Fishing Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Based in Iowa, Jake Kruse is a dog breeder and the owner and president of K&E Landscapes. When he is not busy with work, Jake Kruse likes spending time outdoors boating and fishing. One species that can be fished in Iowa is the pumpkinseed sunfish.

Considered one of the most beautiful of the sunfish varieties, the pumpkinseed is a smaller fish only growing up to eight inches. They are freshwater fish that can be found in rivers, lakes, and ponds but are rarely found in man-made lakes. Because they can often school with other sunfish, such as green sunfish or bluegill, they tend to hybridize. This makes them more difficult to identify. In addition to a ten to eleven spine dorsal fin, pumpkinseed are yellow, olive, and green with distinctive wavy bands of alternating color across their body.

Spring and early summer are considered most ideal for fishing this species. When catching them, they prefer small sections of worm near underwater growths of vegetation. They also appreciate grubs, crickets, and artificial lures. This variety of fish is also known for being good to eat.