Lol. Your story of the bluegill cracked me up. I come from some understanding as the hybrids my dad stocks love to bite nippers! Hurts a little but the surprise is shocking. I love to take the kid's friends swimming there just to see how long it takes for someone to scream like a little girl and proceed to run on water to escape.

I don't know fish in your area so no help with species. I can offer a suggestion though. Several yrs ago we bought a mini-pontoon boat. It's a game changer and we've had a blast on the pond with it. I'd consider getting one then sinking brush piles that you can jig from the boat. So much more fun than what we were doing with little Jon boats and canoes.