How to choose a Tosai Ogon

[dick benbow]

interesting! I like the concept, to mix it up a bit. Would i be out of line to ask you to post some pics of your babies?

[Richard Rombold]

Hi Dick,

I'm still a few weeks away from culling. What kind of picks are you interested in? Culled or the raw stuff? Yamabuki, Sanke or Kohaku?

[mitten]

RR, I saw a pic once of Fujio Oomo holding a small handful of 4 inchers, the ones he liked out of his day's culling. Don't tip your hand, but show us the breeder's eye.

[dick benbow]

2 weeks ago Richard, i had to put my ake mae kigoi down. She's been with me close to 30 years. It was a painful experience and something I wouldn't wish for anyone to have to do. I'll never get another one....but I miss the
yellow in the pond. I think a good replacement might be a high quality yamabuki. I have been very impressed with your gosanke, so I thought it might be nice to see something representative of your better yamabuki...
any pics around?

[MikeM]

Dick, I am very sorry about the loss of your kigoi. I know how special she was. Thirty years... 1977. I had not owned a koi yet. That is a very long time. You gave her a long life.

[dick benbow]

thanks Mike, speaking of yamabuki's you sure picked up a nice one at quality last fall!

[Richard Rombold]

Dick,

I'll find you something nice from one of the nisai ponds the next time I'm working in one and post some photos. If you pay the freight it's yours.

I saw some photos of Igarashi's yamabukis on Genki's site. I was impressed with the improvement on the bloodline, but I feel that mine have a better and more robust body structure. That would be an interesting side by side comparison. Mine (which represent the older bloodlines) and the newer more inbred fish. Gives me some ideas.

Mitten,

I don't have any hand to tip. With the ogons it's not rocket science. It comes down to your skill in the mud, and your dedication to being strict in your culling. As for photos of 3-4" yamabuki. We'll have to wait until later in the summer for that. The new crop is just starting to develop definition and it takes time for the characteristics of a quality ogon to show.

[s2chang]

Hi Richard, could you please post your older bloodline and a typical newer bloodline yamabuki for the sake of comparision? It would be nice if you can discuss the improvement or the lost from old to new. A breeder perspective in this hobby is always a refreshing one to me. stevec

[Richard Rombold]

I'll post a picture of one of my Yamabuki's, but I won't pilfer one of Kevin's photos. Maybe someone else has a good photo of Igarashi's yamabuki. It will take a few days to get a photo up. We are trying to tie up all our loose ends so we can get ready for sorting.

[koikid]

hi koi bito people
I have a question to ask you.
how would you select a ogon over 12" ?