Where it is legal, do you/have you ever use sunfish as bait?
Here in MA, it is legal, so I will catch them in the 2-3" size and hook them like a shiner just under the dorsal fin under a float.
Since they are the normal forage for the larger predators they are quite effective.
The only down sides are: availability during the year, as they all eventually grow up and become too big for my use and legality to use them.
(MA allows them to be used, NH doesn't)
The up sides are: they survive better on the hook than shiners, are relatively easy to catch (either net or by hook) they are quite numerous because sunfish breed in large numbers and large groups, and best of all....they're FREE.
I don't use them every time I fish, but when I'm in the mood for live bait I know I can count on them being there.