Outdoor Writer

When it comes to HS football, my alma mater, Bergen Catholic (BC) in NJ, is usually ranked in the top 25 in the U.S. by Maxpreps, USA Today and others. Over the years, they have won many state championships and produced a bunch of college & NFL players such as Brian Cushing, Jim Dray, Rick Scanlon, Garrett Dickerson, Tanner McEvoy and Isaiah Williams. This year Maxpreps has them #1 in NJ but not ranked nationally because of playing a short schedule due to C-19. They often travel around the country to play other nationally ranked teams. Several years ago, they traveled to Vegas to play Bishop Gorman and soundly beat them. Anou Solomon, the ex-UofA QB, was the Gorman QB for that game. If I recall, it was the only defeat of his senor season. And lastly....I have a special connection to BC's program since I was in the first graduating class in 1959, played on the first football team in 1958 and scored the very first TD in school history. From the Bergen Evening Record newspaper:

Other than Bill Quimby, who else in this thread??

And 95% of the members that took part in it no longer post here. 😟

I think you're smoking something weird. 🤣 The YOUNG talent ASU has at the skill positions right now is outstanding. It will carry them to great heights next year.

Huh?? ASU played only three games and lost two -- to UCLA and SC. In both,they were the better team, but wound up losing in the very end of both games. And IMO, the reason was the coaching rather than the excecution.; in both games the defense changed up from how they played the entire game and went into a "let's not allow a long pass" mode. Thus, the other teams just dinked their way down the field with runs and short passes that also ate up the clock. All thru the earlier part of the game, ASU was stuffing those plays.

Not good. Hope you get it worked out.

Bingo on the cooper hawk!!

Welcome. 👍 Tell us a bit about yourself.

Sounds too high pitched to be an owl. Amanda could probably help with that. It does sound somewhat like a redtail hawk. 🤷‍♂️

Nice.

Whoops. Wrong list.

Way to go!

Here's your chance.. The No Mercy Killing

Fork'em Devils.

That's what it was until it started. 😎

I forgot the game was yesterday. Just finished watching the slaughter online at ESPN3.COM.

I had posted this in my ad for a clock made by Al Ellis in the Classified section, but I thought it might be of interest to those who don't read that section. The following is an exerpt from a BASSFAN article about how Ray Scott decided to turn B.AS.S. into a C&R organization. A photo taken at the first B.A.S.S. catch and release tournament in 1972 shows Ray Scott face-to-face with a largemouth bass held in a special holding tank developed to promote "don't kill your catch" bass fishing. In the summer of 1971 I was invited to speak to the Outdoor Writers Association of America at a function in Pensacola, Fla. In the group was a fly-tier named Al Ellis from Phoenix, Ariz. who listened to my remarks on the conservation efforts by B.A.S.S. to "Peg Polluters" and clean up our waters. Ellis, as a member of the Federation of Fly Fishermen, invited me to the FFF's Colorado conclave to serve as master of ceremonies. Truthfully, I didn't know a tippet from third base, but I agreed to attend. Not being a fly-fishing expert, I made like a Don Rickles of bassin' and poked fun at the fly-fishing crowd. Their fancy clothes. The little fluffs of sheep skin on their many-pocketed vests. The full-length rubber booties. These were serious fly fishermen. Names like Lefty Kreh, Jack Hemingway, Gardner Grant, Leon Chandler and other legends of the long-rod sport. The sum of my experience with a fly rod was throwing poppin' bugs for a few largemouth bass and stump-knockin' bluegill. So it was with curious interest that I watched the six fly casters work along a small stream on a field trip outing. Everybody was dressed in their funny garb and casting about 20 yards apart along the tiny stream. Then downstream a report sounded -- "Fish on!" -- and everyone stopped casting to watch the action. The trout was no more than 12-inches long, but you wouldn't believe the excitement. From somewhere the guy produced a net. He dipped the fish, pulled a little tool from the vest, carefully unhooked the trout, and very, very gently released it. Let me tell you: All those fly fishermen went into orbit. They were cheering and high-fiving each other, all over the release of a puny little trout. The next day on the flight home, I let my brain whirl. If those fly guys can get so turned on by releasing a piddlin' little trout, how would a bunch of hairy-legged bass fishermen act over letting go a 5-pound largemouth? But making it happen was another question.

