Bream – Bluegill, among the larger sunfish, thrive in still, warm water such as ponds and small lakes. They have been widely stocked in farm ponds. Spawning begins in May and can last until July; nests are built close together. Males guard eggs but not free-swimming fry. Bluegill eat insects, crayfish and small fish. Bluegill and largemouth bass evolved together in the big rivers and oxbows of the U.S. and have a dynamic relationship. When their numbers are in balance, bluegill feed bass and bass keep bluegill from overpopulating. Bream fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Arkansas. Since bluegill are colonial, once an angler finds one, he has found many.
Green sunfish inhabit ponds, lakes and slow-moving streams and ditches across Arkansas. Green sunfish are found in thick, weedy cover and can tolerate murky, warm water. Green sunfish are very hardy and tolerant of extremely warm, muddy water. They are even known to live in the shallow water of rice fields in Arkansas, thus giving them the nickname “rice slicks.” Green sunfish rarely grow larger than half a pound and small ones often are used as bait by anglers pursuing catfish.
Longear – This little sunfish, as beautiful as any tropical fish, has adapted to almost all types of habitat in Arkansas but prefers the clear streams and reservoirs in the highlands. It is an opportunistic feeder but mainly eats insects and crayfish. It spawns in colonies on gravel bottoms in June. Longears are aggressive and will happily snap at your freckles and hairs when you’re standing in their water. Twenty species of sunfish live in Arkansas, including black basses, crappie, rock bass and bream (bluegill, redear and warmouth). They make nests and guard their young from predators. Sunfish often are the most numerous species in a body of water.
Redear – Redear sunfish often are called “shellcrackers,” because of their fondness for freshwater crustaceans and mollusks, such as crayfish and tiny aquatic snails. They are typically found in still waters of ponds and lakes, and are much more comfortable near the bottom of the pond. Anglers often target redear sunfish with redworms instead of the typical cricket bluegill prefer. Redear are typically the largest of the “bream,” and 1 to 1.5-pounders are not uncommon. The Arkansas state record redear is 2 lbs. 14 oz.