Monday, December 8th, 2025

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Monday, December 8th, 2025

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Longear sunfish are feisty fighters of late winter, early spring in Ohio

Although aggressive enough to hit artificial baits, longear sunfish cannot resist pieces of red worms and wax worms. Look for them in clear lakes and streams where you expect to catch spotted bass or smallmouth bass. Water does not have to be deep, but they need it slow. (Photo by John Tertuliani)

A longear sunfish is unlike any other. Glimmering fresh from the water, it seems too spectacular to be here, as if had been blown inland from the barrier reef of an exotic land. It is a real treat to see, if you get the chance.
There are two subspecies, the northern longear, Lepomis megalotis peltastes, and the central longear, Lepomis megalotis megalotis. The northern longear is the smaller of the two.

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