Yup. From Catch and Release on Wikimedia: In the United States, catch and release was first introduced as a management tool in the state of Michigan in 1952 as an effort to reduce the cost of stocking hatchery-raised trout. Anglers fishing for fun rather than for food accepted the idea of releasing the fish while fishing in so-called "no-kill" zones. Conservationists have advocated catch and release as a way to ensure sustainability and to avoid overfishing of fish stocks. Lee Wulff, a New York-based fly angler, author and film maker, promoted catch and release as early as 1936 with the phrase "Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once." Don Martinez a West Yellowstone, Montana fly shop owner promoted catch and release in his 1930–40s newsletters sent to Eastern anglers. ___________________________ In Switzerland and Germany, catch and release fishing is considered inhumane and is now banned.[5] In Germany, the Animal Welfare Act states that "no-one may cause an animal pain, suffering or harm without good reason".[6] This leaves no legal basis for catch and release due to its argued inherent lack of "good reason", and thus personal fishing is solely allowed for immediate food consumption. Additionally, it is against the law to release fish back into the water if they are above minimum size requirements and aren't a protected species or in closed season.

GAME AND FISH NEWS Dec. 10, 2020 Arizona Game and Fish Department Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet rescheduled to June PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet that is traditionally held in January has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 12, 2021. The banquet will be held at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Grande Ballroom, 11111 N. 7th St. in Phoenix. More information will be posted and distributed as it becomes available. Recipients of the 2020 Commission Awards who will be honored at this event are: Award of Excellence – Charlie Kelly Youth Conservationist of the Year – Jagrav Patel Media of the Year – Priscilla Torres/Telemundo Conservation Organization of the Year – Southern Arizona Quail Forever Chapter Conservationist of the Year – Miles Moretti Natural Resource Professional of the Year – Superintendent William Shott Volunteer of the Year – Roger Rohrbach and Keith Kniver Educator of the Year – Eric Proctor Mentor of the Year – Matt Shura Advocate of the Year (two nominations) – Jim Unmacht (State) & Ed Keable (Federal) Business Partner of the Year – Walmart Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year – Tom Britt Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year – Jim O’Haco North American Model Commissioners Award – Margaret Martinez The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state’s wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The first Commission Awards event was held in January 1991. Since then, more than 400 people have been recognized for their dedicated work toward securing Arizona’s wildlife for generations to come.

I don't think I ever bought another fly after I met him. Somewhere in my closet with the oodles of other fishing gear and lures is a box of trout flies, most of which were tied by Lon. In a another smaller box is an assortment of tarpon and bonefish flies that he tied for me when I made my first trek to the Fl Keys in the 1980s.

This will likely be one of the more unique items I'l be listing here as I go about paring down my accumulated possessions of the last 60 years or so. This clock was handcrafted and signed by the late Al Ellis, who was a very well known and sought after custom rod maker from the 50s well into the 80s. The flies were hand tied by the late Lon Ellington, who was also noted for that expertise. Each of them was instrumental in the early beginnings of the Arizona Flycasters Club which came into being in 1962. Ellis served as president of the AFC in 1964 and Ellington filled that post in 1977. I was privileged to call both of these gentlemen a friend over the three decades that I knew them. In replies to this listing, I'll post some interesting tidbits about each of them. The first AFC banquet was held in a hotel on Central Ave. in downtown Phx in 1970, and that is where I came into possession of this one-of-a-kind item. I attended the gala with my wife and Jim Tallon and his wife. Tallon was the one that had introduced me to Ellis two years earlier, and through him I met Ellington. The emcee that night was none other than the late Bob Hirsch. The clock was on the agenda to be a raffle item, and when my wife saw it, she immediately said "I want that." Sure enough, when Hirsch drew the ticket for the clock, it matched one of Ellen's. Knowing we're both on a limited lease on life, she has now consented to part with it. Thus, someone here can be the new and proud owner. And yes, it still works just fine. It can stand on its own as shown or can also be hanged on the wall. SOLD I will consider reasonable offers but no trades. Payment via PayPal (buyer doesn't need an acct; just a CC or checking acct.) or cash only. Must be picked up near 67th Ave. & Camelback in Glendale, AZ or shipped at buyer's expense. 

