Typical length: 15–22.5 centimetres (6-9 inches)
Typical weight: 0.2 kilograms (0.4 pounds)
Ontario record: 0.8 kilograms (1.8 pounds)
Key identifying characteristics:
- Small, very deep bodied fish
- Back and sides green to brown with faint dark bars, belly is silver to yellow
- Ear flap is entirely black without a pale edge
- Black spot at rear end of dorsal fin
- Dorsal fin has 10-11 spines and there is no notch
- 3 anal fin spines
- Mouth is small and does not extend to below the middle of the eye.
- Bluegills are generally found in warmer lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams that are vegetated. Clear waters with moderate weed growth support the best bluegill populations. They are abundant in many waters of southern Ontario.
- Bluegill are part of a group of fish known as sunfish. Catching sunfish is generally easy, as they are aggressive feeders, take bait readily and fight well on light tackle.
- These fish are easily caught from shore and are accessible to most anglers. They will feed all day and can provide excellent action for children.
- Small sunfish form large, loose schools near shelter of weeds, docks, bridges or other cover in shallow water. Bigger sunfish tend to stay by themselves and occasionally collect in small groups. Sunfish are small, so light line and small hooks work best. Catch sunfish using a variety of techniques, including dangling live bait from a small bobber, fly-fishing, casting small lures or even slow-trolling or drifting.
- Small plugs
- Small spinners
- Small jigs
- Live bait such as worms or insects, and add natural bait to an artificial lure to make it more appealing.
* - Scientific information sourced from Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources