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Pumpkinseed

Pumpkinseed

Lepomis gibbosus

  • 6lakes
  • 110logged catches
  • 0.45 kg heaviest logged

Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) is a North American freshwater fish of the sunfish family. Their bodies can be green, yellow, orange or blue in color, with speckled sides and a yellow belly. Pumpkinseeds typically live in warm, calm lakes and small rivers with plenty of vegetation. They like to stay close to the shore and can be found in shallow and protected areas. This fish can grow to 15-24 cm (6-10 in) in length with a weight of up to 700 g (1.5 lbs). Its natural diet largely consists of leeches, crawfish, insects, maggots and small fish.

What actually catches it ranked by real logged catches

Baits

Red Worms 18 Bloodworms 17 Maggots 14 Semolina Balls 11 Dough balls 6 Wax Worms 2 Cheese 1 Pea Dough 1

Lures

Nano Spinner 2 g, #2 1

Best setups by lake 6 lakes with data

Mudwater River — 29 catches , best 0.35 kg

  • Red Worms Hook #8 Float Shore 18 m 2×
  • Semolina Balls Hook #8 Float Shore 23 m 2×
  • Maggots Hook #2 Feeder bottom Shore 1×
  • Red Worms Hook #4 Feeder bottom Shore 1×

Neherrin River — 21 catches , best 0.44 kg

  • Red Worms Hook #2 Feeder bottom Shore 6×
  • Red Worms Hook #1 Feeder bottom 1×
  • Wax Worms Hook #2/0 Feeder bottom 1×
  • Maggots Hook #1 Feeder bottom Shore 1×

White Moose Lake — 16 catches , best 0.19 kg

  • Maggots Hook #12 Feeder bottom 10×
  • Bloodworms Hook #8 Float Shore 100 m 1×
  • Maggots Hook #8 Feeder bottom 1×
  • Semolina Balls Hook #8 Float Boat 117 m 1×

Falcon Lake — 16 catches , best 0.44 kg

  • Red Worms Hook #1 Feeder bottom 2×
  • Bloodworms Hook #4 Feeder bottom 2×
  • Bloodworms Hook #4 Float Shore 60 m 1×
  • Bloodworms Hook #8 Float Shore 76 m 1×

Emerald Lake — 16 catches , best 0.39 kg

  • Dough balls Hook #2 Float 60 m 3×
  • Red Worms Hook #8/0 Float 25 m 2×
  • Semolina Balls Hook #1 Float 100 m 1×
  • Bloodworms Hook #4 Feeder bottom 1×

Saint-Croix Lake — 12 catches , best 0.45 kg

  • Bloodworms Hook #8 Float 100 m 3×
  • Bloodworms Hook #6 Feeder bottom 2×
  • Bloodworms Hook #8/0 Float 35 m 1×
  • Pea Dough Hook #6 Float 90 m 1×

How to catch

How to catch a trophy Pumpkinseed? You can catch this fish either with bait or lures.

If you prefer to use natural baits, then the best way to catch Pumpkinseed would be to use Red Worms on a size #4 hook.

If you are more into artificial lures, you should go for some Craws. The most successful lure is Green Pumpkin Craw 2.5 cm.

Where to find it

Saint-Croix Lake Michigan White Moose Lake Alberta Falcon Lake Oregon Neherrin River North Carolina Emerald Lake New York Mudwater River Missouri

Also listed as effective documented, but not seen in the catch log

Flies #138#142#125#123 Craw 2.5 cm Craw 2.5 cm

Data compiled from fp-collective and the Fishing Planet Wiki . Snapshot taken 2026-08-20. Game content and imagery © Fishing Planet LLC.