I couldn't take it any longer...after being shut down for the last two months due to shoulder surgery, and facing more surgey this coming Wed....I did the math and realized it will be a while before I can get out again... ( hopefully I'll be back for real by the springtime!).... So... "Damn the torpedoes"... and the cold/wind/ice... and the sore body parts...I got my waders and gear, and hit a small stream (Hop Brook) this afternoon (Fri).... It was cold...it was windy...and the river was full of ice...LoL, I had to do some precision casting just to get my line in the open water, but I drifted a mealie around and under the ice and....... didn't catch a blessed thing.....not even a bite.... and I didn't even care because I felt ALIVE just to be out again.....In fact, it felt so good just to be in a pair of waders again...in the river...smoking a big fat cigar, in my own veritable "winter wonderland"... that in spite of my frozen hands..... I had a grin on my face the whole time.....It actually stayed that way ..I came home with Frozen Grin Face!......Normaly, I don't revel in my skunkings.... But this... this was the SWEETEST SKUNKING I EVER HAD! ......Why, it was like an afternoon "furlough" from doctors orders!

Fresh air is the best medicine in the world!

Know what you mean.
Good luck with the shoulder

Fishbag, I had the same smile on my face while reading your post. It don't matter if you are a true fisherman wether you catch a fish or not. Good luck on your next surgery.

Fishbag, I know exactly what ya mean... I went out a week ago Saturday on the Farmy and managed a nice 14"brookie!! Frozen hands, frozen face, frozen smile....I'm with ya pal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!