Please reference the below article index for determining what back issue(s) of Pond Boss Magazine may suit your needs. This article index is created by Pond Boss Forum Moderator Bill Cody on an annual basis. Please visit the Pond Boss Forum for a robust conversation about a wide variety of topics related to pond management.

NOTE: Topics of: Field notes and Pond to Plate food recipes were not indexed. Occasionally a question with a detailed answer from Ask The Boss (Letters & emails) was indexed and then identified as Q-A postscript.

January - February 2015

Key Topics: Morgans’ Fishery, Hybrid striped bass, Winter aeration, Water quality book, Conference preview, Largemouth bass management, Growing trophy predators, Wildlife planning, Weed treatment – weedkill, Pond friendships, Pond goals, Pond renovation, Trees and pond, Stocker bass.

RON MORGAN’S FISHERY STRATIGIES: Part 2 of 3. Lusk describes the lofty ideas of fishery plans for eight new small connected ponds in TX.

WHAT IS A HYBRID STRIPER: Lusk looks at the basic features of hybrid striped bass.

WINTER AERATION WHY AND HOW: Scott Schillig and Cody explain the reasons for and best three options to aerate a pond during winter. Discuss DO loss in winter, ponds that are candidates for winter kill and winter ice aeration safety.

WATER QUALITY UNEARTHED: Lusk reviews the new book for Aquaculture Water Quality by Dr. Claude Boyd & Craig Tucker.

POND BOSS VI: Preview of the events for the 6th Pond Boss Conference in Dallas TX.

TRADE OFFS IN POND MANAGEMENT: Willis tells us how to increase or improve the growth of largemouth bass. Shows examples of how to use slot limits and the inter-relationships of bass and bluegills.

PRODUCING LARGE NUMBERS OF TROPHY PREDATORY FISH PART 1: Beasley the concept of producing big predators. Four methods to produce the best predators.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLANNING: VanSchaik explains the long term plans needed to improve wildlife. Discusses property description, target species, habitat management, erosion control, predator control, supplemental water, supplemental feed, shelters, Population control.

THINKING IN THE DEEPER WATER: Lusk uses an example of an improper weed treatment and resulting large fish kill for some pond management lessons.

YOUR POND: A PERFECT SETTING: Lahaie remembers how friendly visits, long term friendships, and good memories were created around activities at pond.

OTHER SIDE OF THE POND: Mark Cornwell presents two different views of the same old pond and how to blend the two into different goals.

CONTEMPLATING RENOVATION: Lusk discusses the thought process and cost for rebuilding and old pond versus building a new pond.

DAMS AND TREES: Otto discusses the use and benefits of trees around of ponds. How trees play a role in pond building. Guidelines for trees left in flooded ponds. How trees affect the dam integrity and rules for trees on dams.

SURVIVAL OF PELLET RAISED VERSUS LIVE PREY FED STOCKER FISH: West summarizes survival rates of stocking pellet trained & natural prey raised bass. Second part summarizes how size of stocker bass affects their survival.

March - April 2015

Key Topics: Better management, Largemouth spawn basics, Growing big bass. Water temperature, Morgan’s Pond Pt 3, Yellow perch spawn, Pond memories, Wildlife hunting, Relative weights, PBoss 6 Conference, Put & Take fishery, Leaky ponds, Otto’s pond building book, LM Bass stocking types.

BUILDING YOUR STRTEGY: Your Outlook For Successful Pond Management. Lusk discusses how to create pond goals with some examples. How to evaluate habitat status of your fishery to determine size classes. How water chemistry helps reach your goals, food chain genetics and harvest.

THE SPAWN ROLLS: Lusk discusses the trends of body weight of LM bass throughout the year. Timing of spawning and fish fry development of various fish species.

FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS: Beasley discusses the 100-year history of a fish club lake of 85 acres and what was missing to consistently produce big bass. How he fixed the problems and challenges on a limited budget.

WATER TEMPERATURE: Lusk tells how water temperature plays many roles in a pond. How temperature influences pond balance.

RON MORGAN’S SUCCESSES & NOT SO SUCCESSES, PART III: Lusk summarizes some of the results of the five-weir pond system and affects of having overcrowded fish.

