Pumpkinseeds,identifying Male from Female

[John Sheehan]

  I 've read that like Male Bluegills,Male Pumpkinseeds are brighter more varied color than the Females.I am curious if any one knows if their Opercular size and shape are much different.The Male Bluegill sports a noticebly bigger ,wider and longer Gill flap but does this hold true for Pseeds as well? I'm thinking so but am not sure .

 

This link states breeding female exhibit more prominent dark, vertical bands; http://www.allfishingbuy.com/Fish-Species/Sunfish-Pumpkinseed.htm

I would like to know if anyone disagrees with these assessments and would also like to see more Pseed pics posted here through the various months for comparison .

Mid -late March  Females :

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/march-11-cupsaw-slip-floating-6

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/3-31-12-cold-wel-bluegills-5

 

 

 early- Mid June June Males

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/pscsnungesser-1

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/gills-seeds-and-bass-on-the-3

More pics of Pumpkinseeds: http://bigbluegill.com/photo/photo/search?q=Pumpkinseeds&xgi=&a...

[John Sheehan]

Thanks for posting the pic of your Pseed Gene.If you tag the fish you catch with the species name ,your photos will show up with these others that were tagged : http://bigbluegill.com/photo/photo/search?q=Pumpkinseeds&xgi=&a...

[Gene Burns]

Caught this fellow on the backwater in Stevens Creek. A very nice little male!