Mudhole made a good suggestion I think. How about a section in the Mag titled FROM THE POND BOSS FORUM. And then BOB can put in his comments/thoughts. Or FROM the Wednesday PB Facebook videos where he might tell/describe the topic of the Wed show. And I still like the idea where we tell of our pond mistakes so that others might learn from attempts to improve/manage things related to ponds.
Bathing suit issue? *shudder!* Recently I haven't had much time to read magazines other than on the can. The 13yo kiddo is taking up my time along with building a garden pond.
I don't think it would hurt to have a "micro pond" section covering construction techniques, care, product reviews, wintering, aquariums, and so on. Granted it is a fairly crowded market, but it wouldn't alienate that whole group either. A lot of the same applies to the little ponds like aging, fish care, and dealing with muck. How it is handled is a bit different.
Like in my case, being up to my nose and armpits in muck cleaning rocks out of the bottom of a lined pond, and siphoning the crud out. Stir it up like a giant milkshake and a siphon does an admirable job of pulling that crud out. Just look out for those stinging and biting water bugs. No loose swim shorts allowed.
Pond Boss World Tour IV, or is it VI? Visiting a few subscribers diggs and doing stories on their places as you did a new years ago would make for some interesting articles. As you did with us a few years ago. You don't even need to write about us, but we would put you up for a night or two. After all, you don't get enough travel do you.
"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far." � Neil Simon,
Pond Boss World Tour IV, or is it VI? Visiting a few subscribers diggs and doing stories on their places as you did a new years ago would make for some interesting articles. As you did with us a few years ago. You don't even need to write about us, but we would put you up for a night or two. After all, you don't get enough travel do you.
I love this idea - many years ago I invited Bob to turkey hunt at my ranch and stay in our B&B in exchange for him analyzing my pond. He wrote an awesome article about it all and I was lucky to be on the cover.
Obviously Bob cannot travel all over doing articles but regular folks contributing articles about how they managed and built their ponds is very interesting. I think of some of the hunting magazines (Texas trophy Hunter) and half their articles are regular folks contributing articles of how they hunted a deer, etc.
Bob task me with writing a science based column. Most science based studies are University/Gov based and not necessarily small water oriented. So I search for info that may be applicable to us PB people. I try to avoid statistics and unknown terminology and put them in common terms if possible.
I try to cross sell the Mag. and Forum (tie them together). To search for the best material I need to know what to look for - that involves you telling me what you want/like. Let's hear your ideas on how to approach the science within your pond.
Let's hear your ideas on how to approach the science within your pond.
I have just started water testing and could use something beyond what parameters to test for...more along the lines of what the results mean and how to interpret.
I can see this being multiple articles starting with some "kick-starts", then add more depth, and bring it home with some of that deep stuff you so often produce.
I don't think my patience can go a whole year...so you could just do one big article, maybe a whole issue to itself. lol
Noted - the mag has articles on water quality by the best man in the business - Dr. Claude Boyd - he literally wrote the book on the subject. I will keep an eye open for water quality and fish interaction info as well.
there are lots of articles are in past PB issues on water testing parameters and what they mean. Every issue since May-Jun 2015 has had a water chemically oriented article by Dr.Boyd. He discusses well each topic. See these links below to prior PB issue topics for the last couple years. You will have to scan each issue for the water chemical topic. What other pond water testing - chemical info are desired or wanted?? Quote by QuarterAcre: ""more along the lines of what the results mean and how to interpret.""
The wildlife articles could definitely go. Most are for you southern guys. What's a quail? lol I want to read about ponds not deer, and quail. You can skip the recipe articles too. 97% of your audience is male. Most of us never cook.
Need some more articles on pond forage for Northern waters. Gizzard shad don't work, threadfin,, too cold. GS have a parasite, so what's left? Would TFS be perfect for us? They populate like crazy then would be gone in the winter. Delve into, and encourage northern guys to raise other types of bait fish in their forage ponds. Heck, you could even have two separate issues. This should be a featured article every issue. Northern and Southern version. And no, most of us in the north do not have trout in our ponds. We are flatlanders and the climate is too warm.
Some articles, like water chemistry are dry and boring. Stop it! You read it Bob, and then interpret if for us lower IQ guys.
"I renovated my old pond" article every month. I bet there are thousands of old ponds out there that need to be fixed up. Every month an article on someone that renovated one. Include how much it cost too. That way the rest of us can get an idea on what we are in for.
More DIY articles for guys that don't have million dollar ranches in Texas. Example, I made my own structure. I made my own aeration system, I made my own muck rake, I made my own dock, I made my own electro fishing boat. Stay away from Field and Stream disease. This is where they write about their $30k hunts in Africa. A lot of your audience is poor country boys.
Should we be restocking older smaller ponds to increase genetic diversity? How? Self managing an older pond article every issue.
This isn't really for the mag but for the forum. Can we get a map of (those who are willing) the people on the forum? I like to use google maps and check out other peoples ponds, lakes. I'm not afraid to put my address in there.
I would like to learn more about specific non-fish residents of our ponds. Although many readers are big-bass oriented, many of us really enjoy a wide diversity of wildlife in, above and around our ponds.
Invertebrates (insects, molluscs, crustaceans etc), amphibians frogs-to-newts, reptiles and birds come to mind. Also articles on specific plants such as pickerelweed, cattail, etc.
Identification, role in the ecosystem, habitat, benefits, risks, controls etc.
4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
A section could be added on Gadgets & Thingamabobs submitted by readers - maybe publish two submissions per magazine! This would bring in ideas from the entire readership and would be great way to learn some neat ideas.
There are things like boat ramps, Secchi dish depth sticks, feeder shelves, siphon screens, turtle trap retriever poles, portable water falls, beaver tree protectors, rod hangers for SUV’s, poacher security cameras,etc.etc.———no telling what these pond guys have created.
Maybe an annual contest?
Now, I truly enjoy Pond Boss Magazine as is! New ideas will keep it strong and keep Pondology thriving!
Well Mr. Lusk I guess its the thought that counts right. I'v been stood up by better looking LOL. There is always more days ahead (I hope). That is a standing offer whenever.
Also Mr. Lusk I do want to thank you. This forum has a vast array of knowledge in its members from the top dogs to us new guys playing in the mud. It has been very helpful of helping me turn a thought in my head to a nice place for my family.
How about a pond calendar? It could be a contest to see whos pond makes the cut. I would bye one. It would be a honor someday for my BOW to make it on a calendar. Im not to the point yet on being ready but someday it will be there.