Page 17 - Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine Mar-Apr2023

the opercular (ear) flap. Redear can attain lengths up to 12 inches and
weight up to 2 pounds. They respond best to natural bait and are more
difficult to catch than bluegill. Redear normally inhabits deeper water
than bluegill and congregate around stumps, logs, and roots. They
usually inhabit clear, slightly vegetated water. They prey on insects,
crustaceans, larvae, and snails. Redear spawning habits are very similar
to bluegill, although redear are not as prolific. Redear spawn in late
spring or early summer when water temperatures reach 66–70˚F. BRANDON BROWN
Oklahoma State Record: 2 pounds, 1.25 ounces.
WARMOUTH Lepomis gulosus
Sometimes called “strawberry perch,” the warmouth is a dark,
mottled brown fish with generally a golden color belly. The male
has a bright-orange spot at the base of the dorsal fin. Three to
five reddish-brown streaks radiate from the eyes, and the gill flaps
are often red. They range in size from 4 to 10 inches but can grow
to over 12 inches long and weigh up to 2.25 pounds. It is a highly
aggressive and hardy fish, and can live in ponds, lakes, rivers, and
backwater streams. The primary diet consists of insects, crayfish,
DUANE RAVER
and other fish. They are sight feeders, and can survive in polluted,
low-oxygenated waters where other sunfish cannot.

BLUEGILL Lepomis macrochirus
Due to widespread hatchery stockings, bluegill are found state-
wide in all types of water. It’s a relatively large, deep-bodied sun-
fish with a small mouth, black opercular (ear) flap, and a black spot
at the rear base of the dorsal fin. Weed beds are ideal habitat for
really big bluegill. DUANE RAVER
Stilwell City Lake is a top producer of large sunfish where
anglers often latch onto bluegill weighing more than a half-pound.
In late summer, slip-bobber rigs can be used to fish deeper BLACK CRAPPIE Pomoxis nigromaculatus
waters. Young bluegill are important farm pond forage fish for Found statewide in many lakes and rivers, this was originally a
bass and catfish. However, the high reproductive rate of blue- stream fish in Oklahoma. They do well in lakes of at least 500 acres.
gill often results in overcrowded populations of stunted fish. This Black crappie require clear lakes, but is not suited for farm ponds
problem can be controlled by restricting harvest of largemouth because they tend to overpopulate small bodies of water. Black
bass. Bluegill seldom exceed 12 inches long. crappie will have only a sporadic, unrecognizable pattern to its black

Oklahoma State Record: 2 pounds, 6.4 ounces. spots, and seven or eight bony spines in its dorsal fin. They form
loose schools and can be caught year-round. The average crappie
caught in Oklahoma weighs between a half-pound and 1.5 pounds.
Oklahoma State Record: 4 pounds, 10 ounces.

ROCK BASS Ambloplites rupestris TED WALKE DUANE RAVER
They are similar in appearance to smallmouth bass but are usually
quite a bit smaller. They have two dorsal fins that have spinous and WHITE CRAPPIE Pomoxis annularis
soft-rayed united portions, a large mouth, six anal spines, red eyes, Crappies are usually associated with standing timber and
and rows of dark dots on their sides. The mouth has small conical brushy cover in lakes. In spring, they inhabit the shallow ends of
teeth to eat prey. The average rock bass is between 6 and 10 inches coves, later moving to water 15 or more feet deep. White crappie,
long, and they rarely weigh over a pound. These fish have body col- the most prevalent crappie in the state, will have distinct vertical
oring from golden brown to olive with a white to silver colored belly bands of blue/gray spots and 5 to 6 bony spines in the dorsal
and have the ability to rapidly change their color to match their sur- fin. Its sweet meat makes exquisite table fare. White crappie has
roundings. Rock bass are usually found near rocky shorelines. Rock adapted to slightly turbid lakes. The species is not suited for farm
bass are frequently seen in groups, particularly near other sunfish. ponds because it tends to overpopulate small bodies of water.
Oklahoma State Record: 4 pounds, 15 ounces.

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