Green Sunfish — Michigan Fishing
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Green Sunfish Native

🔬 Lepomis cyanellus

A chunky, large-mouthed sunfish with blue-green iridescent coloration and orange-tipped fins. Much larger mouth than bluegill or pumpkinseed relative to body size. Aggressive and willing to hit a lure even in poor conditions. Often hybridizes with bluegill and pumpkinseed producing "hybrid sunfish." Great first-fish for young anglers.

0.25-0.5 lb, 5-8 inches
Typical size
2 lbs 2 oz
Michigan record
Spring, Summer
Best season
24
Listed lakes

🛡 Conservation Status

Native Abundant statewide. No conservation concerns. Often overlooked but surprisingly aggressive sport fish.

🌿 Habitat & Behavior

Ponds, lakes, and streams statewide. Michigan's most pollution-tolerant sunfish -- often the first fish to recolonize degraded streams. Common in park lagoons, drainage ditches, farm ponds, and the shallows of most Michigan lakes.

🎣 Best Techniques

Small spinners, inline buzzbaits, tiny poppers, worms under a bobber, and small jigs. Will hit nearly any lure presented in the right size.

🌊 Where to Catch in Michigan

Lake County Population Notes
Baseline Lake
377 acres
Livingston Good
Big Blue Lake
620 acres
Muskegon Good
Cass Lake
1,280 acres
Oakland Good
Coldwater Lake
1,561 acres
Branch Good
Fremont Lake
1,700 acres
Newaygo Good
Gull Lake
2,030 acres
Kalamazoo Good
Gun Lake
2,680 acres
Barry Good
Gun Lake
665 acres
Allegan Good
Houghton Lake
20,044 acres
Roscommon Good
Lake Cadillac
1,141 acres
Wexford Good
Lake Columbia
821 acres
Jackson Good
Lake Fenton
937 acres
Genesee Good
Lake Mitchell
2,580 acres
Wexford Good
Lake Nepessing
952 acres
Lapeer Good
Lake St. Helen
2,600 acres
Roscommon Good
Magician Lake
755 acres
Cass Good
Ore Lake
233 acres
Livingston Good
Paw Paw Lake
1,000 acres
Van Buren Good
Pontiac Lake
770 acres
Oakland Good
Portage Lake
800 acres
Washtenaw Good


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