Pond Boss Magazine: From the Boss's Desk

Such a mindset—I’ve tricked myself thinking we’re getting cheated out of part of the day. But it’s easier to see nature is just asking us to rest a little more. After all, that’s happening outside. Nature is taking its winter break. That doesn’t mean our ponds aren’t active. They are. Just taking a slower pace.

Our plankton blooms have collapsed, aquatic insects finished seasonal lifecycles until spring, plants are dormant and fish are slowing down.

Be on guard for river otters and migrating fish-eating birds, especially cormorants. I can’t tell you what to do about them, except trap otters where it’s legal…if that’s your deal.

Christmas is around the corner, then we say “adios” to 2025 and open the door for another new year. The freshness of January 1 seems welcoming, because of the word “new”. By then, your pond will be starting to shift. Water will be a little bit “happier” in the coolness, fish will be sluggish, but gaining egg mass, preparing for spring spawns.

Even though biology is slow, its resting phase is simply a shift, preparing for next season, just like it did last season, and seasons before.

This issue is chock full of good stuff, especially articles about aquatic invertebrates. Digest those, for sure. It will influence what you do with your water.

Especially read “Age Discrimination”. Insightful and helps you dig deeper into decision-making about your fishery, especially folks with overcrowded bass populations.

Oh, and on a personal note—my adult kids called my hand and asked me to write down some of my favorite stories, so I did. Then, I bounced them off some friends, who convinced me to take about half of them and put them into a book, so I did. It has not much to do about pond management, but personal stories about this cool life I’ve led. See the ad inside these pages.

Merry Christmas!

A series dedicated to Bob Lusk's general musings about land, water and life.