Feathers and Fins

For some reason I cant quote things but bear with me. Wayne you said players come from High School to the NFL. That is impossible cannot happen by NFL rules the rules clearly state 3 years removed from High School. You also said we have an 8 team playoff and that is not correct either, it is A 4 TEAM play-off as decided by the committee. Perhaps I misunderstood how you meant it to sound but those are the facts, had the copy/paste and quoting been working I would have posted the direct links but im sure you can find them just as easy,

OTF my counters to your arguements are posted the injury issue is not an issue in my opinion as an injury can happen at any time and if you look over the stats its remarkably low when you look at 128 teams and all the players it is a low percentage of the players who are injured severly. Championship games in most sports are decided in some degree by health anyway be it from peewee to pro. The injury arguement to me will never hold weight especially now with so many more rules designed to make the game safer. Maybe 10 years ago I would have agreed but with new technology in safety geer and rules in place to protect players is not an issue anymore. As to the to brutal arguement. I know many people in the workforce same age as these players who work 6 days a week in dangerous trades/job that would love to have it so easy as to be playing a sport. Brutal is loading a roof by hand up a ladder 6 days a week or working in a steel mill 6 days a week, but playing football and all that goes with it I would not even think of putting on the same level as hard working people. They are even if injured still getting an education on schoolarship and when they are done can go in to whatever office job they want. So they get the education and they still have a degree for a job after they get out.

I am going to say it again all be it sounding like a broken record, there is only one way to get a true National Champion and its simple. To do it you have to have a legitimate play-off series based off records for the year and it can be done. But before that let me lay out arguments against it and the contradiction to the arguments. 1. Adding more games is dangerous to the players. Counter is how many games to basketball player ( Approximately 32 ), Volleyball players ( Approximately 28 games ) and Baseball players ( approximately 54 games ) in College play a year not including tournament play? They average double to triple the amount of games player so the justification that it is more dangerous to players in null and void as they just like the previous athletes share a universal risk to injury all be it football is more contact the risk for injury to any player is always present. #2 They are there to get a education; Ok so are the other players of other sports yet anyone who does not believe money is an issue is purely blind. Players pick schools that have the potential to get them in the pro’s. So they are to a degree not their for an education but further their careers. #3 It could but a mediocre team that gets lucky against a team that deserves it more. Sure it could happen, but it happens in the pros as well. It is the nature of the beast. But still puts the record against the record and gives us a true champion based souly off performance on the field and not off voters, polls or computers. Those are the top three arguments against a true play-off scheme and the counter to them. If you agree or disagree with it that’s your view and I appreciate it. I would like one person to point out a viable non-counterable argument why we should not have a true play-off where it pits record against record which in my opinion is the only way to decide a true Champion as it is in all other sports. That all said here is how I believe College Football Championship Game should be decided. #1. We would have to take the current 128 teams and break them in to 8 conferences. #2. Each conference would have 16 team in it. ( Break the down by region, geography however ) #3. Have two conferences play each other ( no games out of those two conferences ) For you NFL fans that’s 32 Teams same amount as in the NFL. #4. Now Play those two conferences against each other just as they do in the NFL ( the prototype or if you will well established model for football ) #5 Using the NFL model again you play the regular season and a post season just like the NFL and you end up with a champion for those two conferences. #6 Take those 8 champions and play them in a final play-off till there is only two teams remaining. #7 The final two teams play for the National championship and we have a true National champion. That is a total of 23 games still below the average for most other college sports regular season and far below the average when you take in tournament play. The season would start the first weekend of September ( Traditional start date ) and be completed by the second weekend of February. Each year you rotate conferences so they don’t play the same conference each year. Making it more competitive and removing some of the weaker schedule arguments. Just for the record the NFL season including Pre-season ( 4 games ), Regular-season ( 16 games ) and Post-season ( up to 4 games ) then SUPERBOWL for a total of for the Super bowl champion of 25 games. Interesting that both College and Pro could have the exact same amount of games played for a National Champion / Super bowl Champion!

Blaze I know and that's why so many people call the BCS a joke. If and its a massive IF both Ohio and Florida loose then Bama by defending NC and combined with voters could actually be in the NC again and the SEC champion by right of playing more ranked opponents than Ohio or Florida would play Bama. I know this way out there in space but until this weekend it could happen and then it could happen still. I have to laugh thinking about it as how many people would be crying and banging their heads on keyboards across the nation but it is funny because its true.

