Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations POND BOSS NEWS: Nearly Live From PondCon!

Collected Notes, Thoughts, and Hallucinations from beautiful Arlington, Texas
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DAY O: TRAVEL

My hats off to TSA; they really seemed to have their stuff together.

How to tell Texans from Ahians while waiting for your flight at the airport: Texans returning home after a short time up North have residual suntans; Ahians heading to Texas after a long Winter have residual chilblains.

I'm glad I didn't fly on one of the carriers advertising "Oxygen will be available for purchase in the cabin."

On the shuttle ride from DFW Airport to the Wyndham Arlington, you couldn't fling a dead cat without hitting a PB conventioneer.

DAY 0: Afterhours

Being introduced to all the best friends I'd never met was really neat. It is amazing how many of the people behind the handles on this forum turn out to be bigger-than-life personalities - everyone seems to be 6 feet tall with movie star good looks. Except Sunil.

Bob Lusk himself is bigger than bigger-than-life, a big brawny 6 and a half footer with broad shoulders and a broader mind. He has a vision of the Pond Management industry so intense that when he talks, the audience sees that vision big and clear. Favorite Lusk quote so far, on the success of Pond Boss: "Sometimes I lay in bed at night and start to giggle, 'cause I get jealous of myself." All in all, a marvelous man without whom none of this could have happened. Thanks so much, Bob!

Dang I had to do two google searches just to figure out what the heck you were talking about. Do I live a sheltered life or what?


Tell Bob to stand in line, we are all jealous of him. But then again I guess it is proof that hard work really does pay off.

Oh and Ewest keep a close eye on Bob Lusk, while posting on PB a while back I mentioned to him that I thought he had cloned himself. He denied it but I'm still not convinced that he hasn't cloned himself. It seems like Bob is everywhere doing everything all at the same time. Perhaps you could covertly tag him some how to ensure there is just one of him.

Ditto, the things you learn at Pond Boss.

I haven't been a Ahian long enough to get chilblains. Good to know what's coming.

Keep us posted!

Here are some more.



Founding Editor Mark McDonald (l) and Greg Grimes (r)


? (l); Louis Schorp with Sweeney (m); and Billy Klemnstein with Sweeney (r)

ewest, first....thanks for posting some pics!!

second.....since ya didnt put in any captions, i take it yer inviting guesses on who's in the pics??

top one.....greg grimes?

second one......could that be mr. mcbutterpants on the right??

bottom.....cecil givin a speech?

keep em comin when you have time, and thanks again.

The princess Debbie (l); Ray Scott, and two of Floating Island International's key people on the right, from Montana.

hmmmm....ray scott?

NOT F McB.

Day 1: More Personalities

Mike Otto: Seems like a good man to know when you need bailed out of the county lockup. It's always nice when a Yale Law Grad makes something of himself.

Cecil Baird: Will be played by Tom Cruise in the PB movie, but is much less Scientological.

Bill Cody: We know how packed full of information Bill is from the forum. In person, he is packed even more full of life and (infectious) laughter.

Note: All the talks given by the many experts here are being videorecorded and will be available on DVD. So you guys at home can get a copy of everything, too. Lots of us here are planning on getting the video, because the schedule is jammed so full of information it's only possible to personally attend about 2/3 of the sessions.

Eric
Thanks for the updates! Sorry I could not be there with you good folks. I CANNOT WAIT for the DVD!

Frank

Another big thank you, Eric. You seem to always do the right things to help people out. Always much appreciated.

" everyone seems to be 6 feet tall with movie star good looks. Except Sunil." Well, Sunil actually IS a movie star, aka 'Flipper'. Have a Shiner Blonde on me, Sunil. Send me the bill.

Guys some of the info above was posted by Bruce and Theo. We only have one 'puter at the booth and all are using it with my sign-in.

More pics soon. B'ski how did you know that was CB1? Almost all the text is Theo and Bruce. I am doing pics.

Guys we raised $6200.00 at the silent auction for Dave Willis fisheries research via aid to his fisheries management students at SDSU. That was on about 10 days notice from the vendors that they wanted to do that and from the vendors and attendees. George is one fly tie-in dude and his packet of flies along with the ones Bruce tied (just as outstanding as his CSBG) sold for more than $200. We had to take George's stuff away from him as he was working like a mad man tying and teaching at 80+ years until his hands hurt.

What a time !!! Sunil's been holding court as expected and about 25 of us ended up with DD1 and his top B'bq spot last night. Boy that was some great Q and time together. Ready for day 2.

WE WISH YOU WERE HERE WIYH US !!

Did anyone mention that we're having great fun?

Thanks for posting Eric!! Looks like a great time.

Man, I'd have given my left opercle to have been able to attend and rub elbows with all you guys and gals.

Thanks again, all you moderators and exhibitors. A toast to day 2 with tomato juice spiked with lemon and tabasco. Heading off now with little Burger to the 3rd power. He is excited about his new green boots with frog eyes on the toes.

True to form, everyone is even more of a character, in person, then they are on the forum, and I mean that in a good way (sort of...).

Unfortunately, the dinner I set up for Thursday evening at Texas Land & Cattle caused bi-lateral, late-night purging for a few of the antendees, however, they did bounce back nicely for Friday's activities.

I somehow staved off any food poisoning for myself by making a strategic shift to Maker's Mark at about 10:30 PM. However, I may have suffered slightly on Friday morning.

WOW.....What a great day at the convention on friday. Thanks bruce for some much needed wisdom. Thanks bob for a first class event. The aprons with lunch in the pocket was brilliant and sure to be a collectors item.

