I've found it tough to get out this year and really haven't been able to fish much even though I would like to. This February I had an inguinal hernia come back and is causing chronic pain and I am healing a pulled lower back muscle for the past month or 2 now. Working towards getting surgery for the hernia which will most likely be another 2+ months away from fishing. I'd really love to fish but life is making me take a break. Anyone else have times like these and how do you look back on them today?

Yup. Broke my right wrist 2 times, broke my ankle, then I had an acl tear in my right shoulder.

Altogether that was 24 weeks of no fishing..

I had my 3 rd back surgery and 2 nd spinal fusion in March of last year. 
I was down from everything for 5 months. 
 

I still get stiff and sore daily a year later but 99% better than what was. 
It’s hard to stand and balance on a deck all day but I just take a few breaks. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

Yes. I missed basically last season. Between work and kids that are bigger and things to do for life, I was practically on hiatus. My bass catching was not good. But I had a good season for other species the few times I was out. It happens to everyone sometimes. Seriously, it was the Curado BFS ad that got me sitting here waiting for the water to warm up so I can get out and try my luck again.

I was out for about 12 years when I got married, graduated college, had kids, etc.  Covid boredom showed me how much I really missed it. Now my kids and I go together most every weekend. 

Left shoulder surgery and mangled my right ankle ligaments pretty good. Took some time off in 2020 to learn things like gardening and food canning. Learned more survival based skills with all the craziness that went on.

Many times: during grad school, my kids’ baby years, when I worked graveyard shift, wife had brain surgery.... Sometimes for intense, brief periods hardship and responsibility encroach on a man’s hobbies. But we deal with it.

Oh you mean real life? 
 

I try to stay away from that sum*+%ch as much as possible...it’ll kill ya

Shoulder, hand, wrist and elbow surgeries sidelined me a number of times during past fishing seasons. I even postponed three surgeries until after the season so I wouldn't miss out.  Pretty much put an end to tourney fishing for me and now, I'm lucky to get through four hours of casting. There's always ibuprofen and ice packs waiting. Ah, but those four hours are worth the pain.

   Took five years off because of arthritis. Then I learned to use an ultralight spinning outfit for another five. It was interesting.

   Sometimes things that happen in life are God's way of telling you to pay attention to something different.                     jj

   

Man hearing about what some of you guys toughed out makes me feel pretty lucky lol. At the end of the day gotta take care of health and responsibilities so even though missing out on fishing is a bummer it is what it is. Probably gonna really focus up on college in the mean time and get back to fishing when the time is right. Tight lines!

I love these tales of woe threads. 

12 years ago I started traveling 40+ weeks a year...then add 2 kids to the mix and I had no time for the boat.  Fast forward to now and the kids are finally old enough to come with so times are changing for the positive.

I should add to my previous post, that during all the broken bones, ect. I use to roadrace motorcycles. Falling off at speed is no fun..lol

Had a 26 month pause due to 100 hr weeks of Work & School & more Work. Another 14 months for back injury/ spinal fusion. 

I've been able to avoid having a major injury or illness that sidelined me for many years now.  Back when I was a teenager, I was reckless.  I played contact sports, alpine skied, and was generally a lot more injury prone than I am now.  Luckily the jobs that I have had since I entered the work force have all been pretty flexible with hours and time off so I could continue to enjoy hobbies like fishing.  Even when I got married, bought a house, got a dog, and had a child, I have continued to do the things I enjoy in life at the same frequency.  Before I got married, I really drilled to my future wife that I want to keep doing these things otherwise this was probably not going to work.  She is very understanding of that and allows me the time to do it.

 

My Grandfather (who I often hunted and fished with for years) died of cancer in 2012 but before he died he said a couple of quotes that have always stuck with me.  "If you don't have your health, you don't have much" and "life is measured by the amount of time you have to do what you enjoy."

Because of work, kids, and family there was a gap of about 15 years that I only fished about one day a year.  Fast forward to 11 years ago to when I had surgery on my right shoulder.  I basically lost half the fishing season being in a sling and then with physical therapy.