Sam

Glenn, What a wonderful experience. It is also nice knowing that you are welcome with the pros which can only enhance the forum. Thanks for sharing your story and pics. Can't wait for future reports with Ike and others.

That is one of the most ridiculous stories I have ever read. Funny, yes very funny. So where is PETA when you need them? ;D

Muddy, You continue to entertain us. Keep it up! ;D I may send you a McCaine vs. Obama joke via a PM as we cannot post it on the site.

And by the way. Alabama plays Clemson in their season opener. Do you think Bama scheduled Clemson when Clemson was doing that well? Nope. Clemson is a name brand school with a great football tradition but has not jumped into the league with the big boys, as Alabama sees itself with the big boys. So, this year Clemson is loaded and Bama is not. What a surprise to the Bama people. They thought they would beat Clemson and start the season with a nice win but now, Clemson is favored by five points and Bama may be 0-1 when the last second ticks off the clock. Scheduling: the most difficult part of an Athletics Director's and head coach's job.

Matt Fly asked why the big schools do not play each other on a regular basis. I asked this question of a past LSU Director of Athletics a number of years ago and here is what he told me. 1. Some schools do not want the powerhouses visit their location as it can hurt future recruiting. This is why Texas and Texas A&M will not play LSU so LSU plays Houston on an on and off again basis to get into Texas for recruiting purposes. 2. LSU can clear over $8 million for each home game, no matter the opponent. So it is to every school's advantage to have seven or eight home games a year, even if they teams are not high level competition. LSU is playing three Louisiana teams in 2009, which is a first and all games will be sold out. Let's see, $24 million and three wins. Sounds good to me. 3. Why play a highly ranked team and have the possibility of losing? This is why the big schools play the lesser teams to get a victory and to give the lower ranked schools a chance to play in a large arena. Plus the money is good when you play one of the big boys which can make a lower level college football program solvent for the year. 4. Rankings come and go. Penn State can be in the Top 10 this year and next year they are not ranked. Virginia Tech travels to Nebraska this year and Nebraska has not done that well in the past but this is a major game for the Hokies. So schedule Notre Dame when the Irish are weak only to face them when they get strong is not good scheduling. And you have to schedule your games years in the future. So Ohio State, Southern Cal and Georgia are the three big teams this year but if you want to play them you may not get the opportunity until 2015 or later. And how will they be doing in 2015? 5. In the SEC, teams beat each other up during the season so why play Ohio State, Penn State, Oklahoma, Southern Cal, etc. when you know you will have at least five or six major battles on your hands, all of which you could lose? So play a patsie at home; make a lot of money; give the alumni something to be proud about; and get that "W" towards your bowl game scorecard. This is true for the other conferences, too. So every now and then the big boys will play each other to remove the monkey off their back, such as Ohio State playing Southern Cal this year. Otherwise, if you look at the big conference's teams' out-of-conference schedules, you will see the easy games being scheduled more and more. Let's face it, LSU plays Appy State, North Texas, Troy State and Tulane. Not an out-of-conference schedule that gets the blood pumping but it will be four wins at home and at least $32 million dollars in the bank. And then there are schools, such as Tennesssee, who play the big time schools on a regular basis, at least one a year if possible. This year it is UCLA. 6. Money. As said above, LSU can make $8 million for each home game. And football funds the other sports so it is imperative that the big time programs make as much money as they can to fund women's and the lower level men's sports programs and their associated team costs and scholarships. So for these reasons, teams make their schedules fit their program to make their programs stronger; get rich; get more victories; and to get to those bowl games to make the additional money. Just follow the money!

September 20 is the target date to open. I found this out last night at a meeting. So set your alarm clock for 5 AM on September 20 and head to the store. Of course, no guarantee it will be open so double check before you drive to Richmond.

RNO, Have you checked with Disneyworld to fish their ponds? They have half and full day trips and I understand it is very good fishing. You have to go with a guide. I hope to fish the Disneyworld ponds one day.

Keep with the brand names and you can't go wrong. Shimano or Flooger produce excellent reels. Daiwa also has very good products. A 2000 or 2500 should do well.

Roadwarrior is correct. But here are a few extra tips. 1. Spool line on spinning reel either counter clockwise or from the bottom of the spool. 2. Wet a wash cloth with Kevin VanDam's Lure and Line Conditioner or a 100% silicone spray and run your line through the wet spot, wetting the cloth a number of times to keep the spot soaked. After you have spooled your reel, give the line a few sprays from the top and bottom with the Lure and Line Conditioner. 3. Do not overspool your reel. There is no reason to have all that extra line on an ultra-light so leave at least a quater inch from the top of the spool. 4. Use a barrel swivel on your setups. This will help reduce line twist. Otherwise, you are doing fine. Just go out and give it another shot.

