Do you love big bluegill?

A good two pounder

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Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on April 6, 2014 at 4:24pm: And they just kept coming - Old Don had their number.

Comment by Keith Ritter on April 5, 2014 at 11:34am: Sounds like a nice trip. Congrats!

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on April 4, 2014 at 7:48pm: I rarely smile when I have a fish on. Keeping it under control is on my mind, since I'm so bad at fishing in general. The last thing I want to do is botch things up.

But, I was smiling on the inside :)

Now, Don, he chuckled like a schoolboy at every hit, miss or catch. He made me happy just to hear him happy!

And he taught me a new term: LDR, aka "Long Distance Release, (for those fish that get off - over yonder).

Comment by Tony Livingston on April 4, 2014 at 7:22pm: Admit it....you smiled didn't you!

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on April 4, 2014 at 7:19pm: ...what other factors are in play that would account for numbers of large fish??

Supplemental feeding? -- some, but not a lot. No auto feeders, no sign of a boba fide feeding program that I could see. Ditto for no breeding.

Hands on management strategy? - - not in the farmed pond sense. The owner simply has more to do each day than "manage" ponds. Paying attention by being around is more like it.

Catch and release only for those brute bluegills? --- no. The owners allow visitors to remove fish, although neither Don (nor myself) feel comfortable taking them.

A thriving population of predators....largemouth bass for example? - definitely. Lots of small and medium sized bass were caught today. A couple of whoppers, too.

If anything, Tony, after today my feelings about wild vs. managed fish are reinforced.
At the same time, I gain a new respect for the managed fish.

Comment by Tony Livingston on April 4, 2014 at 7:02pm: Sounds like a great place to be sure, Don. And if I may, you sound like the perfect pond guest.... respectful, willing to help in whatever fashion is needed, and both appreciative and cognizant of the work and time involved in such an endeavor. Very well done.

David and I have been party to a few conversations in the past, debating the merits of managed vs. unmanaged fish. My hope is that he smiled once or twice, while his rod bent under the strain.......

Comment by Donald Schmotzer on April 4, 2014 at 6:39pm: I was told that these ponds were first stocked in the 50's. The owners go to a lot of trouble to keep the ponds balanced as well as keeping the wrong kind of vegetation from growing in them. Right now they are having a problem with otters. There are 4 ponds, one looks more like a small lake. They do feed the fish (a little once a day) and they allow a lot of fish to be taken out. ( friends and family) I am the "rare-bird" as I always put the fish I catch back. The original stock came from Florida or southern Georgia ( I believe ) I can't remember which. The owners are retired and spend a lot of time maintaining the property and the ponds. They also have several bee hives. I used to work with both of them (telephone co.) years ago. I am very respectful of their property and their wishes. I have offered to help them do some of the work they do there but have always been turned down. I can't say enough good about them (husband and wife). They also allow me to bring a guest (as long as I give notice) and of course I am very careful about who I will take in there with me. McScruff is my first. I feel "blessed" to have such a place to fish so close to home. (about 30 min drive). I am also careful not to "wear-out" my welcome. The fishery there is unique to say the least. I can't think of anywhere in the country that I would enjoy fishing anymore that I do there. It actually is " HEAVENLY-RANCH"...............Don