Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,899
Posts557,051
Members18,451
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,407
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
4 members (Brandon Larson, Blestfarmpond, Layne, Angler8689), 634 guests, and 143 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#556698 03/24/23 07:47 PM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
A
OP Online Content
A
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
Yesterday I talked with some of the folks who were pumping water into my forage pond. They love fishing and eating fish, so were very interested in what was going on.

Honestly, I didn't fully appreciate the amount of knowledge Pond Boss has passed along. They liked panfish, particularly crappie, and had recently stocked a pond with a mix of bluegill and crappie. No bass, as they wanted no competition for those white filets! This is likely gonna cause some problems with overpopulation, but that's not on their radar. Neither is water chemistry.

When they asked to fish at my place, they were shocked that I said to harvest BG smaller than 9 inches, rather than larger. Ditto with 14 inch LMB. A keeper was a big fish, not a smaller one, didn't I know that??? They agreed to abide by my rules, but found them bizarre.

The whole deal gave me new perspective on how much I've learned from PB. There was a time when I too would have kept the bigguns & thrown back the little guys, confident that the little uns would grow to replace the bigguns. LMB were either infinite in numbers -- take out as many as you like! -- or, later, strict catch & release was necessary. Harvesting the smaller bass while returning the large fish was just plain weird. Clear water was cleaner & better, of course. As for alkalinity, what the heck was that?

So, PB, Bob Lusk, and my fellow pondmeisters, keep up the good work. We are better stewards with more knowledge, and there's lots of folks out there who could benefit!


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




8 members like this: lmoore, Augie, Snipe, Dave Davidson1, RAH, 4CornersPuddle
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Online Content
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
About 100 years ago, I was at the County NRCS office to talk to them about how to build a pond. The waiting area had a new magazine called Pond Boss. They said I could have it. BTW, that was in the days when I already knew everything I needed to. I read it and it had a lot of stuff that I had never considered. It only had about 15 pages. Not sure it was in color. It said expect a coming website and forum. I called and talked to Lusk and got a subscription. He also said he would call me when the website and forum went live. He did and the hook was set. A guy named Cody showed up about the time I did and talked about things, new to me, about balanced water. I figured that was BS and found out the hard and expensive way that Bill was right. Early members were me, Cody, Cecil Baird and a bunch of Louisiana Cajuns.

Everything I know, learned and sometimes have either forgotten or ignored has come from here or the PB mag and this site.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 03/25/23 05:39 AM.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
4 members like this: DrLuke, anthropic, FishinRod, RAH
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,938
Likes: 268
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,938
Likes: 268
When we built our first pond, I went looking for pertinent info and reading material on-line. I found a site called Bassresource.com that had some good articles about pond management, all of which seemed to be written by some guy named Bob Lusk and reprinted from a magazine named Pond Boss. ( I still remember his advice "Harvest the garden.") That got me started, and I've been wasting spending time here ever since. Along with a lot of fish harvesting (and eating).


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]
2 members like this: anthropic, FishinRod
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 281
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,685
Likes: 281
I remember finding some kind of 'early' forum type set-up by the state of Mississippi.

Some poster asked a question, and some guy named "Cody" told him if he really wanted answers, to come over to Pond Boss.

That was 20 years ago.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 33
J
Offline
J
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 33
I found this forum via a Google search. Lurked for a bit and decided to participate.

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
T
Member
Offline
Member
T
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
I cannot tell you how many folks I have referred to Pond Boss - I am an avid hunter and on several hunting forum where pond questions/threads come up and I always suggest they look at this site and the magazine - great resource for sure

3 members like this: anthropic, FishinRod, RAH
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
I even ask hunting questions on this forum!

There are many members that also heavily manage their properties for wildlife. I have found them to be an excellent resource as I have starting managing the habitat on my property.

I also go to the hunting forums. However, I "know" the people on Pond Boss much better and we have seem to have very few blowhards or braggarts. I trust PB advice a little more as a consequence.

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
T
Member
Offline
Member
T
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
Yes the hunting forums can get pretty rowdy - lots of keyboard warriors for sure -

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
T
Member
Offline
Member
T
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
well I have figured out how to manage a low fence South Texas ranch for the past 15 years so now I am working on the big fish part!