Welcome. Glad to have another central Virginia guy with us. And the pretty silver rain is welcome, too. A number of guys fish the Pony Pasture so you will not have trouble finding guys heading out for the smallies. Just ask your questions and you should get a lot of responses.

I have 2 dogs & I was buying a large bag of Pal at Pet Smart and standing inline at the check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog. On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Pal Diet again although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Pal nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again. I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a guy who was behind her. Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital in that condition because I had been poisoned. I told her no; it was because I'd been sitting in the street licking my bxlls and a car hit me. I thought one guy was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard as he staggered out the door. Stupid woman...why else would I buy dog food??

I feel your pain. Isn't it sad that some people have to steal? Makes me sick. What magifies the problem is that people who fish and enjoy the outdoors usually do not steal other guy's equipment so it is tramatic when your equipment is stolen by others who do not enjoy fishing or the great outdoors since we never expect it to happen to us. Now, there are some sick-o's who do fish, hunt and camp and steal items of others, but it is my opinion that these guys are in the minority of jerks. I sincerely hope you get your items back and put an alarm on your home to enhance security.

Bowtech, Have you heard of "finesse crankbait" fishing? You use light line on light spinning gear with small and light crankbaits. Although you have a regular crankbait rig, give "finesse crankbait" fishing a try.

Just noticed post and Catt's response and I agree with the bow arrangement. You want to see where you are going and what is under the boat. Are the models removable? I would think you would like to remove them and bring them inside so they will not get stolen or damaged when not in use.

Glad you are having some success. Water levels are down at least three feet in central Virginia and we need rain, bad. After it rains I will try a Spook, but probably a baby. Later.

Here is a trailer I sent Catt but I thought everyone would enjoy it. The Boys from Boone are serious about the LSU opener in Tiger Stadium this Saturday. The fact is that Appy State has never scored a point on LSU and I sincerely hope that record stands after Saturday's game. Should be a fun game. http://www.nascarmediagroup.com/clients/app_state/trailer/app_state_trailer.wmv

Avid, Sorry, but I don't follow soccer and did not see the matches. I will watch some of the World Cup matches as that is beautiful soccer but that's about it. Waters cleared from the storm and are you back on Lake Avid fishing?

Muddy, Please do not go out naked. You could win first prize in the dried flower arrangements at the State Fair if the old ladies see you. ;D ;D ;D

This is terrible. What a terrible loss to his family and the local community. Prayers are sent.

This Friday, August 29th is "Wear Your Colors" day. This means that you are to wear your favorite college or professional football team colors on Friday. I not only plan to wear my colors but to fly my LSU flags on my car! Anything to drive the Hokies crazy! ;D

You have a wonderful place to relax and have a good time. This is what fishing is all about. A few tournaments now and then are OK, but a peaceful setting with Mother Nature can't be beat. Thanks for sharing.

Hey Dave, Can I vote for all of them?????? ;D ;D ;D

Welcome to the best forum on the net. Since you are in Tuscaloosa we expect you to talk some Alabama football smack during the season in the Everything Else section. In return, we will try to answer your questions. When you catch a nice bass, be sure to yell Roll Tide. When you lose a nice bass be sure to yell War Eagle. When you win a bass tournament be sure to yell Geaux Tigers. ;D

Remember how bass hunt. Sight Vibrations Noise Since the river is dirty the sight sense becomes the last sense that bass will use and at the last instant before locating your bait and striking it on your dirty river. So you have to attract them to your baits. Think moving baits that give off vibrations and noise. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, Beatle Spins, Roostertails, Chatterbaits, etc. Anything that gives off both vibrations and noise so the bass can locate your bait. As for colors, if the water is dirty then color may not be that important until the bass get close enough to see your bait. Since you are seeking reaction strikes they will probably hit what you throw so you can go with the white/chartreuse or darker colors, whichever you find they are seeking. So always think about how bass feed and the water conditions you are fishing. I also suggest reading a few bass books this winter so you will understand your opponent.

I took LBH's advice and purchased a Mustang Survival Jacket and it is fantastic. It doubles as a PFD and it will keep you toasty warm. Look them up on the internet and you can see them.