Before I blew out my back, the fish bite I was waiting patiently for finally happened.
In the first 2.5 hours, 26 fish were hooked.
I was already day dreaming of sunset cruises and squeezing in an hour before the sun disappeared. I was looking forward to the following day where I was going to comb a stretch that had the potential of a 50 fish day.
The long term forecast looked good for the following weekend. More stretches were being played out in my head. Twenty fish, thirty, the possibilities were endless.
Then I went home, bent over slightly to pick a basil leaf and blew out my back. Bad. Details are in Dale Bowman’s river fishing reports in the Chicago Sun Times if you care for some details. Scroll down to the Fox River report.
Midwest Fishing Report: Rivers Around Chicago Fishing
For some reason the wife is very concerned about this one. She’s banned me from going fishing. Unusual for her, she usually lets me destroy myself however I feel like. I must look as bad as my back feels this time for her to issue such an ultimatum. Maybe she sees something I’m missing so best to heed her concerns.
This is almost touching. Brings a little tear to the corner of my eye and I sniffle a bit.
I am going nuts though and I told her today I have to go on Sunday…
“No, you’re not going.”
I’ll be fine, I can walk.
“And if things screw up I can’t come out in the river and get you let alone find you.”
She has a point there. Then she relented. If someone was willing to meet up with me I could go. At least she’d feel like there would be someone there to help me.
There’s that tear in the eye and the sniffle again.
I have sucked at getting out with others this year. I keep blowing off getting together. I really shouldn’t do that, but I needed the solitude this year. Then I got an email from Dick Velders wanting to meet up and get out, something I had planned on and off all summer. I let him know what my wife said and he agreed to come out and hold my hand as we fished down the river.
You know, I make light of this stuff and make fun of my predicaments and I sometimes wonder how people take me, but it’s hard to describe the desperation I feel when I know I can’t get out like I’m used to. You have no idea how bad I am at asking others for anything, let alone help. And yet, here’s a guy I know only via email and have yet to meet in person willing to meet up just so I can go out fishing and not scare the living daylights out of my wife.
For that, I’m grateful beyond words.
In return, I’ll show him where I caught these.
It’s the only payback I know.
Dan "The Impractical Fishermen"
26 Sep 2013That happens to me from time to time. Always something stupid. Never when doing anything dangerous. Putting on socks, or picking up trash off the ground… Hope you are feeling better soon.
RK Henderson
26 Sep 2013Great pictures! Hope you heal up soon.
Robin
Rusty Ring: Reflections of an Old-Timey Hermit
Ken G
26 Sep 2013I’m standing up straight again and my feet are no longer splayed out like a ducks. A little tender in the lower back, but that’s just a little more time needed. I just have to be careful.
And Dan, one of my other bad ones was moving an empty tupperware bowl from one side of the kitchen sink to the other. Go figure.
Howard Levett
26 Sep 2013I’m sorry to hear about your back Ken. At our age it can surely signal the end of civilization as we know it. Hope you’re feeling better soon and don’t try my world famous helicopter cast. That’s how I got put on injury reserve last fall.
Ken G
27 Sep 2013That’s why I use spinning gear that with a simple flick of the wrist I can send a light lure 40 feet Howard.
I still say OWWWW, but not as loud.
Richard Velders
27 Sep 2013I’m the grateful one Ken, I get to tap into your extensive cache of fishing knowledge. Must be careful out there. Dick
Ken G
27 Sep 2013You’re going to learn a lot Dick. I tend to overwhelm people in person. You’ll see, it’ll be fun.
Ed Koper
27 Sep 2013Hey Ken, thanks for all your posts…I have definitely benefited from all the info you’ve provided on the river. I miss your fishing info posts, but still enjoy your ramblings…and your photos… Hope you’re back on your feet soon…Ed (I’m the fella that was casting away from the bridge supports…remember)
Ken G
27 Sep 2013I remember Ed. I’ve tried to do straight up fishing reports, but they tend to go off on their own. I’m not taking too much time to write anything down lately, so falling back on a few photos makes it easier on me to put something up.
Nature in the Burbs
2 Oct 2013I agree with your wife – heal up first! Great to have a cyberfriend to rely on as a fishing buddy when you need it! Nice photos too. Feel better.
Ken G
2 Oct 2013I know she’s right, even if I hate to admit it. I’m getting impatient. This time it’s taking too long to get back to normal. It was nice for a few to come through for me. Went out solo tonight. Had to. She just shook her head when I got home.
Jim McClellan
3 Oct 2013Well, at least you can take comfort in the fact that you’re not the only fisherman whose wife thinks he’s an idiot from time to time.
Ken G
3 Oct 2013I assume that’s the norm from our wives Jim. But then, she thinks I’m an idiot on any given day, even when I’m not fishing.