SOLD

Got it, and you bought it. Thanks.

Another version of the C&R story from Ray Scott: In the summer of 1971 I was invited to speak to the Outdoor Writers Association of America at a function in Pensacola, Fla. In the group was a fly-tier named Al Ellis from Phoenix, Ariz. who listened to my remarks on the conservation efforts by B.A.S.S. to "Peg Polluters" and clean up our waters. Ellis, as a member of the Federation of Fly Fishermen, invited me to the FFF's Colorado conclave to serve as master of ceremonies. Truthfully, I didn't know a tippet from third base, but I agreed to attend. Not being a fly-fishing expert, I made like a Don Rickles of bassin' and poked fun at the fly-fishing crowd. Their fancy clothes. The little fluffs of sheep skin on their many-pocketed vests. The full-length rubber booties. These were serious fly fishermen. Names like Lefty Kreh, Jack Hemingway, Gardner Grant, Leon Chandler and other legends of the long-rod sport. The sum of my experience with a fly rod was throwing poppin' bugs for a few largemouth bass and stump-knockin' bluegill. So it was with curious interest that I watched the six fly casters work along a small stream on a field trip outing. Everybody was dressed in their funny garb and casting about 20 yards apart along the tiny stream. Then downstream a report sounded -- "Fish on!" -- and everyone stopped casting to watch the action. The trout was no more than 12-inches long, but you wouldn't believe the excitement. From somewhere the guy produced a net. He dipped the fish, pulled a little tool from the vest, carefully unhooked the trout, and very, very gently released it. Let me tell you: All those fly fishermen went into orbit. They were cheering and high-fiving each other, all over the release of a puny little trout. The next day on the flight home, I let my brain whirl. If those fly guys can get so turned on by releasing a piddlin' little trout, how would a bunch of hairy-legged bass fishermen act over letting go a 5-pound largemouth? But making it happen was another question.

This is how Ray Scott of BASS decided to go with Catch-&-Release tournaments. Origin of Catch & Release from Sporting Classics: “I believe it was 1969 when I got a call from a man named Al Ellis who asked if I would speak at a meeting of the Federation of Fly Fishermen in Colorado. He said they’d get me a room, food and take me fishing. “They called it a river, but you could throw a rock across it. Six or seven of us were lined up with our fly rods and nothing happened for about an hour. All of a sudden on the far end down there, this fella made a sound I’d never heard. A ‘fly fisherman’ sound I suppose. (Chuckle) ‘Yeehah! ‘ or something like that. “Everybody dropped their poles to go watch him fight this fish. After a minute he pulled his net off the back of his waders and scooped this fish up. I promise you, that fish might have been ten, eleven inches long. Looked like a big cigar. I’d never seen such a ceremony in all my life. He took some little pliers from his vest and removed the fly. And all these guys are standing around watching him. “Then he took the trout and put it back in the water, and it swam out of his hand like a flash. I saw six grown men having absolute fits when he released that fish. High fives the whole deal. I’m thinking to myself, ‘Lord God, if they have such a thrill out of that tiny little trout, I wonder what they’d do with a five- or ten-pound bass. That was the moment I had the idea to go back home and find a way to start saving all these fish we’d been killing.” Later that year, at a tournament at Table Rock Lake in Arkansas, Scott addressed 130 or so members of the bass fishing tournament trail. “Boys, I want y’all to listen to me. During these tournaments we are killing too many fish. At our next tournament this coming March, I want y’all to make an effort to keep these fish alive.” There were no built-in “live wells,” so a fisherman had to use his imagination – usually a big cooler and a coffee can to continually refresh it with oxygenated water. “After the tournament, I wrote them all a letter thanking them for their efforts,” Scott recalls. “I told them that at the next tournament, for every fish that lives and can swim off, I would give them a one-ounce credit on their score. Well, you’d think I’d given them a hundred-dollar bill. It really caught on and the whole catch-and-release tournament really was born. Heck, we have people fishing in tournaments now who’ve never killed a bass.” Shortly after catch-and-release took hold, Scott got together with the Ranger Boat Company to create the first built-in live wells. Today, Scott estimates that the tournaments are releasing well over 95 percent of the bass caught.