[buzzbaiter]

That's a dandy 'gill. Avg male hand is about 7 to 8" tip of middle finger to wrist so that's over nine and close to 10"

When that pond is full pool - like it is now - they bucket brigade can't fish the far side (closest to road) because of all the thorn bushes right up to the edge. This is when I throw on a pair of waders and work that shoreline. Its good for the fish you mentioned. That pond was great when the road was closed for about 3 months a few years ago.It was also better when they left the shrubs along the bank grow. They cut most of them down to make it easier to fish and this is when the fishing went downhill. Easier fishing = poor fishing. Leave them bushes alone! Fish need some "safe" areas to. The geese don't like the shrubs either and it would help keep them away. This sort of "pond" management drives me nuts.