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Oklahoma anglers are blessed with a wide range of angling opportunities, ranging from open-water striper fishing to spinnerbait fishing for largemouth bass to paddlefish snagging in tailwaters below dams. With almost unlimited fishing choices, it can be hard for angling enthusiasts to decide where to go and what to fish for. While largemouth bass, crappie and catfish often share the angling spotlight, there are at least two other species which deserve special attention.

Sunfish

Bluegill, redear and green sunfish are without a doubt the most common fish in Oklahoma. Just about every lake has a substantial sunfish population, and they are almost always willing to bite. Because of these characteristics, sunfish are the perfect choice for introducing a youngster to the sport of fishing. May and June are top months to fish for spawning sunfish. Try using worms along shallow shorelines in areas protected from wind and boat traffic. If the action turns fast and you suddenly find yourself out of bait, try cutting small pieces of fillet from the back of one of your catches. Sunfish love these. Weedbeds are ideal habitat for really big bluegill and redear sunfish. So for the ones that hide here, try using small minnows throughout the spawning season in June. Stilwell City Lake is a top producer of large sunfish where anglers often latch onto bluegill weighing more than 1/2 pound! Later in the summer, slip-bobber rigs can be used to fish deeper waters. Although sunfish will feed throughout the day, peak activity often occurs early in the morning and later in the evening.