Pond Boss
Posted By: MOFishermen Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/07/20 03:29 AM
This is the largest sunfish I have ever caught. My goal was a one pound BG this summer from our lake. Caught this 11 inch BG but think it might be a mix. It weighted 15.8 OZ. Thanks for helping identifying my catch.

Attached picture Fall BG Catch.jpg
Posted By: esshup Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/07/20 06:57 AM
To me it looks like a pure Bluegill.
Posted By: snrub Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/07/20 07:00 AM
I would call it a bluegill.

If it had some RES in it the opercular tab would have some margin coloring. It looks pure black to me.
Posted By: jpsdad Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/07/20 01:08 PM
+2 on the comments above ID'ing pure BG.

I would just add that the fish looks to be female AND that it's a dandy fish. If female its rare in this size and you likely have males that will surpass your goal.

I don't catch a lot of BG/RES hybrids but when I do they generally have a verticle barring of darker color.

[Linked Image from forums.pondboss.com]

Shorty provided this pic in another thread and looks typical for the hybrid.[Linked Image from forums.pondboss.com]
Posted By: MOFishermen Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/07/20 03:32 PM
Thanks to everyone for the positive ID as a BG! It seemed like a really big sunfish. Exciting to know that it is a female and the males would be even bigger. Appreciate photos of the hybrid as an example.

This forum is an amazing place to learn and get questions answered.

Now, I need to catch one of those bigger Male BG.
Posted By: Dave Davidson1 Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/07/20 04:00 PM
I’ve not found that the males get bigger
Posted By: Theo Gallus Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/09/20 11:57 AM
It looks more BG than BGxRES to me, but based on my 12 years with BGxRES F1's, Fx's, and back crosses, I couldn't rule out some RES genes without DNA testing.

Time for CSI:Pond Boss!
Posted By: ewest Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/09/20 07:11 PM
BG +1
Posted By: MOFishermen Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/10/20 02:33 AM
I am confused by BG +1.

Ewest, does that mean it has crossed with a redear? Thanks for explaining.
Posted By: Bobbss Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/10/20 03:33 AM
I didn't mean to speak for him but I think he just means another vote for BG.


Yes that is right !
Posted By: Bobbss Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/10/20 03:38 AM
By the way, nice fish! I'd be happy if some of mine get that big someday.
Posted By: ewest Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/10/20 04:28 PM
Sorry about that. +1 means I agree that it is a BG and a very nice one at that.
Posted By: teehjaeh57 Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/10/20 07:44 PM
Am I the only one seeing a faint color around the lower rounded part of the opercular tab or is that just a shadow? I've seen some F4+ HBG with 90%+ BG genetics express just the slightest GSF characteristics....otherwise of course 100% BG if that's not coloring around the tab. Also, impressive fish!
Posted By: ewest Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/10/20 10:48 PM
Copied the pic and enlarged to max size - pic gets fuzzy. There is a shadow but no color on tab (as best I can see). There is a spot of off color pigment on the fish just off the tab that looks like other coloration (yellowish pink) on the fish.
Posted By: teehjaeh57 Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/11/20 01:40 AM
Thanks Eric, that's what I must be seeing. Amazing how much fun we all have with lepomis ID.
Posted By: MOFishermen Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/12/20 03:35 AM
[Linked Image from forums.pondboss.com]I appreciate everyone's response to my post. It is amazing the knowledge and experience this Forum provides to everyone, especially me! I now know what BG +1 means.....since this tread seemed to like BG photos, I attached a few more. I have been feeding Optimal BG JR for the last two years. I start with JR in April to June and then transition to BG feed from July to November. Extremely happy with the results in growth, size and coloration.

Attached picture BG 2.jpg
Attached picture BG 3.jpg
Posted By: teehjaeh57 Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/13/20 06:16 AM
Couple healthy and beautiful bulls - both fish exhibit some great potential to become real trophies. Keep feeding and keep posting pics - well done!
Posted By: esshup Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/13/20 11:34 AM
I 2nd TJ's comments and I also like the "seawall" in the background of the 2nd picture.
Posted By: CityDad Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/13/20 03:15 PM
Can I get a few dozen of these please?
Posted By: MOFishermen Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/16/20 04:14 AM
Thanks for the continued comments on my BG. It has been fun to raise them over the last few years. As a follow up to Esshup comment on the wall, I have attached a few images of the sea wall. We had a significant slope issue and wanted to get golf cart/UTV access to the boat. Parents are elderly and could not do the vertical rise from dock to house. When we built the sea wall, we installed a major BG spawning bed, see the attached photo at low water. It is great entertainment to watch the male BG trying to win the attention of the females and then defend their nest.

Attached picture New Wall With Low Water level.JPG
Attached picture Lake House Wall Photo Resized 02.jpg
Posted By: esshup Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/16/20 04:59 AM
Thanks, that looks great!!!!
Posted By: ewest Re: Fish ID - BG or BG/RES Cross - 11/16/20 09:37 PM
Nice work on all aspects fish and pond.
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