Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Identifying large female bluegill

Well I've been fishing my pond hard fr the past couple months eliminating all bluegill under 8" and any females.. Here's my dilemma I've been catching some rather big females or atleast I think most are females.. Last night I caught a big one with a helmet head that looked like a female but I was certain it was a male. So I cut it open and sure enough full of eggs.. So my question is does anyone have some good pics of LARGE females. I've read and seen most all pics on the forum just wondering if anyone knew anything not posted.. I'm going to start taking pics if these large females for a reference to put on the boss if anyone is interested..

Reference pictures would be very helpful. Theo posted a pic one time of a female that was had a few fetures of a male- nape spots I think.

I like to see some pictures of both sexes as I have a hard time distinguishing between the two. Where is Theo?

This old thread will tell you more that you wanted to know. There are more, I just can't put my fingers on them right now. Some of the photo links may be bad, but the important ones seem to still be goo.


Sexing Bluegill

That old thread says zero about large female bluegills, I've looked at that thread 100x's in the last couple months.. I'm talking large females darker than usual with helmets even faint scale tipping.. Makes it really hard to tell. Te pics in the thread you mentioned are pretty cut and dry..

Can you add some pics of what you are catching?

I will for sure next time I fish.. I knew I should of took some pics last night.. Last night was the largest ones I caught.. Really the only thing I could tell by was a slightly smaller ear tab, bur when you don't have another next to it to compare to that can be hard to tell sometimes..

male or female?

IMO a young male and not fully mature - maybe later this summer.

I agree. Male.