Reflections....A Perfect Coppernose Male

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Comment by Andy is OptiMystic on January 28, 2015 at 5:56am

Jeffrey - do you know whether NC calls coppernose bluegills for record keeping (making? not sure what strain/subspecies the record is) purposes? The don't list coppernose as a separate fish in citation size listing.

Comment by Tony Livingston on January 28, 2015 at 5:27am

Agreed on the fin edging, Jim. It's usually more pronounced on the Cali/Florida variant than the atlantic fish. Also, the cali/florida set tend to display a more rounded body dynamic overall. The atlantic fish can get round, but also get longer in length. Many of the RM fish display this longer dynamic.

I have friends in Texas that are managing for just this exact trait, and culling the intergrade coppers as they go.

Comment by dick tabbert on January 27, 2015 at 11:46pm

Truly a fish of beauty.

Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 27, 2015 at 10:09pm

One thing I have noticed is that Florida and Cali coppers tend to exhibit fin edging more than the coppers from Atlantic slope or Deep South rivers.

Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 27, 2015 at 10:06pm

Wow...this is certainly a stunner!

Comment by Jeff Soto on January 27, 2015 at 9:47pm

Yeah Jeff, when I first saw the pic, I thought it was another great LP fish, but when I clicked on it for a bigger look, I could see it was somewhat different from our LP fish. That belly color is really cool. I'm not even sure what color that is. Pinkish black? Great fins too!

Comment by Andy is OptiMystic on January 27, 2015 at 8:23pm

The info I have found calls them a subspecies of bluegill like this hatchery's description:

http://www.americansportfish.com/?option=com_content&view=artic...

The coppernose bluegill is a subspecies of the common bluegill. It is not a hybrid.

I guess that would mean they count as bluegill fro citation purposes but not sure.

Comment by Tony Livingston on January 27, 2015 at 7:24pm

In the world of coppernoses, I have many questions. It was once supposed that there were two distinct strains of coppers, one found in select river systems in Florida, while the other inhabited the coastal regions of some Atlantic states, including regions in Florida. Different hatcheries have since sought out and acquired individual fish from very specific areas of Florida to use as brood fish for their own breeding programs, looking to capitalize on certain traits. Some have gone as far as to claim the fish they produce as being their own "strain".

I know I can usually tell the coppers I see Jeffrey posting from the west coast fish quite readily. There is even a school of thought that suggests the Cali fish, and those few select fish from certain river systems in Florida, are "pure" Florida strain, while the Atlantic coppers and those found in Arkansas fish hatcheries are "intergrades", or mixes of different genetics, possibly including northern strain bluegills. This may in fact account for their increased tolerance for colder water.

I know those three pound+" intergrades" in Richmond Mill certainly don't appear inferior...

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on January 27, 2015 at 7:00pm

Thanks Jeff.....many of our great coppers are often just very black even during the spawn.........I really enjoy LedHed's Coppernose photos and this is one that reminds of a classic LP coppernose.......

Comment by Jeff Soto on January 27, 2015 at 6:55pm

Hey a Walleyed Bluegill!  But seriously, what a beautiful fish!  Wow!  And a chunk too!  Thanks for catching it and sharing this great pic Jeff!

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