Sunfish

Bait Angling for Common Fishes

CHAPTER VI

THE SUNFISH

The little “sunny” is enshrined in the hearts of old boy anglers as well as young boys, as their first love. All the best qualities of fish rolled into one, except that of size; it is one of the hardiest and prettiest species of the finny tribe. North and South, wherever clear water is to be found, this little favorite is ready at all times to gratify the eager angler. In Southern States it is known as the bream or brim; in other localities as the sunfish, pondfish, tobacco box and pumpkin seed, which it is supposed to resemble, but the most popular is the boys’ endearing term, “sunny.” Dr. Brown Goode says: “The pumpkin seed and the perch are the first trophies of the boy angler. Many are the memories of truant days, dreamed away by pond or brookside with twine, pole and pin hook, and the slow homeward trudge, doubtful what his reception would be at home. Pole gone, line broken, hooks lost, the only remnant of the morning’s glory a score of lean sun-dried perches and sunnies, and mayhap a few eels and catfish ignominiously strung through the gills upon a willow withe.

The sunfish grows to a length of eight inches and a weight of half a pound. In coloration it rivals the gayly tinted fishes of the coral reefs in tropical seas. The pre-dominating colors are yellow and blue, dark blue-gray on the back, shading to a lighter tint of greenish brown; the belly a bright orange, and the face is streaked in yellow and blue, with long ear flaps in black. It is well armed with a fierce array of spines, and shows a temper, especially after nest building, unusual in small-sized fishes. Consequently they thrive and multiply almost beyond belief in ponds and streams too small for bass and too warm for trout. It prefers clear and still water, living in and about weeds and grasses. In the spring of the year the female prepares herself a circular nest by removing all grass and other dead aquatic plants from a chosen spot of a foot in diameter, so as to leave bare the clear gravel or sand; she then digs into the sand about four Inches and deposits her spawn, which she watches and cares for like a hen does her chicks, till the small fish appear. All fish, even those of her own species, that intrude on her privacy, she will drive from her nursery, and attacks shiners, minnows and killies, often killing them in defense of her home. Sunfish are gamey and eager biters, and earthworms are their delight; they will also readily rise to a very small artificial fly with a vim and dash much In the manner of the black bass, their bold and larger cousins. Like the perch, any old tackle will catch them at times, but if proper angling outfit Is used to capture them, larger fish and more gamey play is the result. If a boy has a light rod, or better still, a regular eight-foot bamboo, not too pliable or yet too stiff, such a rod covers the wants of all fresh-water bottom-feeding fish, but the sunny needs a finer line than the perch. It also needs much smaller hooks, of size from 8 to 10, and the float should be small, for it takes it with such a snap, running away at a clipping pace, that young anglers would lose half their pleasure fishing for sunnies without a float; the patience is not wearied by waiting for it to bob, they keep it bobbing all the time. Adjust the float so that the bait hangs a foot from the bottom. This is done by using a sinker to find the depth of the water. Place two or three No. 8 split shots about six inches apart from the snell, to sink the bait. Angle worms or earthworms are the most successful bait. They should be small of size – those of a reddish-pink color are the best; put only one worm on the hook, and be very careful to loop it over the hook, leaving a small end to wriggle in the water. No kind of fish are more eager to take a bunch of worms, and no larger fish are attracted by an indescribable bunch, which must appear to the fish a curious and unusual sight. Every time a fish is caught, the old worm as well as all broken parts should be removed, and a new one, live and kicking, should take its place.

In fishing for sunnies there is little or no necessity to move to a new place if the fish stop biting for a while; at such times throw a few worms in the water to attract them to the bait, as sunfish shoal together In large numbers. Sometimes the whole morning can be spent in one spot, constantly landing fish where the bait is placed, as there seems to be some system whereby the fish get to know food is to be had, and they come from all around that part of the lake or stream. Throw the bait in gently without much splash, little time elapses and not much waiting before the bob goes down and another trophy is brought from the water; fifty sunfish is by no means a great morning’s catch. If the amateur is able to cast a fly much better sport can be enjoyed. Most anglers while trout fishing in hot weather with line and leaders of extra fineness are bothered with many little sunnies that too often take the fly intended for larger game. The extra outfit necessary is simply a very fine three-foot leader, the smallest of flies – two are sufficient – one at the end, the other eighteen inches away. Of course in fly fishing, no float should be used, as the flies are simply cast on the surface of the water, and the fish dart up from below and seize them.

In casting it requires some little practice at first to force the flies any distance, but if the novice lets out but twenty feet of line he will manage it better than if he tries a longer cast. The best flies are the black gnat, gray and brown palmers, and the coachman, but any flies will do for sunnies if they are of the smallest size possible. The object of fishing with a fly is to imitate the natural fly which is constantly seen dropping on the surface of the water, then floating down a few feet and rising again in the air. If fishing on clear still water the flies should be cast out as far as possible from the angler, then the tip of the rod gradually raised to draw the cast slowly back in little jerks. This should be repeated till the fish takes the fly; when that occurs, immediately give a gentle twist of the wrist, which hooks him. He will at once make a short run near the surface of the water, and then take a dive below. Give him free play until he tires, then bring him to the boat or shore. As the sunny hasa particularly hard, bony mouth, he may not be hooked firm, often being held only by a thin skin, so that it will be safer if a small hand net be provided, and used by the left hand; it should be placed in the water below the fish, which can be gently led into the net after the line is reeled in short.

In fishing a stream of running water, cast the fly down a runway, and let it go into quiet water, for sunfish choose to lie in still places. Wherever the force of the water takes the fly it will turn off and circle round the sunnies’ hiding place. In such runways a worm is just as effective; indeed more so, because nature is imitated exactly. Another good fishing ground for sunnies Is near the shore of large lakes. Row the boat and anchor it so that it rests on a bed of lily pads or near tall rushes, using a short line and float with worms for bait; throw In the line where there are open spaces. The float assists to keep the line from getting entangled. The angler will be kept busy with the scores of sunnies and perch, all fighting to get the bait first. The best time for fishing is from sunset to dark, this time being when all surface-feeding fish are on the lookout for food, very different from catfish and eels, whose food Is entirely obtained at the bottom, and at any time of the day, though both are partly nocturnal feeders. While rowing round any large pond or lake of clear water the young angler should be on the lookout for the nest of the sunfish, which lies invariably in very shallow water a foot or two deep, and from the boat side can easily be seen in the light, sandy places. But they are only occupied in the early spring; In summer-time It Is deserted by the old as well as young fish. A nice string of a dozen sunfish, weighing half a pound each, makes a very pleasing and agreeable dish If properly fried; they are better eating than the perch, but not so sweet and flaky as the bass. There Is no question but that the little sunny Is a popular Idol with all who angle for him. I have seen whole families together – father, mother, daughter and son sitting contentedly, each with more or less Improvised rods, passing the summer days with Infinite pleasure, now and then a shout of glee proclaiming another prize has been boated. The pleasures of the summer visitor on mountain lake are certainly Incomplete unless some member of the family brings home for the table a dish of sunnies to be fried.