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A mount I made of the Lake Perris, Ca 1995 lake record Bluegill. As per my customer's request, I painted it as a spawning male "northern" strain rather than the dark-colored "coppernose" that the actual fish was.
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Coppernose BG are thought to be a subspecies of northern BG. When I think of a "pure" BG, I always consider it to be either a coppernose, or a northern strain. While coppernose BG will not usually survive a northern winter, northern strain will do fine in the south, although I don't know if they will achieve the sizes of the established, acclimated coppernose variant. Perhaps they very well might , given a few generations, and if all other conditions were equal between the two fish.
I have heard "regular" BG referred to as northern strain, yankee BG, and native BG. In my neck of the woods, they all mean the same thing...a BG adapted to survival in colder water.
That's a GREAT mount and fish but I agree with Walt, an extremely odd request to not paint the true fish. I don't understand the guy's intentions.
I remember seeing that fish in the bait shop of the marina, Jeff! I only fished Perris three or four times from the bank when I lived in L.A., caught a few pounders but never any of the giants. But I definitely remember that mount!
I almost wish the guy who caught it hadn't asked to have it painted as a northern-strain - really an odd request, considering how beautiful coppernose are. I would have loved to see what the fish looked like naturally. But one thing is for sure - that is a really beautiful mount that you did.
Very nice work Jeff! It should be on the cover of the Lake Perris magazine........
Just to let people know, the guy that caught this fish was trolling a tiny fire-tiger colored Bagly B (a sinking crankbait that looks like a Rapala) for Rainbow Trout in 15 feet of water when he hooked and landed this big Bluegill. He went in to the marina and weighed it, found out it was a new lake record, then went right back out and caught a 2 lb 12 oz Bluegill in the same place and on the same lure! He gave me that Bagley lure after I presented him with his mounted fish. I've still got that discontinued lure and I'm afraid to use it for fear I'll snag up and lose it!
oops i guess underneath the pic says it all
wow that is absolutely beautiful man.. whats the details.. what state did you catch it in.. did you have it done or did you do it yourself
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