Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 40

Ice Pumpkinseeds

by Vic Attardo
photos by the author

Try as I might, I have not been able to find the derivation
of the name " Pumpkinseed " for the vibrant fish in the
sunfish family. Some references say it is because these fish
are shaped like the seeds of a pumpkin.
One thing that stands out on the Pumpkinseed is the
bright orangish-red ear flap at the end of the gill cover.
Another key identifier is the aqua blue waves on its face
and speckled blue-green and dark orange flanks. Anglers
who, incorrectly, call these fish " sunnies " may actually have
the best descriptive name-Pumpkinseeds are as brilliant
as a ray of sunshine.

40

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2021	

In every Pennsylvania water I have fished, it
seems Bluegills outnumber Pumpkinseeds, so every
Pumpkinseed I catch feels special.
When ice fishing for winter panfish, it is impossible
to exclusively target Pumpkinseeds over other sunfish
species. When you catch Pumpkinseeds, you are also
going to catch Bluegills and vice versa.
Nevertheless, Pumpkinseeds do have some preferences
that will increase your chances of attracting these fish.
Years of my ice fishing notes indicate that
Pumpkinseeds stay close to the bottom, whereas Bluegills
are often a bit higher in the water column.
For ice fishing, this translates to rigs with high/low
offerings, also slightly heavier jigs for Pumpkinseeds.
Another is the use of flashy chain spoons twitched just
above the bottom.
I often use black jigs with micro soft plastics for
Bluegills. When Pumpkinseeds are around, I forgo the
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 4
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - Cover4
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