sdkidaho,
the more you waterfowl hunt the more you will realize that we are all novices, just when you think you have the birds figured out! they totally throw you a loop and confuse the heck out of you.
keep after it and you will soon get the feathered fever that takes over us all this time of year.
i took a guy out this last weekend here in utah, got him his first goose, he got home and headed to sportsmans warehouse, bought himself a groundblind. He's hooked, so make sure you want something to totally take over your dreams and thoughts during the day before you really get into the marsh madness.
i'll let you know if we have someone that can't go the next time we are up there, maybe i can help you get your first bird!