Ever had those days when you felt like crap, did not have the energy to do anything, and hurt? Well here I am. Finally got up enough energy to sit at my computer and write.
About two weeks ago I had back surgery. I had been experiencing severe pains in my left leg and after lots of tests it was determined I had Spinal Stenosis. This is the narrowing and closure of the openings in your spine where all the nerves generating from your spine branch out to the extremities.
Old age and back injuries are usually the cause.
The surgery went great and I was instructed that it would take 4-6 weeks for recovery. Only recuperating instructions were to walk...a lot. No lifting, no bending, no nothing!
Thats not me...I gota be doing something. I now realize how easy it is to slip into a state of depression. I know I'm going to be alright and be back doing what I was doing prior to my surgery. But I think of all those individuals who have no real positive out look for their future. Individuals who have been permanently injured and will be bedridden for the remainder of their life..
I think about my 92 year old mother who resides in a great nursing facility (one of few) and from day to day has the same basic routine, eat and sleep. She's in great health, but has no desire to do anything. She gets depressed. Two completely different situations,one not capable of doing anything and the other very capable, but both depressed.
I feel that as my days progress and my health and strength return, I will also lose my state of depression. I just need to be able to hit the water again and start wade fishing.Four weeks is still a year in my books.
Writing this has helped.
Stay safe and attend God's house this Sunday.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
MUDBOUND
"Mudbound", that's the name of a movie I watched the other night and it's also the way I have felt numerous times at our hunting ranch in Cotulla, Texas. At times I have been struggling to get myself or my vehicle out of the mud. But mud has it's good points, especially when it comes to Spring fishing.
In my last blog I wrote of myself and friends fishing the mud down here in the Laguna. I am always amazed at how you can be wading very solid bottom and then like finding quicksand, you are up to your waist in black stinky goo.
Apparently the trout and reds like it. Lee Young, my neighbor and fishing comprade, has been hitting the same mud holes for the past three weeks when ever his schedule allows. Each morning as I get out of bed, looking first at the weather, which lately has been cold, windy, rainy, and foggy. I scan across the channel to see if Lee has gone fishing. Most of the time he is gone. I think maybe I should have gone, and then I think of the weather and the MUD!
Last week, Lee called and said we were going to have a break in the wind and did I want to go. He said that he had found a little different area that had some solid ground close to his mud holes. I opted in.
We fished for around three hours and during that time I pounded the shallows with good solid ground and managed a few decent trout, but the whole time I was constantly looking back toward Lee, watching him connect with fish on a steady basis. It really hacked me off and I began thinking about how could I fish the mud and not hurt my back.
I came home and began scanning the internet. I came across an item that I think will work. It took me back to my old days of fishing for bass in the small water collecting areas we call stock tanks. I had an item called a floater that I used. As I researched floaters I found numerous ones that were all designed for stream and river fly fishermen, but had numerous qualities that I thought would be useful in the mud.
I ordered one and am waiting for its arrival to see if it will be a way to finally fish the mud safely and comfortably. Stay tuned and I will let you know.
In my last blog I wrote of myself and friends fishing the mud down here in the Laguna. I am always amazed at how you can be wading very solid bottom and then like finding quicksand, you are up to your waist in black stinky goo.
Apparently the trout and reds like it. Lee Young, my neighbor and fishing comprade, has been hitting the same mud holes for the past three weeks when ever his schedule allows. Each morning as I get out of bed, looking first at the weather, which lately has been cold, windy, rainy, and foggy. I scan across the channel to see if Lee has gone fishing. Most of the time he is gone. I think maybe I should have gone, and then I think of the weather and the MUD!
Last week, Lee called and said we were going to have a break in the wind and did I want to go. He said that he had found a little different area that had some solid ground close to his mud holes. I opted in.
I came home and began scanning the internet. I came across an item that I think will work. It took me back to my old days of fishing for bass in the small water collecting areas we call stock tanks. I had an item called a floater that I used. As I researched floaters I found numerous ones that were all designed for stream and river fly fishermen, but had numerous qualities that I thought would be useful in the mud.
I ordered one and am waiting for its arrival to see if it will be a way to finally fish the mud safely and comfortably. Stay tuned and I will let you know.
This is my latest toy for fishing the mud!
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
2019 Sounds Like A Sci-Fi Movie!
Here it is 2019. Sounds like a Sct-Fi movie! It's hard for me to believe I retired almost 20 years ago. I put in 30 years in the education industry and now have put in another 20 playing! That's awesome, I think. As I get older, by the day, I think I'm getting smarter, but the reality is that everyone around me is getting more senile! Gotta laugh...
But let's talk fishing...We've had our share of cold spells, high winds, and very high tides, but really none of these have stopped the bite. That is when you can venture out.
We've continued to wade fish our standard go to spots and even when water temps dropped in the low 60's we were able to find some good fish.
Young David Wood, has been pounding the mud and pot holes on the upper end of Long Bar and has been consistently taking limits on topwaters. He continues to urge me to join in the fun, but wading mud is not my game of fun. He is looking at purchasing something called mudders. They allow you to walk on mud like snowshoes...good luck David.
I continue to throw soft plastics. Every now and then I will try something new...like a topwater.
I have mentioned a few times the one soft plastic that works for me and it is now my go-to lure when all else fails. It's made by Hogie Fishing Lure Co. and is called a Major Minnow in orange and black with a chartreuse tail.
My other favorite is the Queen Cocahoe Minnow made by H&H Lure Co. I like the red body with white tail and the white body with a red tail.
These are a little larger than the Hogie, but all have great action. I fish them on a 1/8 oz head and use a verity of retrieve. You have to keep working the lure until first you find fish and then maintain whatever retrieve worked to find those trout.
As I get older, I also get a little more finicky about how, who, when, and where I fish.
The How has become an almost necessity. As I age it has become harder for me to throw that topwater and maintain the necessary retrieve. My shoulders won't allow it.
The Who isn't as hard as the rest. Anyone that will go along or not. I don't beg!
The When...now that can be a dilemma. The later the better, the warmer the better and not raining. Oh and the winds need to be under 15.
The Where is determined by where David Wood has been finding fish, but not in the mud!
Take care...stay safe and keep those lines tight!
But let's talk fishing...We've had our share of cold spells, high winds, and very high tides, but really none of these have stopped the bite. That is when you can venture out.
We've continued to wade fish our standard go to spots and even when water temps dropped in the low 60's we were able to find some good fish.
Young David Wood, has been pounding the mud and pot holes on the upper end of Long Bar and has been consistently taking limits on topwaters. He continues to urge me to join in the fun, but wading mud is not my game of fun. He is looking at purchasing something called mudders. They allow you to walk on mud like snowshoes...good luck David.
I continue to throw soft plastics. Every now and then I will try something new...like a topwater.
I have mentioned a few times the one soft plastic that works for me and it is now my go-to lure when all else fails. It's made by Hogie Fishing Lure Co. and is called a Major Minnow in orange and black with a chartreuse tail.
My other favorite is the Queen Cocahoe Minnow made by H&H Lure Co. I like the red body with white tail and the white body with a red tail.
As I get older, I also get a little more finicky about how, who, when, and where I fish.
The How has become an almost necessity. As I age it has become harder for me to throw that topwater and maintain the necessary retrieve. My shoulders won't allow it.
The Who isn't as hard as the rest. Anyone that will go along or not. I don't beg!
The When...now that can be a dilemma. The later the better, the warmer the better and not raining. Oh and the winds need to be under 15.
The Where is determined by where David Wood has been finding fish, but not in the mud!
Take care...stay safe and keep those lines tight!
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