Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Typical young BG coloration?

Caught this guy, and a few others very similar, last night. Just a normal BG right? The coloration just seemed a little 'different' than other BGs I've caught...

Looks like some of mine also.

Water coloration and visibility makes a big difference on coloration. My first RES catch had darker pigment on the sides compared to Shorty's as seen here:



Shorty's latest post:

I think CC hit the nail on the head. The clearness or turbidity of the pond can really affect colorization. Most of our BG are extremely dark due to our clear water. A soak in a lidded bait tank for 5 minutes lightens up ours considerably.

Good comparison pics.

Here is a picture of a young CNBG and RES both out of my sediment pond. The sediment pond has been pretty turbid but has cleared up to where it is pretty clear. I was surprised these two fish along with the rest I have been catching from this pond and moving to my main pond were as light colored as they were. The fish have always been light colored from this pond, but with the water clearing so much I expected them to be getting darker.

I'm guessing these were both females. I have had some male CNBG that were a lot more colorful, probably caught while on the bed. Not much copper color yet on this one.

Mine can be a little light colored when I first catch them because of muddy water but.... Just holding them in my hand in a very few moments they will "darken up" and won't even look like the same fish.Takes no time at all for this to happen.

Regular BG. Lots here on coloration.

Yee-hah! The kids caught a slew of perch of various sizes the last two nights, removed about 40 very fat goldfish (they were actively biting on worms tonight) and we caught our 2nd RES!! This one seemed to be lighter colored than our first every caught one. The first one was caught when water was more turbid during a bloom. The water is quite clear now. I thought I'd try to post pictures side by side.

#1




#2





A few posts above is another 'lighter colored' RES but note the fins on the underside are also light. The underside fins on my RES stay dark for some reason.

I also note that the ear tab coloring is different on my #1 fish in this post and the #2 fish in this post.

Nice male RES!

Here is a male from July 14th.

Here is a female from July 4th.

Male and female RES side by side from June 15th.

Wow Shorty, your RES are impressive!! What do you feed those things?
Your side by side picture is very helpful. It appear as if the distance from tip of the lip to the eye is shorter in the male than female as if the male has eyes set closer to the top of his body. But it could be the angle of the camera too. The male shoulders and back seem taller with sharper angle going up to the back and the shoulders and back of female more smoother angle and more elongated body.

The female's bottom fins are more golden colored compared to male. Not sure if that finding is consistent or not.

Thanks for continuing to take pictures and share them!

Shorty I am putting the pic in the RES archive. Thanks.

Eric, this might be a little bit better picture.

Ok thanks - I changed pics.

shorty, your RES make me drool!! Gets me every time you post pics of them! Great job!