey for the Lepomis ID guide. I was really impressed with the success rate of self-hooking with this type. I used size 6, but going up to a size 4 would work for larger specimens. For smaller species, like the orangespotted sunfish, redspotted sunfish, and northern sunfish, I recommend using the Gamakatsu Micro Perfect Gap Hook Size 12. Using the light wire Owner 5177 is great on the drop shot rigs.
SUNFISH TACKLE - LURES
The Rapala Fat Rap is by far one of my favorite lures. The Mini Fat Rap is a productive crankbait for those slab panfish. Spider mimics in the springtime, summer and early fall are very successful with sunfishes. Using the Betts Bream Madness is possible to use with a casting setup, where you’ll get more range using casting bubbles if using a spinning reel. The Yo-Ziri Snap Beans are very effective for panfish. That Crappie Magnet 96 Piece Kit is a great buy for the price (like ~ $13 on Amazon.) The weighted heads come with bait keepers and really hold the plastics well.
SUNFISH TACKLE - MISC. NEEDS
You always need pliers and cutters when fishing. The Freehawk Pliers have been one of the best price/quality purchases I’ve made; the item is very affordable and has lasted me for 3 years now. Granted it’s not high quality, but it does the trick. The Foxelli waders have more than lived up to my expectations. I bushwhack quite often to get to my waters and they have held up great. Rod covers can be pricey but the batch I found on Amazon is affordable and offers the protection needed.