Capt Vince Pierleoni

OK, it's approx 8 weeks til people start splashing, there is little safe ice, and many of the tribs are a muddy mess. Lets talk deer cams! I never played with Deer cams until late last Summer. It didn't take me long to realize there is a science to it. I started with IR cameras, because I thought they were the latest and the greatest. I soon learned that the deer aren't crazy about them. Not sure if it was the red lights or some sound they are detecting. I saw the beautiful pics Rebel and Chromeslayer were getting with flash cams despite the bright flash. I started experimenting with a Cuddeback this post season. Not only does it take pics that are fantastic, the deer show little concern despite the repeated flashing. What have you guys that have used these for years seen? I think they could be great tools for pre-season scouting, but I'd think twice before using the IR's around mature bucks. What observations have you guys made?

Stan, That Niners team is one intense squad. I have seen every game Eli has played, and he has NEVER gotten beat up and hammered like that! At times, it seemed like they had 14 guys on the field on defense! A team to be proud of for sure. I'm a big Coughlin backer, so I will point out two veteran moves-- rather than play a speedy gamebreaker taking punt returns, he chose to put his starting CB (Ross) back there. As powerful as big 6'4" Jacobs CAN be running the ball, when he "tip toed" on that super critical 4th and 1 in the first half, Coughlin rarely sent him back on the field. Smaller Bradshaw was running harder. You are right Stan, that Niners team will only improve.

Frustrating as it is, its impossible for the discussed changes to be rolled out prematurely. In an effort to quell the negativity(which unfortunately I was a part of last season) changes are being discussed thoroughly. I'm sure that people can understand how complicated it is dealing with 4 different events, in 4 different counties. I have delved into it, and offered input. I have been told that it will be finalized this week. Knowing in advance that you can't please everyone, all the parties involved are trying to reach a consensus on some important points. One of the comments I heard was, "the Tournament marketplace has changed, we are trying to address that." To me, that is an encouraging statement.

Have a great day!

No "smack talk" from Giants fans here, tons of respect for the Niners and their fundamentals. I think you can see it Coughlins face, that he appreciates how they win football games. You gotta beat the Niners, because they're not gonna beat themselves. Disciplined squads in all 3 phases. Should be a great game. Blue Ghost, I think how it will go depends very much on the Giants being able to do SOME running. Noone has been able to blast the Niners running, but we have to keep that very fast defense playing honest. That will open up the Giants passing game which has been their strength all year. Eli has proven to be a fine QB in inclement weather. Being nervous is just part of being in the Championship game and being a fan, comes with the territory. I will put my faith in the coaching staff and this team and whatever happens happens. I think that AFC game could be closer than people think, too.

If guys are going to play roulette with the ice this winter, it would probably be money well spent to invest in a survival suit. Most Captains on the Niagara wear them. They have flotation in them, and are insulated to buy time against hypothermia should you find yourself in the water. It can happen in the blink of an eye. In the late 70's I watched a guy chase his dog across safe ice on Braddocks out on to dangerous ice--thankfully it was shallow-and both were saved.

Hey Stan, So the niners are your team? Whats the feeling of the niners about a sloppy field, help or hurt your team? Also, what was the deal between Harbaugh and Schwartz? At the end of the niners/Lions game, Harbaugh dissed the lions coach. Was this something from the past or something that went on in the game? I know years ago Harbaugh and Kelly would get into it.

As has been posted earlier on here, this years seminar will pick up where we left off and be more advanced. That being said, we had tremendous feedback from attendees regarding getting their specific topics and concerns addressed.We heard about it well into the 2011 season. A segment of the day will be allotted to this again this year. If you have something you would like talked about and are registered or plan on registering, you can post it here or send LOTSA an email. Thanks, Vince

Better days are coming Tim. Chan Gailey sitting Stevie Johnson down after taking yet another celebration penalty that hurt the team, was a move for the future. I absolutely love football and the NFL, and of course NYG, but you cannot have inmates running the asylum. It's Coughlins way or the highway, and ownership is smart enough to back him. There are many ways to win in the NFL, but almost always when its long term its because the players have respect for the coach, even if they don't like him. Even though they were fighting for a playoff spot and could not lose against Dallas, Coughlin benched his best RB for an entire half for missing curfew. Make an exception and lose the team. I think the Bills are on the right track this time, they play very hard for Gailey. If they sign Fred Jackson, that 1-2 punch at running back with Spiller should be special. Go Giants! No matter what, I'm ALL IN.

Thank you for caring and being a dedicated observer. Observer Great lakes Tournaments are the ultimate, but there is always room for improvement. Ultimately, it comes down to the competing teams to provide a COMPETENT and courageous observer, not only to represent their interests but the interests of the rest of the field. I can assure you the issues you have raised are being discussed by tournament organizers. You are not the only one who feels this way, and doing a better job educating the observers will go along way. As my father has said for years, "whats right is right."

You're welcome. Young Kids through mid teens will love "Dolphin Tale". The other one, "Grey", hasn't even made it to the theatres yet. Although the story revolves around wolves, It will probably be too traumatic and violent for young kids by the looks of the ads for it.

Happy Birthday Tom!

My "ALL IN" towel was in a frenzy! Now Coughlin says we gotta settle down and think Niners!

Get well soon, Roy. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Vince and Steph.

No matter what, I'm ALL IN. Great job by Coughlin and his staff. Giants/Niners like the old days! Despite awful calls and spots by the worst refereeing I have ever seen, the Giants Prevailed.

I have run Catalina model Okumas, in the 30 size with wire for many years. They have aluminum spools and they have been extremely reliable and durable. In the freshwater there is no problem with the wire.

With all the great posts with kids and grand kids in them, I thought I'd share a great choice for a DVD rental. "a Dolphin Tale" is based on a true story. It is inspirational without being too hokey. A rare movie you can watch with kids AND grand parents. Thought this may be useful around all the great playoff games and until the good ice comes. One movie I'm definitely going to check out is "Grey", the one about the wolves.

Priceless!

Nice going, Musky!

I have a set of Okuma size 20D convectors just for this purpose. They have endured multiple seasons and lots of abuse with absolutely no issues. They are at a pricepoint inbetween the magda and the Catalina models. The drags will even handle the odd shallow water King with no problems.

Sure looks that way, Brian. Most of the Kings head ultra deep for stability mid winter. It doesn't have to be real warm to have good growth continue, just not lots of frigid temps. When that happens Pacific Salmon can get into a subsistence mode--their metabolism slows to a point where growth stops. Also if we experience below normal temps, baitfish stocks can get crammed into less acres. This can result in the baitfish exhausting their food supply in the smaller band of water, and then a winter dieoff occurs. We have had just the opposite going on lately. The Alewife population is booming, and the the resurging Smelt population will put weight on Kings FAST!!! Replace those drag washers now!

Have a great day Larry!

Congrats Jeremy. You won't look back.

Very good info in the above posts. My experience has been batteries that are used and maintained regularly give the greatest life. We get great lifespans out of our deep cycle electric motor batteries, that we use all winter. These are discharged and charged on a regular basis with "smart chargers". Watch the water levels and corrosion at terminals, and as stated above, buy quality to start with-NO wally world stuff.

Happy New Year to all and your families too.