YELLOW PERCH SPAWNING: Willis explains how, when, and where yellow perch spawn. Discusses egg masses, hatching time, enhancing egg production and recruitment.

A MOMENT WITHIN A MOMENT: Lahaie relates how special activities at a pond can produce memories for a life time.

HUNTING AND WILDLIFE: VanSchaik looks in-depth at how hunting and natural production lead to a better balance. Topics are: balance of nature, cruelty, deer population control, density, sex ratio age class, and safety. Excellent article; a must read for all land owners.

RELATIVE WEIGHTS: How to Compare Your Fish. Lusk explains the brief history of relative weight calculation, how to calculate it, seasonal differences, what it means and how to use it to improve your fishery. Standard weight charts for LM bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and crappie.

POND BOSS VI CONFERENCE AND EXPO: Lusk summarizes the events and activities of the 6th PB conference in Dallas TX.

SHOULD I PUT AND TAKE?: Cornwell defines a put and take fishery, why have it, what ponds are best for it, what species to use, how to get the most benefits and what to expect .

DEALING WITH A CHRONIC LEAKER: Lusk presents an example of how to detect pond leaks, what questions to ask, how to resolve the problems of this leaky pond.

WRITING A BOOK: Otto tells how growing up he never thought he would never be able to write a book. Briefly reviews the book chapters.

SURVIVAL OF PELLET RAISED VS LIVE PRED FED STOCKER FISH: West summarizes research that compared stocking of pellet trained bass versus bass raised on natural foods, plus a second project that liked at what sizes of stocker bass best survive transplanting.

May - June 2015

Key Topics: Fred Bingham pond. Aquatic plants. Producing trophy predators. Water’s basic features. Sampling pond fish. Bullhead basics. Keyways, dams, & correct moisture for compaction. Public utility right of ways. Relative weight records. Blotching on LM bass. Advice for fisheries students. Small pond food production. Spillways and outlets, Fish research summaries.

FRED BINGAMAN. A MAN OF MANY PASSIONS: Beth Lahaie tells us about Bingaham pond and Fred’s family.

UNDERWATER GREENERY: GOOD OR BAD?: Lusk describes how plants enhanced a fishery and how plant elimination hurt the fishery. What to look for in choosing beneficial pond plants.

PRODUCING LARGE NUMBERS OF TROPHY PREDATOR FISH - PART 2: Dave Beasley explains predator fish management, two categories of predators, monitoring size classes, ways to grow trophy predators.

THE NATURE OF POND WATER: Dr. Claude Boyd explains the water cycle, how soils affect water quality Plus explains all the basics of what is dissolved in water after it hits the ground. Provides guidelines and acceptable limits of many chemical parameters.

SAMPLING YOUR POND FISH - Part 2: Cody details three simple methods he used to sample and compare the fisheries in 13 ponds.

THOSE DARN BULLIES: Willis tells us all about bullhead catfish with an emphasis on black bullheads, life history, growth rates, feeding habits, and what type pond produces large bullheads.

GETTING TO THE CORE: Mike Gray describes cores of dams and keyways. Correct ways to build them, describes rock overhangs, jointed rock structures, correct dirt moisture for compaction,

PUBLIC UTILITIES, ENERGY DISTRIBUTION AND YOUR LAND: VanSchaik discusses right of ways, their impacts, maintenance contracts, how best to deal with the acquisitions team.

USING RELATIVE WEIGHT RECORDS FOR WISE DECISIONS: Lusk uses an example of how to use relative weight to compare a stunted bass fishery.

THE BASS BLOTCH MYSTERY: Ralph Manns dwells on what causes black pigmentation patches on bass, causes, frequency, and how to reduce it.

ADVICE FOR FISHERIES: Mark Cornwell provided god guidelines for students and pond owners. How to sell yourself and what it takes to succeed in the fisheries profession.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Lusk tells how to use the mini-pond to grow fish for food.

MORE ABOUT SPILLWAYS: Otto defines spillway and explains the two basic types. How to calculate size of outlet pipes, best pipe types to use, when to use drop inlets & siphon tubes. Front side dam protection.

