Terrierman

I fell on ice and tried to catch myself with right arm bent at the elbow. Unsuccessfully. Complete rotator cuff tear all the way off the bone. 90% tear on bicep. I fished the first OAF White River jigjfest with that injury. It hurt and I was on some good drugs at the time. But I could still cast. After the surgery I could not and did not want to do anything at all for about the first three weeks. It gradually got better and I would say by three months I could have fished again but it was way early spring and I didn't actually do much fishing until about four months. The thing the therapists all stressed to me was to take it easy, you don't want to go back into surgery for that one again. I'm pretty much well now. They say it takes a year and that's about right.

You can thank January and February for that mostly. A lot of February I like. Next week reminds me why I prefer April. And May. And usually, June.

Good luck on the surgery. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Do the therapy but be careful not to over do. And seriously, good luck.

I caught 13 fish on 16 casts on ned out of the same eddy on one my local flows. There really are a lot of fish in the water.

Bogs are better boots anyway. Mark me down as another one who despises HSUS.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm getting towards the end of my career and it's nice to look back and think (hope?) I might have made a little difference for the good once in a while.

I only ever fish weedless heads with that bait. I've used gamakatsu wacky jig heads with tungsten wire guards and they are really good but $3.00 each. And then went to regular round jig heads with multi heavy mono weedguards that I trim length and number of monofilaments. They worked good too, but I wonder about and always look for a better way. And now I've got a batch of Dave's heads with a single wire guard and they look really good. Point being you are right about losing them a lot without a weedguard. Rocks and wood in the river will just drive you jack batty otherwise.

No stogie?

What kind of spinning reel is that if I may ask?

You are a fish killer FF. I had a pretty good day one time kind of like that from the bank on the Red River below the dam at Texoma. Lot of fun. You do it on a regular basis. Kudos.

There was a time when getting the new Bass Pro catalog was a big deal too.

I bought both the lifetime fishing and hunting permit for $70 when I hit 60. Great value.

Personally I really like February, spring in fits and starts and winter winding down, grass already greening up and time to plant spinach and lettuce. Thinking about when the whites will start, and getting ready for March and then finally at long last, April, the greatest month of the year. Me being the optimist and all.

9/0 is perfect.

Set jugs on flats in about 15' of water with the perch on a big circle hook at about 7'.

I'm going with two boxes for ned - one with just heads, scissors and glue and one with the plastics. I like to leave the plastics in the store packaging in the box until I actually make up the jig.

PM sent.

Rod and reel or set lines?

What QB said.

Yeah in the old days when it was just that store it was a regular destination. Nobody drove by Springfield without going to Bass Pro. That place still jumps and the décor to me is amazing. And about Johnny Morris. I've done a lot of work for them and see how he treats people. Keeps his word, and I admire that.

Nice trip guys. Shoulda been here last week!. Never been there or done that before..... Still and all... Nice trip....

Wow.

Beautiful fish man. Just beautiful.

To each his own. I love fresh fried and grilled fish. And by love I mean I will go a long way out of my way for a good fish dinner!