Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations tastiest fish

Sunil has had gangs of SMB running meth labs in his pond in PA; he called law enforcement in to break them up after one of the gangs threatened him with a fish scaler and a filleting knife. The problem is apparently under control now, but he says he is still too worried to let his (expecting) wife and daughter fish without either himself or his brother Sid to keep an eye on the Smallmouths.

WRT eating size for BG: my semi-experienced hand can fillet BG as small as 5.5", but I don't bother with anything under 6" unless it is foulhooked. Reportedly BG over something around 9" have meat that is a little tougher and some BG eaters object to it. I haven't cleaned any over 8.5" out of my pond and haven't noticed a meat difference up to that size; however at around 7" the ribs get noticeably harder and require a slightly different technique to stay boneless.