Surprised By A Red Ear Sunfish

[airborne_angler]

Went to the lake yesterday and caught this Redear Sunfish. Was really surprised, as this lake is not known for a large population of these this fish.This one went 1.7 pounds on my friends digital scale.This may not be a record fish but it was very very thick. We were targeting LMB and my buddy caught 5 on a Pop-R largest being a 3.5 pound fish.This Redear was totally unexpected.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

WOW WTGthat huge to what Ive caught. How that fight?

[airborne_angler]

It was a real short fight. I was the back seater casting in front of the boat,the fish wrapped itself up in the TM as I was bringing it in,but my buddy managed to free it,it came to the back and I was able to lip it. It was dark,so at first I thought it was an obese dink Bass...there was no holding this fish with one hand like you normally would any other Sunfish...the slabs on this fish were too large.

[Bluebasser86]

Nice redear! I had one that size chase my DD22 to the boat once, I really wish it would have hit it, would have been my biggest by far! If they got that big regularly I'd probably fish for bass a lot less.

[Diggy]

That is a biggie

[GeorgiaBassBros]

We get those all the time at the local lakes I fish at, if im bass fishing i can count on catchin a couple frankestein head bream.

[Stasher1]

Nice redear! I had one that size chase my DD22 to the boat once, I really wish it would have hit it, would have been my biggest by far! If they got that big regularly I'd probably fish for bass a lot less.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - if bream routinely grew to 2.5 - 3#, I'd quite bass fishing completely. They're easier to catch, more aggressive when they strike, and (pound for pound) put up a better fight than most bass.

[MarkH024]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - if bream routinely grew to 2.5 - 3#, I'd quite bass fishing completely. They're easier to catch, more aggressive when they strike, and (pound for pound) put up a better fight than most bass.

You need to go smallie fishing asap.

While I do agree panfish fight like crazy and it can be fun, nothing fights like a football shaped smallie.

[RyneB]

You need to go smallie fishing asap.

While I do agree panfish fight like crazy and it can be fun, nothing fights like a football shaped smallie.

I couldnt agree more with this comment. If you want to have a nice fight fishing bluegill, get yourself a 3 WT fly rod and some foam spider topwaters. They attack it with amazing aggression. There are times when 5+ fish attack my spider at once. I always keep the fly rod in my boat while bass fishing. When i see gills up in the vegetation ill take it out and have a blast.