My trophy size bluegills are definitely lighter under the ice. When I catch or harvest them in the spring, they are a little darker with more color, but what I don't like is when I overdose them on an anesthetic (I sell them whole to other taxidermists) once they expire they turn really dark. Almost black.
The only time I've ever seen this is when I've caught bluegills in acidic New England water and they turn pitch black after being caught.
Allegedly fish that are stressed turn dark. But they don't do this in the winter whem they are caught.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 01/18/16 04:34 PM.
