I am recovering from open heart surgery, the lake I go to produces 1-3 pound bass. My question is how much resistance/torque can fish produce? I am dying to get back out there but don't want to compromise the healing of my sternum.

Any estimates or help would be much appreciated, just trying to get some estimates. I am not supposed to lift over 10 pounds currently.

Thanks for your responses in advance...odd topic for sure

Only fish with 10lb line and you should be good to go.

I'll go ahead and give you the lecture of weighing the importance of proper healing with the importance of fishing and that you should probably not risk it.

With that out of the way...what I would worry about the most would not be hard the fish pulls but how hard the required hookset is. If you were to go I might stick with lures that only required a sweeping hookset like treble hook lures or finesse applications. Now would NOT be the time to flip heavy cover with 65lb braid and an 8ft extra heavy flipping stick.

Please, do yourself a favor and ask your cardiologist.

I certainly did and he did not provide much help....just isn't familiar with fishing. I was just hoping someone had some numbers that I could use to compare to the ten pound maximum. Using a 6 lb. test sounds like good advice as a possibility

Thanks for your responses....I will be very conservative, no new damage wanted here

How far out of surgery are you? I work in a hospital on a cardiac floor and take care of many post op patients with the same type of surgery you have had. I have had patients who have broken the wires closing the sternum as far out as 4-6 months post op. I would really consult the cardiothoracic surgeon who performed your surgery as before going out just to be safe.

Glad you could be here with us {btw, I usually abrev. screen names, but I would even know how to do that with yours ?}

Well hey, it wouldn't matter so much the weight of the gear, or even the size of the fish, as there is always a drag setting.

That said, my favorite rods just happen to be my little G Loomis micro lights, and a 1000 series reel loaded with 3/10 braid. I probably run about 2 lbs of drag pressure most of the time..... maybe 4 when I'm fishing for Sturgeon with this gear < that's pretty crazy, but so doable.

Once many years ago, I broke my right hand. The Dr. put a cast on it, but I went straight home and cut it off ! {it was Spring, and that made it totally hard to hold a rod} Mom was p'd ! So my hand clicked and popped for about a month. Felt pretty wonderful too ! Nothing but the micro lights, but I still caught a bunch of fish

Go light, and the fishing will be the best medicine

Peace,

Fish

Just set your drag really loose and don't swing 'em into the boat. It will be great for your mind and body to get back out there and do something you enjoy. Just be sure not to overdo it!