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Sunfishes

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The body of sunfishes is flattened side-to-side and has two dorsal fins that are broadly joined and appear as one fin. Sunfishes build nests and guard their young.

largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: 10-20” long
Habitat: still or slow-moving water in rivers, ponds, lakes, swamps
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: plastic worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, minnows, crayfish, nightcrawlers, worms

smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 12” long
Habitat: clear water rivers with gravel or rock bottom
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: fly fishing: dry or wet flies, streamers, buck tails, poppers, hairbugs; spin casting: rooster tails, small spoons, jigs, live bait (crayfish, frogs, minnows, hellgrammites), plastic worms

spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
Illinois Range: east central and southeastern Illinois
Size: 10-17" long
Habitat: creeks, rivers
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: plastic worms, jigs, spinnerbaits, crank baits, minnows, crayfish, nightcrawlers, worms

warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 5" long
Habitat: lakes, streams, oxbows, marshes
Food: fishes, insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks
Best Lures: small jigs and spinners, poppers, wet or dry flies

bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: 8-10" long
Habitat: creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, swamps
Food: crayfish, insects, snails, fishes
Best Lures: wax worms, red worms, red wigglers, crickets, nightcrawlers, small minnows, artificial flies, poppers

green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 9" long
Habitat: streams, lakes, ponds, ditches, other water bodies
Food: insects, fishes, crayfish
Best Lures: worms, grasshoppers

redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 9" long
Habitat: ponds, swamps, lakes, rivers
Food: snails, insects, crayfish
Best Lures: crickets, red and wax worms, nightcrawlers

white crappie (Pomoxis annularis)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: average 8" long
Habitat: creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes
Food: crayfish, insects, fishes
Best Lures: minnows, jigs, spinners

black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Illinois Range: statewide
Size: up to 14” long
Habitat: creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes
Food: insects, crustaceans, fishes
Best Lures: minnows, jigs, spinners