SEEKING INPUT – WHAT INTERESTED YOU?: West summarizes 10 fishery research articles about several topics for catfish, bluegill nesting, electrofishing selectivity, LMB eating stocked perch, yellow perch survival, drawdowns and weeds, cast nets.

July - August 2015

Key Topics: Bass growing plan. Fish sampling. Multiple pond manage. Pond fertilization. Humphrey’s stream pond. Walleye smallmouth competition. Fisheries careers. Weather & wildlife. Redear sunfish facts. McCaskill pond. Winterkill facts. Silt behavior in ponds, Spillways. Bass raised on pellets.

JORDAN WINERY BASS STRATEGY: Lusk describes what it takes for bass fishery to go from average to outstanding.

SIMPLE FISH SMPLING RESULTS - PART 2: Cody presents the results of a simple fish sampling study used in 13 test ponds.

MANAGING MULTIPLE PONDS TO CREATE THE ULTIMATE FISHERY: Beasley provides lessons to use to help maintain a trophy fishery that extends long term. Tips for high catch rates and impact of having clear winter water.

SPORTFISH POND FERTILIZATION: Dr. Boyd summarizes what has been learned about fertilizing ponds after 75 years at Auburn University. How to use the info for sport fish ponds. Topics: retention times, alkalinity, turbidity, fertilizer types, granular vs liquid, aquatic weeds, water temperature.

HUMPHREY’S COUNTY PROJECT: Mike Gary describes the early planning steps needed to convert a small stream into a lake of 10-16 acres.

FISH COMPETITION: Melissa Wuellner and Willis describe fish competition and how it played a role in a smallmouth bass – walleye fishery. Food diets were examined.

A CAREER ON INLAND WATERS: Master’s Degree Opportunity Available. Dr. Willard Harmon describes the Lake Management program at Stat University of New York. An in-depth educational degree.

MORE WEATHER AND WILDLIFE: VanSchaik explains what happens to wildlife during various types of weather extremes of cold wet to hot dry.

REDEAR SUNFISH: Lusk provides some basic facts about redears.

POP’S PLACE: Roddy McCaskill leads us from buying property to designing and building a 11 acre pond to include structure, feeding and mistakes made.

WINTER KILL, SOME LIVED AND SOME DIED: Cornwell describes winter kill causes, vulnerability of species, ponds likely to have it, and dealing with the after affects.

SILT BY DESIGN: Lusk discusses water movement and silt, where silt accumulates, how it affects ponds, and what to do with a silt laden pond.

EMERGENCY SPILLWAYS: Otto tells the need for secondary spillways and how to design them, where to get help, parameters for emergency spillways.

BASS ON PELLETS: West reviews a research study that used two sizes and three diets of floating and sinking pellets to feed second year bass.

September - October 2015

Key Topics: Five basic mgmt concepts. Structure vs cover. Humphery’s project Pt2. Pond turbidity. Shift pond nutrients. Common carp. Bacterial management. Avian flu. Pond box mentality. Mechanical weed harvester. Pumpkinseed sunfish. Floods & drought mgmt. Flooding spillways. Diet studies 7 sunfish.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF POND MANAGEMENT: Lusk discusses the five basic pond management concepts that are useful for all ponds: simple water chemistry, habitat, food chain, genetics, and harvest.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND COVER: Ralph Manns explains how structure differs from cover. Type of cover, where to place it for best use.

HUMPHERY’S COUNTY PROJECT PART 2: Prepping the Site. Mike Gray describes the preparation work needed and complex problems encountered for building a core trench.

TURBIDITY REMOVAL FROM PONDS: Dr. Boyd discusses the disadvantages of turbid ponds. Methods to remove or deduce silt turbidity. Source of turbidity and additions to reduce turbidity.

THE SHIFTING OF NUTRIENTS: Beasley discusses ideas to achieve adequate nutrient concentrations for keeping a good bloom. Tools for helping maintain a good bloom.

COMMON CARP AND YOUR POND: Willis & Lusk compare the differences of Asian cap and common carp. Ways they enter a pond. How to deal with them when present.

NATURAL PONDWATER MANAGEMENT: Darryl Donaldson discusses how bioaugmentation of adding beneficial bacteria can help improve pond conditions.

