The Koi Hobby of 2005....

[aquitori]

Just wanted to get everyones thoughts on this. The New year 2006 is upon us and I was wonder what was the high light of their Koi Hobby for 2005. It can be anything koi related.

Peace to all for XMas and a New Year,
Tony
Koi-Unit 4 Life.

[luke frisbee]

Going to the BKKS. Cliff, Maurice, and the Ambassador Waddingtons.
And then Xmas was a couple of days early.

actually filling LakeLuke was a big deal as well...and the growth has been very good

[kingkong]

Well, I wish I could say I completed my pond, that one of my kohaku turned into the 'sarge' but the reality is I have a nice group of koi, that as a whole, have developed quite well and look forward to my visit each and every morning and that is all I have to say about that. Merry Xmas Tony.

[jnorth]

I'd guess its a toss up between hanging out with Peter Waddington, Nigel Caddock and my good buddy Bill from Mystic Koi at the Playboy Mansion

or

Hanging out with the rest of Koi-Unit at the Koi Kichi Show and taking a Best Size 3 while I was at it. (Got to hang with my buddy Bill there as well).

Course I had a pretty good time hanging out in my backyard drinking and grilling with Keokoi, MJen, Akinosan and Dunkel during Koi America as well. All in all a really good year for me.

[mulberryjen]

Hmmmm:

Meeting Koi Unit crew out in San Jose and finding way to Bito board. Keokoi, Aquitori, and the whole gang have gone above and beyond to help me further my koi education and appreciation. Met lots of good people this year in person and online - looking forward to meeting several more koi-kichi at the All Bay and sharing "the love". (for fish.......you pervs)

Also finally understanding the difference between an Asagi and a Reverse Asagi (thanks to Dick B)

oh, yeah, and when Tony said I could buy Vaio for $1 if I trade him my black longfin.....hahahahahaha

[Brutuscz]

Well..my season started lousy. Lots of parasitic and bacterial infections. I lost way too many fish to them. BUT...I learned a great deal about quarantining, microscopy, diagnosing and treating koi infections....as well as preventing them. Losing so many koi this year has made me realize how important this hobby is to me, and how badly I never want this to happen again. I have since dedicated myself to truly increasing my knowledge of koi on all levels. I have also decided to get more involved in the hobby and start a web site to sell koi. My highlight this year was probably my first couple of successful sales. Next year, I plan on selling many, many more koi. I will continue to improve my eye for koi, as well as winning a few awards at a koi show next season. Gotta stay optimistic!!!

[JohnBender]

The year in review, I too have found myself this wonderful board. Learning is still a process for me, with much more to learn. Thanks to all who have made my stay here enjoyable.

[dick benbow]

without a doubt it's been meeting people. here in the states and across the world. Without our love of koi or the priviledge of having access to this board, none of this would have happened.( thank-you Brian ) Friendships have grown with other koi kichi's, judges, dealers, as well as producers...let's hope the trend continues in o6'.......

if a had a wish i could use in 06' it would be that we acquire some koi kichi's in South America...brazil is a gigantic hotbed of koi activity and yet we don't hear anything from them and what about Japan herself

[MCA]

Taking only two koi, both showa, to our club show. They ranked as best in Size 5 and best size 5 showa. The best in size 5 was even discussed by the judges as a candidate for a higher award.

After the judging was over, Cheryl told Steve (Steve C was one of the judges) that we owned the two showa. Steve said we had come a LONG way in the hobby since he saw our first pond a couple of years earlier in Texas. Burt B (head judge) gave me a firm recommendation to take the showa home. Don't take them out of the pond for two more years. Just keep doing whatever we are doing. Then bring them to a show or two.

It was nice to hear that we seem to be learning something.

[PapaBear]

Getting to watch our koi spawn for the first time was a hoot Watching the eggs hatch was a close second. Learning about raising fry was third.