Hey Catmandoo?
So your pond is primarily for the dinner table?
Or do you just like to fight the fight with a bluegill?
Brian,
Like so many others here, my pond has many purposes and uses. They range from quality food and multi-generational recreation, to fire protection and irrigation.
Tomorrow we will have four generations of family visiting. My fish will be subjected to enticing baits from people ranging from 4 to 85. Enough bluegill and trout are already in a cage at the end of my dock to have a great mid-day fish fry. Our main dinner will be deep fried domestic turkey from last season that is currently soaking in a strong salt-sugar brine.
I look at my pond much like I look at my garden, orchard, domestic critters, woodlot, and wildlife. Quality table fare is very important to us. Management, thinning, feeding, etc., is extremely important. Currently I am back to buying a significant part of my food and fuel. I expect that within the next two to three years, we will again raise the majority of our own food.
But, in my pond, bluegill are the royalty for several reasons. Mostly, they are our favorite eating fish -- except maybe for walleye, monster perch, and stripped bass/hybrid stripped bass (none of which we can reasonably raise in our pond). A 9-11 inch bluegill, with a Relative Weight (Wr) greater than 1, is always a thrill.
This is the fourth springtime with this pond. The median size bluegill keeps increasing. Last year at this time is was just above 9 inches. So far this year, it is just below 10 inches. I did catch a 17 inch bass yesterday, but I pulled it in as quickly as possible, and unhooked it even quicker. Catfish will supply fare for many summer meals before it is time to add trout again.
Thanks for the interest, and good fishn'
Ken
