The Bluegill 



fin, in the short opercular flap, and in having chain-like cross- 

 bands on the side. It is a rare species. 



Bluegill 



Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill) 



The bluegill is perhaps the best known and certainly the most 

 important of all our true sunfishes. It is known also as blue 

 bream, blue sunfish, copper-nosed sunfish, dollardee, and doubt- 

 less by many other vernacular names. It is found throughout 

 the Great Lakes and in the Mississippi Valley, from western New 

 York and Pennsylvania to Iowa and Missouri, and from Minne- 

 sota to Florida and the Rio Grande. It is one of our most 

 variable and widely distributed species, and is found in all lakes, 

 ponds and quiet streams throughout its range. Though found in 

 quiet streams, it is, above all, the sunfish of the lakes, whether 

 large or small, but is decidedly more abundant in the smaller 

 ones. In the small glacial lakes of northern Indiana it is found 

 in very great numbers. 



The bluegill is the largest of the sunfishes. It reaches a 

 length of 12 to 14 inches, and a weight of nearly a pound. 

 The average weight of those taken at Lake Maxinkuckee is about 

 half a pound, while those at Bass Lake (another famous bluegill 

 lake 10 miles west from Lake Maxinkuckee) do not average 

 more than 3 or 4 ounces. The maximum weight is about i^ 

 pounds. 



As a food-fish the bluegill is of much importance, and of all 

 the species it is the one most often sent to market, where it 

 always brings a good price. As a pan-fish it is excelled, among 

 fresh-water fishes, only by the yellow perch. Its flesh is firm 

 and flaky, and possesses a delicious flavour. And among all the 

 sunfishes it holds the highest rank as a game-fish. 



It can be taken at any time in the year, even through the 

 ice in winter. It bites well during the spring and early sum- 

 mer, while from early July until September it is particularly 

 voracious, and fine catches can then be made. It will take any 

 sort of bait, and can be taken with any sort of tackle. Angle- 

 worms are probably the best bait, either in still-fishing or trolling, 

 but grasshoppers are also excellent. White grubs, small minnows, 



349 



