The spawn plays a huge part in coloring fish up, in that they are cold blooded animals and when the water warms their metabolism changes and it allows the pigmentation to show from the increased blood flow. The same fish may look different if caught in the early morning vs mid day when the water has gotten warmer. They are also excited/stressed when caught on a hook and that makes their colors "pop". The clarity of the water makes a difference. The ones Chuck catch are mostly in very clear water so the colors are brighter & lighter so they don't "stick out". In more stained but still good visibility water and/or heavy vegetation (ETX) , the colors are deeper and darker. Also the fish that live in shallower water with more sunshine have more color than deeper fish. The water ph, diet, and the fact that they hybridize easily make for lots of color variations. A change in temperature or a change in the substrate in a lake, river, creek, pond (two ponds right next to each other, fed by the same water and stocked with the same fish but one has a dark bottom with grass and the other has a light bottom with riprap-------- the fish will look different). I keep Sunfish in two large aquariums (225gl, 175gl) and notice color changes when I feed them, when I change the temperature of the water, or see the fight for territory. These fish have strong chameleon tendencies, extreme aggression and are easily available to catch which make them my favorite fish to target from Late Spring to Early Fall.

These are my first hand observations along with book research. I'm no biologist just fascinated by these cool fish.

Could not have side it any better! Great information Andrew!

Thanks! Hopefully the springs got a shot of water from this latest front!

The spawn plays a huge part in coloring fish up, in that they are cold blooded animals and when the water warms their metabolism changes and it allows the pigmentation to show from the increased blood flow. The same fish may look different if caught in the early morning vs mid day when the water has gotten warmer. They are also excited/stressed when caught on a hook and that makes their colors "pop". The clarity of the water makes a difference. The ones Chuck catch are mostly in very clear water so the colors are brighter & lighter so they don't "stick out". In more stained but still good visibility water and/or heavy vegetation (ETX) , the colors are deeper and darker. Also the fish that live in shallower water with more sunshine have more color than deeper fish. The water ph, diet, and the fact that they hybridize easily make for lots of color variations. A change in temperature or a change in the substrate in a lake, river, creek, pond (two ponds right next to each other, fed by the same water and stocked with the same fish but one has a dark bottom with grass and the other has a light bottom with riprap-------- the fish will look different). I keep Sunfish in two large aquariums (225gl, 175gl) and notice color changes when I feed them, when I change the temperature of the water, or see the fight for territory. These fish have strong chameleon tendencies, extreme aggression and are easily available to catch which make them my favorite fish to target from Late Spring to Early Fall.

These are my first hand observations along with book research. I'm no biologist just fascinated by these cool fish.

That's what I love about the Bluegill section. Anglers here have so great knowledge and share it.