They are just tools, no different than a set of Binos and a topo map when hunting if you learn how to use the tools your odds go up if you don't they don't. Still comes down to the angler being able to not be locked in to one style or bait. The adaptive angler always seems to catch fish when the 1 mentality angler gets much fewer. Combine with local knowledge and well kept logs after time one gets a little closer to understanding the massive brain of a fish. Still think scientist need to stop thinking small brain = not smart... Ya let them fish for a day they might find their big brain is the retarded one lol

Ok Duane got it figured out... You need to get some seat pedestals for your big boat. Weld to metal fence post to then about 2 to 3 ft apart ( don't have measurements on your layout but big enough they sit on the post. then mount the pedestals in your bow and stern seat brackets. This will enable you to tender boat them out to the lake strapped down. Launching should be simple as well as should recovery. and yes I already started playing with the idea for my boat lol I hate you some days.

OP im not just a troller. I do it when conditions dictate but I am also very deadly with jigs, spinners, worms etc. It all depends on the conditions and species I'm after. I use my electronics when bass fishing with very high success rates. What im doing in that conditions is still the same to a degree as I posted above. I side scan an area, then I up and down it marking structure. After that I will go sit out on a specific depth casting past the structure points and bringing the bait back through the strike zone. By doing that I actually increase the strike zone area as im able to cover 360 degrees of it while not ever having to come on it or near it after the scouting trip is done. Many times I will scout it then leave and come back an hour or two later so the area is rested from the scouting. Electronics are extremely valuable but only a small part of it as you have to know how to use them for catching fish but not using them to see the fish. Using them for precise boat control on a contour line is a great tool but takes a lot of practice and self control. The up and down in this situation keeps you away from the target but in great casting position the side scan targets the structure. I actually have one of my sidescan transducers on my bow mount trolling unit and use it to pinpoint the previously marked structure WITHOUT having to turn the boat to find it. To many people get a unit and then don't maximize its potential is my opinion.

Heavily scan an area with side-scan and set up a more finite up and down scan based on the side scans finding for new area. Then Mark all the structure on gps tracking. After that is done I troll the area and zero in to the key structure and type after I have that known I drop aqua-vu on it to see what features they have over others and write them in my log. After that is done the following trips are easy, Troll over all the marked points reference the log at each catch and quickly I have a pattern the fish are on ( Depth, type of cover ) then fish it with whatever lure or bait I think maximizes my chances but the key is the first trip to a new area is purely a scouting and education trip. I want to know everything about the area and map it out. Think of it as hunting you want the most detailed maps and know the forage, cover, choke points etc, fishing is no different but few people seem to put in the time and effort they should.

This much I can say, if Ohio faces Florida, Auburn, Mizz, Bama or Oklahoma in the National Championship I probably wont watch as they will get stomped. Yes they have the deserving record for them to be there but I seriously doubt they can beat any top tier team. If they face FL which I think they will then what Bama did to ND last year will look like a competition in compare. Ohio doesn't have doesn't have a team that can beat a truly good team. They haven't had to face anyone so far with any serious rank. Michigan is the 7th at #10 and could beat them and I hope they do as I would like to see the NC be a game worth watching. Florida has faced 3 ranked team and blown them all out! A Florida Mizz game would be real good IMO as Mizz stopped A&M and I actually think they could stop Florida, Auburn also could. Either of those matching's would make for a fun game. I don't like where Mizz fell in the standings beating 5 ranked teams should have moved them to #3 as Auburn only beat 4 ranked teams. I think to much was put on them beating bama. Interestingly if we were a year ahead the top 4 are suppose to play 1v4 2v3 in playoffs. It would be Bama v Florida... Auburn v Ohio then the National championship and It could likely be Bama v Auburn how furious would fans be to see SEC v SEC again and its a real potential as typically the SEC has 3 to 5 teams in the top 10.

Actually OTF it can happen in the votes.

LMAO. Never happen is my guess

Yes.

I'll make my prediction. Auburn wins by 9. I am a fan of Gus and have been lucky to see him coach a long time he is a winner and always seems to find a way to win and his team believes and that goes a very long way. Mental game is 90% and they have it going on.

Sounds like you need a lay-out blind combined with a portable blind for the morning cooking. Portable is simple take 5 steaks and cut them down to 64'' then get 3 12' x54'' burlap tarps and 3 leaf netting tarps same size as the burlap its fast and light and works very well. I use it a lot and its good for hiding and keeping wind off. when done cooking go get back in the lay-out. With the big freeze coming the creeks and big water will be the ticket by next Sat or Sunday. Looking to be Greenhead city.

UCF will get the Fiesta Bowl at best. Sugar would at this point be Mizz or Auburn v Oklahoma there is an outside chance its Bama v Auburn in the Grudge match from hell.