WILDLIFE ALERT - RETURN OF AVIAN FLU: VanSchaik discusses bird flu, its source, how it is spread, types, common symptoms, sensible prevention and control.

WHAT’S YOUR BOX?: Lusk asks us to examine our pond goals and maybe redefine goals to get a better pond.

THE MECHANICAL HARVESTER: Dr. Bruce Richards tells about the new smaller harvester to keep ponds and lakes in better shape. Describes precision harvesting for fewer plants, algae and dead materials.

PUMPKINSEED ..... INSTEAD OF BLUEGILL: Lusk tells us about pumpkinseed sunfish. Why these fish could be better than bluegill outside the Southeast and Mississippi valley.

FLOODS AND DROUGHTS AND YOUR SMALL POND: Lusk tells how floods and drought affect the mini-pond’s inhabitants. Several ways to check the affects.

HIGH WATER RESCUE 2015: Otto has samples of spillway evaluation and some quick fixes during overflowing flooded ponds.

ABSTRACTS AND STUDIES – READ THEM: Diet studies of seven species of sunfish that include LMB, Blk crappie, Longear ear sunfish, Red spotted sunfish, Redear sunfish, Warmouth.

November - December 2015

Key Topics: Pond aeration. Creating & placing cover. Humphrey's project Pt3. Liming ponds. Renovating fisheries. Seasonal changes studied in Bremer pond. Designing a fishery. Pets vs wildlife management. Ecological balance vs harmony. Tribute: George Glazner. Review: bass dominated fishery. Benefits of small ponds. Flood and drought impacts. Introducing Professional Lake Management Society. Hybrid striped bass new info.

AERATE OR NOT?: Lusk discusses the benefits of aerating, how it works, and why it can reduce chances of fish kills.

CREATING COVER TO ENHANCE STRUCTURE. Ralph Manns discusses beneficial types of fish cover and attractors, what to look for and the best places to locate it.

HUMPHREY’S COUNTY PROJECT PART 3: The Finish Line. Mike Gray explains how he completed building a difficult dam for a large pond in TN.

LIMING SPROTFISH PONDS: Dr. Boyd explains the basics and detailed info about alkalinity, bicarbonate, and types of substances for liming ponds. When and when not to lime, how to sample to determine if lime is needed.

RESETTING FISHERIES: Beasley explains why and how to restart a pond fishery gone bad.

SEASONAL CHANGES IN WATER, TEMPERATURE, AND OXYGEN IN NORTHERN PONDS: Smith, Augspurger, Schubert, Graeb and Willis present several years of water test data at fie-acre Bremer pond increased knowledge for ground water ponds.

DESIGNING YOUR FISHNG PROGRAM: Lusk tells how to combine planning and management ideas to produce a quality fishery. How to keep a good idea from becoming a headache.

PET DOLLARS, ANIMAL WELFARE & WILDLIFE: VanSchaik presents a very good ethical and moral discussion of pets versus farm animals and wildlife. How hunting and fishing are very important tools in management.

ECOLOGICAL HARMONY: Lusk explains how timing is an important part of balance for maintaining the fishery. Discusses how balance is different than ecological harmony.

TRIBUTE TO GEORGE: Lusk summarizes the life and passion for ponds & fly fishing of long time Pond Boss family member George Glazener.

MOE’S POND: IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE: Casscles, Busby, and Cornwell provide an update for a 35-acre bass on bass fishery that started as a golden shiner, bullhead, smallmouth bass fishery and evolved into all stunted LMbass of 4”-14”.

GORDENVILLE PEACE: Lusk describes three big benefits of having a smaller pond.

FLOOD GONE, DROUGHT ON: Otto discusses pond structure repairs after excessive spring flooding.

NEW ORGANIZATION FOR PROFESSIONAL LAKE MANAGERS: Lusk presents info about SLMP Society - Society of Lake Management Professionals.

BY GEORGE, IT’S HYBRID STRIPED BASS: West reviews some of the technical research info about HSB for sport fishing. Includes use of pellet foods, carbohydrate digestibility, spawning, egg type, temperature and dissolved oxygen preferences.