Freshwater · Late spring and summer best; May to August, with males on nests in late spring
Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis
One of North America's most colourful freshwater fish — breeding males blaze orange and blue in late spring. The very long black ear flap, longest in northern fish, is its signature mark. Small but bold, it lives in clear creeks and rocky waters across the central and southern states.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Very long black ear flap, especially long in northern fish
- Breeding males blaze bright orange with wavy blue markings
- Deep, compressed sunfish body with a small mouth
- Wavy blue-green lines on the cheek and gill cover
- Females and non-breeding fish are duller yellow-olive but keep the long flap
Habits
- Holds in small colonies over gravel nests in late spring and summer
- Males fan round nests in shallow gravel and guard them fiercely
- Feeds on insects, small crustaceans and snails picked from rocks and plants
- Prefers clear, slow creek pools and avoids heavy silt
- Bites boldly despite its size and is a favourite of creek anglers
Distribution
Where to find them
- Gravel pools and runs in clear creeks in Iowa-Missouri and Tennessee-Kentucky
- Rocky lake shorelines and creek mouths in summer
- Slow stream pools below riffles across the central plains and Texas
Where they live
How to catch them
Small baits and flies in clear creeks River
Rig: Ultralight rod or light fly rod, small float and size 10-12 hook, or a small dry fly cast to pool edges in rocky streams
Bait/lure: Worm pieces, small flies
Key tip: Cast gently into clear pools — longears are bold but spook in very shallow, clear water.
Micro jigs at stream pools and lake edges River
Rig: Ultralight spinning tackle with a 1/64-1/32 oz micro jig worked slowly around rocks and weed edges
Bait/lure: Micro jigs, tiny soft plastics
Key tip: Work the jig slowly near bottom rocks where males hold in late spring.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Ultralight 5-6 ft spinning rod or 3-4 wt fly rod
- Line: 2-4 lb mono
- Terminal: Size 10-12 hooks, micro jigs, small floats
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 3-5 in; large fish to about 8-9 in
On the table
Tasty like other panfish but usually small — most anglers release the colourful breeding males.
Similar species
PumpkinseedPumpkinseed has a short ear flap with a bright red-orange crescent; the longear flap is much longer, plain black and has no red crescent
Northern SunfishNorthern sunfish has a shorter ear flap with a bright red-orange rear edge; the longear flap is longer and plain black, and longears live farther south in warmer creeksRegulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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