I agree that there are many different colorations, depending on water, feed, time of year, etc. I have caught them almost black and also caught them with alot of yellowish/greenish tinges with molted spots.
Also body shape is almost bluegill-ish. That is almost an 11 inch fish, seems like a redear would be much more elongated. That is why I was wondering about some hybridization going on there.
Cool fish anyway you look at it.

Jr. B