Harvest Time at the Nisei Koi Farm

[KoiCop]

Quote: Originally Posted by JasPR well, eliminating ginrin, # 9 has the skin and the bone and #9 has future with it's pattern. JR

Is this the #9 koi (2nd row, 4th from left)? Just want to make sure we're counting them the same way.

[JasPR]

yep, that's the one. The only thing you have to worry about on this fish is the 'fracture' in the beni on the head and shoulder- this would be something you would want to stay away from on a kohaku but on showa the other colors tend to take away from that concern. But in all fairness these fish are just out of the mud and the colors will fix more after they are in clear inside water. And it doesn't take long to see that- maybe a few days to a week.
In fact, I happen to own a yagengi showa ( Dainichi) that has that 'fracture' flaw and it was a gamble at age three. It was in fact, cheaper because of it. I'll snap a picture of it tomorrow and you can be the judge. JR

[dick benbow]

thank-you for posting Ross. It seems each year the quality and quanity keeps improving!

I painted most of the day around here but my thoughts were on the mud ponds and the koi coming out of them. you'd think an olde salt would take the drainage as just " another year " but already i'm getting excited for the trip.

For those of you who have not met Mat and Jen, Ross and Tara as yet by the time you leave, it will be as if you knew them for most of your life. They're just that kind of people....Also I need to add my respects to the man who put this team together and made quality koi a reality. Joe Z....the guy who had "the dream"...

[MikeM]

Nice body frames on these. Some just scream that they are going to be huge. The GinRin Showa are sure showy, but that can cause the eye to move too fast past the Kohaku. JR's #9 is awesome for the potential, but is #10 female or male? The sumi maruten on the head framed by the motoguro is just too unique to be real. Sumi will likely rise to alter the effect, but for now that pattern is unforgettable. Quite some accomplishments.

[dick benbow]

Mike I agree with your selection of #10, lots of things going for that koi...T minus 5 days ( and counting...)

[KoiCop]

thanks for elaborating on #9-- 'cause that fractured hi on the head/shoulders is exactly what I had noticed and was worried about. Most interesting.

[HenryC]

Come on Ross. You have had time to rest up since yesterday's harvest. Don't hold out on us, let's see the photos! You can't feed us addicts a few morsels and then cut us off.

[dick benbow]

Henry, you got me chuckling.....reminds me of when my kids were small and counting the days down till christmas. bless you heart...quess there's a little kid in all of us! LOL!

[Ross M]

Here is a picture showing #9 and #10 from my previous post, illustrating the head fracture area before going into the mud pond. I will follow this koi for the next few weeks as it transitions in clear water and post follow-up photos for comparison. Both are males between 18-19".

Henry- sorry to get your hopes up, but we didn't photograph or measure any of the koi from acre 1. It was a long process, carrying over into today for the final drain and removal of the stragglers. That meant rotating overnight detail to ensure that our local resident predators were not able to take advantage of the low water. We ended up with a count of 272 nisai up to an estimated 21".

This upcoming weekend is our last and largest harvest event, the Main Event Harvest. Everyone is welcome to join us to experience a Japanese style harvest right here in the USA. Over the two days we will harvest our best nisai, sansai and yonsai.

[MikeM]

Oh, Ross. I'm heartbroken that those are both males. ...Good cause to think about a second pond for just males? .