I live in Richardson(suburb of Dallas) as well as Garland. (Split living with mom and dad). I was just wondering what lures/rigs people are using for sunnies because I would not mind trying to compete in the contest with everyone. I started getting into fishing about June this year. I am 18 so would that qualify me as an adult in the contest? In richardson I have several public ponds I can fish in (and I have caught sunfish in them before) and in Garland there is a huge creek down by firewheel that eventually leads to Lake Ray Hubbard. I have caught some bass, sunfish, channel, and flathead cats in the Creek in garland. Though I usually just use live nightcrawlers as bait for all of these. I guess I should start using lures/artificial bait, and I would love to know where to start. Sorry if this post has been answered already by another one! And for all who reply, thanks a ton!

First off to TFF and your 1st post. There are many great anglers on this section.

I would recommend any Berkley Micros, Rooster Tails, Panther Martins, Mepps 0-00, Artificial Flies, Small Jigs and Soft Plastics, Small Crankbaits like Strike King/Norman/..., Trout Worms, Beetle Spins, Road Runners, I'm sure there are many more that other panfisherman will offer.

Today I bought some 1" Berkley Gulp! Alive! Minnows in Emerald Shiner color. Tomorrow I'm planning on kayaking LBL with Jason and hope to catch a few. If they work you might want to buy some of them.

Ok! And thanks for the kind welcome, seems like there is a nice community on this site! I went to walmart earlier and got some berkeley worms and a Rebel topwater fishing package, which features smaller topwater lures like a grasshopper and a crankbait. I'm going fishing in Garland tomorrow morning and I guess I will post what I catch, though I'm not sure where I should. Hopefully I can work my way up to becoming decent at catching some nice sunnies. (And other fish for that matter!) Thank you again for the kind welcome and the tips!

To the Texas Fishing Forum. Glad to have you on board. If you are going to fish for the Sunnies the best advice I can give you is to keep it simple. Sunfish (Blue Gill,Redear,Redbreast,Longear,Warmouth,and Greens) are a blast to catch and you can catch em just about anywhere. Like all fish they have patterns as well. Keep some simple tackle for sunfish fishing such as a ultra light rod&reel combo, six pound test line, and some size 6 or 8 cricket hooks. For Artificial bait I would use Berkley or Eagle Claw Trout Worms. You can bait em just like a live worm. Gulp Minnows work good and so do the Micros. You can use either a slip float or a regular type float. I usually set my depth at about a foot while fishing water 3 to 4 feet deep. Any deeper I usually bottom fish. Both methods yield very good results. During the warm and hot months fish tree lines and structure such as docks and large rocks as well as by bridges and storm walls. During colder months fish deeper water usually 10 to 15 feet and fish slow. If using lures during winter use a slow retrieve. I hope this helps out a little. The main thing is to have fun and enjoy the outdoors. Good luck.

Side Note: As for live bait use worms.

Thanks for the welcome as well as the advice Banker-always fishing! I will have to try what you said because as far as technique goes I either have had a bobber with a weight and smallhook/live worm, or just jigged along the bank with a straight line/live worm setup. (I do not have a boat, so I fish from the bank only.) I will hopefully put your advice to good use and be able to show off some nice sunfish!

I do most of my fishing from the Bank also. It's nice just to run and go on a spur of the moment. The techniques that you are using now should work just fine.

Ok man, I will definitely post up pictures tomorrow for you guys to see. Hopefully I get some decent ones!

Any fish is a decent fish!

That's true, whenever I fish if I catch something regardless of size, its a good day. Though it's always nice to see a big one at the end of your line.

By the way what does bottoming fish mean?

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i think you mean bottom fishing.

just like it sounds. fishing with your bait sitting on the bottom of the lake, usually with the help of a weight. if you are going to be fishing bottom, you can use a larger split shot weight.

Oh ok, I had a feeing that's what it meant. That's how I have caught several of my cats. I just wanted to be sure what it meant, still learning new stuff everyday!
Thanks for helping me out!

Welcome!

The above posts pretty much have you covered on artificials I can think of.

I've caught some good ones with Yo-Zuri Snap Beans in the blue silver color.

I've also been starting to use plastic grubs on a jighead lately with moderate success.

Can't think of anything else at the moment but I'm sure it'll come to me later

Good luck and looking forward to a report!

Hey! I fished for the first time ever with an artificial worm and jig head, caught a couple sunnies that were 6" and then a big one that was 8" (hey, it's big in my book!) would love to show pictures but i'm not sure how to post them...