*  Characteristics:  The appearance of bluegill varies considerably among individuals, as is true with most sunfish. Most bluegill are light to dark olive, though older fish may have a purplish tinge. Cheeks and gill covers are often bluish and the ear flap is black. The rearward edge of the soft portion of the dorsal fin carries a dark blotch.  Though they occasionally exceed a pound, an 8-inch bluegill is considered large.

*  Habitat: Shallow, shady shore areas are favorite spots. Spawns in middle to late May into June.

*  Foods:  The bluegill's mouth is small; it feeds mostly on aquatic insects and other small invertebrates. Young bluegill will feed in heavy weeds to avoid predators. Bluegill large enough to be of no interest to bass often swim freely in more open water, feeding heavily on tiny drifting zooplankton.  This open-water feeding is especially common if bluegill must compete with pumpkinseed and green sunfish, which stay in the weeds. When food is scarce, bluegill will eat their own eggs.