Mike - I think your pictured BG is a male and is currently lacking the intense spawning colors. Your pictured BG has a darkish gular(throat) area and an ear tab that resembles that of many male BG. Similar sized female BG from your pond should currently have a noticeably lighter gular area. Similar sized male BG in your pond should develop darker colors in about a month pre to post spawn. The gular area will darken and female gular area should be lighter hues and likely more toward yellow. BG body features can vary quite a bit in different areas of the country and depending on the genetic strain of BG. Note some of the variation in the comparison chart.
Your picture would be somewhat better for sex identification if it was taken more straight from the side of the fish to better show shape of the ear tab (opercular flap). The pictures in the comparison chart were taken by me for the article Growing Behemoth Bluegills In Small Ponds Parts 1,2,3 by Cody, Condello and Baird; Pond Boss Magazine 2006.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/23/1908:13 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
