late October 'gill !!

Comment

Comment by Bruce Condello on October 29, 2008 at 12:03pm

....the picture above is of a bluegill that had been in a white bucket for awhile.

Comment by Bruce Condello on October 29, 2008 at 12:03pm

Mike, I'll bet you're probably right about the breeding status of the fish, but that white bucket sure seems to accentuate those dark colors.

Comment by Mike Penrose on October 29, 2008 at 11:35am

I doubt if this male was in breeding mode, but he was in a white five gallon bucket for about 2 hours before I released him into my BG pond. He was fairly dark when I caught him, and continued to darken as time elapsed.

Comment by Bruce Condello on October 29, 2008 at 9:48am

Put a big breeding male in a WHITE five gallon bucket someday for a few minutes and watch him change color. Then try to put one in a BLACK five gallon bucket and see what happens. Report back. ;)

Comment by Zig on October 29, 2008 at 8:31am

Either I've never caught a large male 'gill, or that coloration is geographical in nature.
The only time I've ever seen BG darken like that is when they are on beds.

How fast does this coloration change take place? Maybe I've not kept them out of water long enough to notice it?

Very interested in this phenomenon.

Comment by Alex G. on October 28, 2008 at 8:13am

I don't think I've ever caught one displaying that dark coloration......

Nice fish! I'm hoping to get out this weekend for some gills!

Comment by Michael J. Searl on October 28, 2008 at 6:37am

What a beautifull gill. I have never seen that color phase here in west central Illinois. Thank you for sharing! ole Mike

Comment by David Merical on October 28, 2008 at 6:33am

At one pond I fish, there's a bluegill I've been seeing lately that likes to stay really shallow. He will even follow me around the pond sometimes. Compared to all the other bluegills I see, he remains really really dark colored. I don't have an explanation, just sharing an observation. ;o)

Comment by Bruce Condello on October 27, 2008 at 8:34pm

I personally think it is from agitation. The fish is already a brilliantly colored male, but when you capture it, and handle it they get a little ticked off and get that super dark coloration. I think they are essentially "posturing". I'll try to add another photo showing this phenomenon.

Here's one...

Comment by Farm Hunter on October 27, 2008 at 8:22pm

Great looking fish -

Can anyone tell me a little bit more about this "black phase" coloration? I'd like to understand it, and I have not seen it on our local BG lakes/ponds. Is it seasonal? I assume its age related - and is it males only? Seems like when you see big BG pics - especially in the south - they often have this dark coloration. I'd like to see it myself - but haven't yet.

FH

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