Requesting 'gill photo IDs

[Polar Bear]

I know someone my age should know this by now but I don't...

Would some kind soul please post a side by side photo comparison of a bluegill, pumpkinseed and hybrid sunfish. My buddies and I argue all the time about how to tell the difference.

[Matt Breuer]

No prob on two of the species!

BDR made it up for some 'gill fishing today and he hit a trophy in both species.

Bluegill...

Pumpkinseed...

Hybrids are very similar to a bluegill, but have larger mouths and are much more bland.

[jonny_redhorse]

her's a pic of a pure strain bluegill caught last year(i posted it earlier in another section)...black earflap(no red on the ear flap which is characteristic of the pumpkin seed)...

here's a minnesota DNR site of the difference between the 2

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/sunfish/biology.html

[jonny_redhorse]

here's another of a blue gill taken the same day as the other (the fish looks to be a little torn up on the fins.lol!)..the coloring is a little different then the other above pic...but still a bluegill...

[The Grebe]

JR...Excellent example of what a Bluegill should look like!

[bmc]

Here's a nice pumpkinseed that I caught out of Little Cutfoot Sioux, by Winnie at first ice this year. Unfortunately, I didn't have a tape measure that day. That is one of those padded seats that snaps on to the top of a 5 gallon bucket, so you get an idea of how big it was. CPR'd.

Brian

[Oldtyme]

Johnny. Is that an Eagle Claw featherlite rod?

My favorite

Great fish everyone.

[Matt Breuer]

Here are some more I found looking around on the web. Perfect pics to show the species.

Warmouth...

Green Sunfish...

Hybrid Sunfish... Notice the shallower, more bland body, and the much larger mouth than a pure strand.

Redear Sunfish... Otherwise known as shellcracker or bream. Notice the long ear!

Longear Sunfish... They only reach 5".

Orange Spotted Sunfish...

Redbreast Sunfish...

[jonny_redhorse]

oldtyme...it most certainly is!.. .very perceptive!....and only a little of the rod showing!....guess the giveaway is the eagle claw yellow...yup....the "6'er"..from cabela's...i like it over pure graphite for panfish...and old design from an old rod company.....kinda of a "whippy"slow rod..."gives" when they make that dash...even though i use other rods... the featherweight is one of my favorites...

[Oldtyme]

Yep. I have 3 of 'em. Mine are the 6'6". I bought one used off hsolist & liked it so much I bought 2 more new ones.

You got the "whippy" part right. Great for getting small jigs & spinners moving on the cast. The used one I have is nice & broke in, loose as a goose(lol). It's what I use for the spinners, the new ones I'm using for bobbers.

They will hold up on bigger fish too as I've caught a few big bass & walleye on it.

Ok back on topic.

Here is probably the biggest "gill" I caught last year. CPR. I guess it's a Redear or shellcracker (?)

(click for larger picture)

Funny story about this guy, I was moving around throwing a bobber w/ a cricket, I hooked this fish & set the pole down to go and reach for the anchormate & drop anchor, next thing I know my rod started lifting out of the boat, I had to catch it to keep it from going over. I guess never underestimate the fish you just caught

(my hand span is 7 inches)

[Matt Breuer]

That one's a hybrid if I'm seeing the mouth correctly. I estimate that fish at around 11"! Great fish!

[Oldtyme]

Thanks. I was thinking hybrid myself. The mouth is really weird on these fish. I catch quite a few of these at the lake I normally go to. They are always bigger than the average gill.

[delmuts]

thanks matt !

[Polar Bear]

Thanks for all the photos...you guys are the best.