There are still many possibilities left some realistic some only Gene Rodenberry could come up with, but it is College Ball and I think some days he scripted the games. Who would ever have thought last night Auburn would win let alone with a win like that? Florida will probably be in the Rose Bowl but who will the opponent be is the big question. If the Buckeyes loose last week it gets very interesting, Most likely the winner of the SEC championship game will be the opponent. But with the Big 10 is not high on the list so its possible a 1-loss Sec team still goes even if the Eyes win out. Im all for Record V Record and if 2 undefeated teams are left they should play period. But the Eyes will be decimated by Florida. Their offense is week, yes they can score against lesser opponents but Florida is no way Lesser and their Defense in no way could stop Florida. Now if both loose the Gene Rodenberry script comes in as it very possible it could be (and god help me for saying this) But it could be Bama and the SEC Champion. There is precedence for this "LSU V BAMA" or possibly Bama v Florida. The greatest thin about college ball is it is not over until the last game is played in regular/championship games. Then and only then do we know who goes to the National Championship. We still have a lot of football left before we know.

Movement more than anything is what gives you away. I have shot ducks sitting on a rock covered in pelican crap simply wearing white pants and white shirt. Also killed many sitting in my tracker with the only cover being buck brush I ran in to. Guys who hunt lay-out on the great lakes hunt from uncovered boats and guys on the East coast hunt from Big boats with just raised blinds and they sure don't look like they belong. Movement is the killer. That's a neat Idea he had for certain but seems like just another thing to pack in if you are a walk in hunter, it would be a neat idea for a boat blind though hmmm.

It is neat Marty, Plus you never hear complaints about tracking in mud especially when she is the one who tracks it in lol

Punishment lol. the way you pack mule her you should be thankful it wasn't your butt. Great hunt Marty I got blanked today, and not clue where the geese ran off to even. Someone dropped Bananas on the lake I think lol.

Im guessing Holiday pressure has had an effect, saw very very few birds today and don't even need to clean the gun. Could have made a mergie have a bad day but if I cant eat it I aint shooting it. Need a cold front to reload the lake.

I know the type. When I see birds I hit them with an aggressive Hail Call, if it turns them I turn on the lonesome suzy till they are feet down back peddling. If the first hail call doesn't work they arnt going to play and blowing the dam thing till hell freezes over wont help so why do it? If I see a single on approach and I haven't called why would I want to change what its coming to and throw a call in that could flare it? I get the feeling many people watch to much TV and spend not near enough time at the local ponds watching and listening to birds. My gramps always said let the birds tell you what they want! Not the TV host. And yes there is something special about watching birds work another guys spread and seeing them fall at a distance, I still get a great joy watching others who have put in the time, effort and money to earn those shots. It isn't about the kill more than the fooling a very wary adversary. There is so much to hunting other than buying a kazoo and decoys and shooting. Big water hunting is so different than ponds or shallow water, I would never think about putting out 5 to 20 dozen decoys on a pond or shallow water area but on big water 5dz is minimum and typically its closer to 12 to 14dz. Also requires long line sets to get the decoys away from land, I have been doing it all my life and what I still love most is learning something new every trip and every year. Even toying with the idea of lay-out boats for next year like they do up north ( why not works there should work here and would be something cool to try ). Will need to get about 3 or 4 guys though from what im seeing. Two for the layouts Two in the tender boat but its stuff like these ideas that just make it so much fun.

John the bad thing is there is another group that will hunt the same point the group yesterday did, I was hoping it was that group ( never met them ) but they don't call our birds we don't call their birds and all of us get shots. I told myself if I run into them this year im thanking them for the way they hunt with others around. You can hunt public and close if people just learned to respect others and work together and not screw each others hunt. I tell you I firmly believe its the Duck Dynasty want-to-be crowds this year making so bad. most of them have no clue how to call how to set out decoys or how to work birds and most of all don't know common respect for others. There is always a few each year but I have really seen it more this than in all previous years. Only thing different is that show and they seldom hunt on it so people have no idea not like they would anyway as the Robertsons hunt private land and have no competition. I wish they would do a few shows on ethical hunting ducks gave them all they have they could return the favor.

I like the freeze a lot it gives me the chance to hunt my favorite places ( creeks ) there is something about hunting ducks on a small creek that just makes me giggle all morning. Its almost always limit shooting and so few people believe you when you say a 30ft wide creek is one of the best places to hunt.

Seeing the same thing lots of dirty drakes, I really believe the major fronts have pushed them down faster than normal, I can't believe how easy they are decoying and responding to the calls its like hunting the Dakotas How thick was the ice up there?

If your looking for Striper guides Baileys is hard to beat. As for everything else, I would suggest highly late March early April if your going non-guide, walleye and crappie ( big slabs at that ) are up shallow, bass will be starting to munch crawfish on long points, stripers will be more scattered but with a good striper guide you should get some. I would not advise going after June as the lake gets crowded and more frustrating than fun. Hope that helps feel free to ask questions there are many of us who fish the lake and could and will help the best we can.