Attached Images
IMG_0023.JPG IMG_1842.JPG
4 members like this: FishinRod, RAH, catscratch, anthropic
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,407
Likes: 788
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,407
Likes: 788
Dang, those are some nice deer. Hopefully we can steer you to growing fish with the same success.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
Great monster bucks!

You probably need to build a good pond just to make sure they have enough water.

Enough deer that big will probably add another 1/4" per day to your evaporative water losses. grin

1 member likes this: DrLuke
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Online Content
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
Doesn’t take long to see Lampasas.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
T
Member
Offline
Member
T
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 469
Likes: 26
Originally Posted by Dave Davidson1
Doesn’t take long to see Lampasas.


sorry - not sure what that means?

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
Originally Posted by tim k
Originally Posted by Dave Davidson1
Doesn’t take long to see Lampasas.


sorry - not sure what that means?

He is implying that it is a very small town.

If you blink while you are driving then you will miss it.

Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
A
OP Online Content
A
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
I'm hoping small(er) towns will make a comeback what with communications tech & ability to work from home. Sadly, cities are in decline due to increased crime, high taxes & cost of living, bad schools, and general disorder. Healthy children need to connect with the outdoors, including outdoor pets & activities such as fishing!


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 884
Likes: 201
G
Offline
G
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 884
Likes: 201
Originally Posted by anthropic
I'm hoping small(er) towns will make a comeback what with communications tech & ability to work from home. Sadly, cities are in decline due to increased crime, high taxes & cost of living, bad schools, and general disorder. Healthy children need to connect with the outdoors, including outdoor pets & activities such as fishing!

Unfortunately I dont see them gaining much advantage in the near future, with the giant stores and companies putting pretty much all small mom and pop stores out of business, even down to filling stations, if you dont have an 18 pump filling stations you are gonna be out of business soon. You have Dollar stores and Caseys trying to cater to smaller communities but the frustrating part is the doggone small town consumer, instead of patronizing these smaller entities, most of them will drive 5 miles to buy gas for 2 cents less, or order crap from giant online sellers such as Amazon instead of patronizing their local guy because they can buy window cleaner for 20cents less per bottle shipped to their house, and all their tax monies went to some distant state.
Now we have UPS and Fedex drivers tearing up and down county roads and very little tax money coming into the community from it.

Ok I will get off my pedestal now, rant over.


All the really good ideas I've ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.
2 members like this: anthropic, FishinRod
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
F
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
F
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 583
Our small towns (southern Kansas) are also still losing population.

One factor in my area is that the average farm size is increasing due to economies of scale. Also, some of the farm families sell out and leave when they have three children and none of them want to stay and continue the "family business".

Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
A
OP Online Content
A
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
The worldwide trend has been toward urbanization, but now many cities are experiencing population loss due to crime, taxes, prices, etc. And there has been a general movement out of states dominated by one or two large cities, such as New York, Illinois, and California. I guess suburbs are benefiting the most so far, but would love to see towns make a comeback!


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Online Content
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
Anthropic, I see the changes as people have migrated away from the huddled masses to less populous places. Texas real estate has gotten nuts.

I have my home, 2 rent houses, and my rural 133 acre property. My home phone rings continually and my mail box gets something almost daily regarding my real estate.

I’m going to totally refurbish one rent house and sell it. It will go for about 4 to 5 times what we paid for it 30 years ago. Of course, due to inflation, the refurb will also be expensive. And, I’ll have to recapture the depreciation and pay some nasty taxes on the gain. I’m having some cabinet doors replaced. That now takes 60+ days. $200 each for new cabinet drawers and or drawers.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 04/14/23 07:40 PM.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
A
OP Online Content
A
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
Dave, it's wonderful that you already had real estate before the latest Texas boom! I've had offers on my little place, but they are absurdly low, like one-third of what I paid for the pre-pond raw land in 2015! Guess it's like those come ons from online Nigerian princes, it only takes one naive person in a thousand to make a scam worthwhile.


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160





Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Rainman - 03/28/24 02:53 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by Mark Dyer - 03/27/24 10:18 PM
Reducing fish biomass
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:17 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:05 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:02 PM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by Bill Cody - 03/27/24 10:18 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by esshup - 03/27/24 08:47 AM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by esshup - 03/26/24 10:00 PM
Freeze Danger? - Electric Diaphragm Pump
by esshup - 03/26/24 09:47 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5