Fish of the Columbia River
Bluegill sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
Body
Total adult length ranges from 3 1/2 to 10 inches (8.9 to 25.4 cm) and weight ranges from 3 ounces to 2 pounds (0.4 to 0.9 kg). As the common name indicates, the bluegill has a black to blue-black spot at the posterior edge of the opercle (the gill cover). The young bluegill has stripes.
Food
Bluegill fry eat zooplankton, primarily crustaceans such as copepods and cladocerans. As they incrase in size, they eat increasing proportions of various aquatic insects. Other foods include water snails, small crayfish, amphipods, and fish eggs. Terrestrial insects such as grasshoppers are sometimes important in the diet. During summer, bluegill may eat plants such as algae and higher rooted plants. Bluegill travel in small, loose schools while feeding. They feed by sight so must feed in daylight
Bluegills prefer weedy lakes and ponds with clear, cool to moderately warm water (60º to 80º). In the Columbia River, they are found among rocks and vegetation near the river's edge. Bluegills spawn in summer, constructing a nest in shallow water. The male stands guard over the eggs and newly hatched young, chasing away all intruders. Although excellent eating, the bluegill cannot be classified as a game fish of importance, except possibly in the estimation of young anglers.
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