Exactly how do you determine whether male or female. I have trouble identifying them.
Easiest is during spawing season when the males are darker with a bright orange breast and dark scale edges emanating from above the eyes on the upper back, but the mature females always have shorter ear tabs than the males. About the same in length and width. Mature males tend to have an ear tab that is longer than wide.
Bar pattern is more delicate and broken up on female bluegill.