Bob


Trent Lewis


Greg , Matt and Kellie Duffie


Dr. Mark Griffin -- Purina

FMcB



James Holt & Larry "Fishinglth" making pellet flies


Dr. Anderson at breakout session



Sue Cruz



Cary , Bill and Dr. Cornwell

Theo, Ewest & company are probably packing up by now, but here are a few pictures that I took during the conference - when time permitted (which wasn't much).

Lusk receiving his "POND BOSS MASCOT" award.




Lusk & Founding PB Editor Mark McDonald


Lusk "SHOWING" us how big our bass will grow with a little TLC.


Veteran fish-meister Malcolm Johnson


The attendees listening to Mac McCune

Im sitting back at the hotel in arlington. Every pond boss member needs to mark their calendar for next years conference. It will fill up fast cause this was an awesome event. The speakers were phenomenal, the vendors left with literally thousands of my dollars, and the pond boss moderators answered every question i could possibly think of.
Also it is really neat to put faces to names.

Unbelievable experience! Great Speakers and topics. So many knowledgeable people to ask questions to and the exhibitors were also great.
More than I expected. Was alot of fun to meet the moderators, I think Bob would agree they were a huge help to the success of the convention.

Great pics, guys.

I'm back home now, awaiting word from the Island of Lost Luggage.

I'll enter my notes from the rest of the Conference.

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DAY 2: SESSIONS

All the presentations (that I have been able to see) have been real interesting. They have varied from topics simple for the laymen to stuff I was glad I had picked up a lot of knowledge from the forum to help me understand.

Even things that will probably never apply to me (like Mike Mitchell's Rocky Mountain High Stream Restoration talk) were fascinating.

MORE PERSONALITIES:

Eric West: Open the Oxford (Mississippi) English Dictionary to the entry for "Southern Gentleman." The picture you see will be Eric's.

Bruce Condello: The bright, eager eyes and enthusiasm of a 10-year old; the experience and ability such as many need a lifetime to gain.
{Bruce: To help remind you, this is Fred Ward:


I couldn't find a photo of him presenting "The Look" (Thank the Almighty), but then I don't know that he ever did three straight shots of Jack Daniels with a Fatty McButterpants chaser.}

Dave Davidson: 1 part Mel Torme, 1 part Mel Tillis, 1 part Mel Blanc, and 1 part Mel's Diner.

George Glazener: God blessed me with a wonderful loving Grandfather who taught me fishing and boating, then called him home 28 years ago. Now He has blessed be again with the opportunity to get to know George.

Sunil: The smart, annoying little brother that you love anyway.

FMcB (appearance): See any picture of Dr. Mark Cornwell, then think large economy size.
FMcB (presence): 25 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound sack.

Ed Eitel: I feel like I have known Ed my whole life, I just can't remember where I met him before Thursday night.

DAY 3: HOMEWARD BOUND

I am exhausted; this has been the most intense 2 1/2 days I can remember. Got like 4 hours sleep between being all cranked up and getting up at 0-Dark-30. Got to say good bye to Cecil and Cody in the Lobby; I hope your flight through Chicago went better than mine.

Got to fly over the Liberty Nature Preserve; Brettski, you have a lot of standing water.

Home now; they sure have great people and great food in Texas. Stopped at White Castle on the way home from the airport.

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Let's do this again next year. Y'all come back now, y'hear?

Moderators -- Bruce , Bill , Eric , Dave & Theo



2 pics of Forum members some in 1 pic but not in the other.





The following are a few thoughts about the some of the PB forum members. Not about what they know about ponds nor about the other outstanding folks there (vendors , speakers and non-forum attendees) nor about the info exchanged. I know I will leave something out (lots I am sure) and after my brain clears I will try round 2. Please others join in this and help me out !! No order to this just random thoughts about this awesome PB family.

Bob Lusk -- At one point on Sat (mid day) during a break out session while there was a short lull in activity in the main room Bob came back to the PB booth (next to Moderator's booth) . He sat down and was overwhelmed and awed by the outpouring , emotion , passion and scope of how the the event unfolded. When your efforts result in an accomplishment that exceeds your best dreams by 10 fold ,because so many have given so much, one becomes shocked by the magnitude of the event and the magic of the moment.

Debbie and the PB staff -- beyond comparison and a big reason why the magic of the event unfolded.

Theo -- the brother you always wanted. The real reason he does what he does is he cares about you !!

George -- As an 82 year old cancer survivor he worked on tying and teaching about flies and life until his hands hurt. We had to stop him from doing more. You want a hero - look there.

Bruce -- This is who you want for your best friend. Solid as a rock and much more than you imagined , even when you had high expectations.

Dave D. -- When George was sick in the hospital Dave took George a PB hat. It helped George through the fight. George wanted to help out Dave Willis' students so he got the moderators to sign his PB hat and donated it to the auction (over $200 IIRC). Dave knew how much that hat meant to George so he bought another one and got all George's PB friends to sign it and presented it to George at the podium in front of the entire conference. Dave gave up a weekend with his partner to be with us.

Bill C. -- An amazing guy with a sense of humor to match Theo's. Always helping , always teaching, encouraging you to reach for the stars in your journey to learning. The coach you always looked to in your striving to improve.

Greg G. -- It took a strong and brave man to stand at the front and relate to the crowd how his friends on the forum helped him when he was struggling to have a family. Prayers answered. I am proud of you Greg.

Sunil -- An effort beyond the call of duty to help arrange for us all have the chance to visit and network and build the real ties that bind this family. Good job with a difficult task.

Ed -- Sunshine and energy in a bottle. What a great personality and a truly nice guy.

Todd -- A Herculean effort to bring us live fish to watch . They added a lot and the risk you took speaks volumes about how much you care.

Eastland -- Thanks for sharing your dad with us . You guys are a joy and brightened the day.

Chad F. --- Bob you are lucky to have him on your team. He sure helped us moderators out - a lot.

A start more later.