Wowzers, I'm impressed that they can figure out a GSHxBG cross just by looking at the gillrakers!? That is some serious specialty skill to say the least!
I'm curious why do the pumpkinseed not like it in Omaha (or in Fort Wayne, IN, or other similar locations at that latitude?) IS it really the heat in summer compared to say northern NE or to the lakes an hour north of GR where we find pumpkinseed?
Fisheries Biologist look at stuff like gillrakers, they vary quite a bit between sunfish in both length and numbers. I did check one of the lakes the SD paper was based on, that lake is 357 miles away and near the SD border and a 6 hour drive from Omaha.
Not sure why we don't have pumpkinseeds this far south, best guess is temperatures are too warm and not enough aquatic vegetation in most lakes in this part of the state, surface temps are already in the mid 80's now.
http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/home/Default.aspx?tabid=605&FishID=21Gill Rakers
Bluegill 13-16, moderately long
Pumpkinseed 9-12, short and thick
Sunfish, Green 11-14, long and thin
Sunfish, Longear 9-11, short and thick
Sunfish, Orangespotted 10-15, long and thin
Warmouth 9-12, moderately long
BGXGSF Hybrid, notice the intermediate appearance of the gill rakers
BGXPumkinseed Hybrid, notice the intermediate appearance of the gill rakers.
GSF X BG Hybrid
Pumpkinseed X BG Hybrid
