Hybrid sunfish across Minnesota
Limits, records and lakes for hybrid sunfish.
- 20 combined totallimit
- 1 lb 12 ozrecord
Pick for sunfishPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Pepin: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
About Minnesota hybrid sunfish
Hybrid sunfish counts among the sunfish family in Minnesota. Anglers may keep 20 combined total in inland waters (statewide), Continuous.
In 1994, Zumbro River produced the record of 1 lb 12 oz. It shows up in DNR surveys of 1,523 lakes (1,678 with pages here). Long Lake near Marine on St. Croix, Washington County posted the top gill net rate, 31 per net.
For the sunfish herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 How the DNR describes hybrid sunfish
“What is a sunfish? Sunfish is a generic name for a group fish that includes bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, orange-spotted sunfish, longear, warmouth and their hybrids.”
- Sunfish is a generic name for a group fish that includes bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, orange-spotted sunfish, longear, warmouth and their hybrids.identification
Quoted from the DNR fish page and the 2026 regulations identification guide, checked October 2026.
hybrid sunfish limits and seasons
| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Inland waters (statewide) | 20 combined total | Continuous |
2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations. All Minnesota limits.
The hybrid sunfish record
| Category | Weight | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| certified weight | 1 lb 12 oz | Zumbro River | Olmsted | 1994 |
| certified weight | 1 lb 12 oz | Green Lake | Kandiyohi | 2022 |
Minnesota DNR state records; angler names left out.
Top hybrid sunfish catch rates in DNR surveys
| Lake | Per gill net | Normal range | Avg lb | Survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Lake near Marine on St. Croix, Washington County | 31 | 0.18 | 1993 | |
| Idlewild Lake | 18 | 0.25 | 1992 | |
| Forest Lake, Washington County | 11.9 | 0.19 | 2025 | |
| Clear Lake, Aitkin County | 11.22 | 0.25 | 2024 | |
| Kelser's Pond | 10 | 0.26 | 2008 | |
| Fuller Lake, Stearns County | 9.5 | 0.05 | 2008 | |
| Quarry Lake | 9.33 | 0.06 | 2021 | |
| East Lake Sylvia | 9.25 | 0.22 | 2025 | |
| Upper Maple Lake | 8.78 | 0.24 | 2025 | |
| West Battle Lake | 8.33 | 0.17 | 2024 | |
| Clear Lake near Marine on St. Croix, Washington County | 8 | 0.24 | 1991 | |
| Fogard Lake | 8 | 0.56 | 2002 |
DNR LakeFinder latest survey per lake; standard and special gill nets.
hybrid sunfish across the state
Where to fish lakes for hybrid sunfish
- Mille Lacs Lake128,250 acres
- Leech Lake103,444 acres
- Lake Winnibigoshish56,471 acres
- Vermilion Lake39,272 acres
- Cass Lake15,958 acres
- Lake Minnetonka14,206 acres
- Otter Tail Lake14,079 acres
- Lake Pepin12,299 acres
- Big Stone Lake11,984 acres
- Traverse Lake10,849 acres
- Gull Lake, Cass County10,010 acres
- Bowstring Lake9,528 acres
- Sand Point Lake8,527 acres
- St. Croix River8,393 acres
- Pelican Lake, Crow Wing County8,367 acres
- Lake Minnewaska8,050 acres
- Island Lake Reservoir8,001 acres
- Whitefish Lake near Manhattan Beach, Crow Wing County7,714 acres
- Dead Lake, Otter Tail County7,546 acres
- Burntside Lake7,314 acres
- Birch Lake, St. Louis County7,074 acres
- Pokegama Lake, Itasca County6,721 acres
- Lake Osakis6,389 acres
- North Long Lake, Crow Wing County6,190 acres
Rivers and creeks for hybrid sunfish
- Mississippi RiverAitkin
- Otter Tail RiverOtter Tail
- Turtle RiverBeltrami
DNR LakeFinder survey lists; largest lakes first.
Species listed with hybrid sunfish
- Largemouth basssunfish family
- Smallmouth basssunfish family
- Rock basssunfish family
- Black crappiesunfish family
- White crappiesunfish family
- Bluegillsunfish family
- Pumpkinseedsunfish family
- Green sunfishsunfish family
- Warmouthsunfish family
Pictures of water close to Hybrid sunfish
Photo: Lorne Sunley, CC BY 3.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: chief_huddleston, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jonathan Miske, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Wikideas1, CC0
Handy answers on hybrid sunfish
May Minnesota anglers keep hybrid sunfish?
20 combined total (Inland waters (statewide)), season Continuous.
Which Minnesota water gave up the record hybrid sunfish?
1 lb 12 oz from Zumbro River (1994).
Which lakes hold hybrid sunfish?
Long Lake near Marine on St. Croix, Washington County leads the DNR gill net catch at 31 per net; 1,681 waters on this site list it.
Where does the DNR stock hybrid sunfish?
None listed on the area pages.
How do I tell hybrid sunfish from similar fish?
Sunfish is a generic name for a group fish that includes bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, orange-spotted sunfish, longear, warmouth and their hybrids.
When does Minnesota hybrid sunfish season open and close?
Continuous
Do kids need a license for hybrid sunfish?
Minnesota residents 16 to 89 need an angling license ($25 for the year); nonresidents 16 and older pay $51.
Which guides list hybrid sunfish?
No Minnesota guide names it; see the guides page.
Plan a Minnesota hybrid sunfish trip
Pick a lake from the lists on this page.