Bluegill
Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Northern Pike
Pumpkinseed
Rock Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Maine Fishing Lodges
Michigan Fishing Lodges
Minnesota Fishing Lodges
Wisconsin Fishing Lodges
Pumpkinseed| Average Length | 5 to 8 inches | Average Weight | 5 to 10 ounces |
| Record Length | Record Weight |
| Also known as | Yellow sunfish, sun bass |
Pumpkinseeds are similar in many ways to their cousin, the bluegill. Both species have similar shaped bodies, similar appetites, and similar types of habitats. The easiest way to tell the two apart is by looking at the opercle flap near their gills. The flap is entirely black on bluegills, but is half black, half orange on pumpkinseeds.
Pumpkinseeds are most active during the daytime, generally feeding on insects, insect larvae, and small fish. Like bluegills, they tend to avoid open water, staying in shallow, weedy bays. During the spring time, pumpkinseeds travel inland to depths of 6 to 12 inches in order to spawn. Pumpkinseed nests are typically built in small colonies, so where you find one pumpkinseed bed, you'll likely find another. Bluegills spawn in much the same way and it is fairly common for bluegills and pumpkinseeds to mate during this time.
Pumpkinseeds are enjoyed by anglers of all ages and provide a very aggressive fight for their size. Jigging and live bait tend to be very successful. Larger pumpkinseeds are known to hit on small artificial lures as well. As with bluegills, take extra care when handling pumpkinseeds as the fins along their spines are quite sharp.
