Torn cartilage in my right knee prohibits me from going anywhere without crutches until after the yet to be performed surgery heals, so I guess I'll have to wait to pick up MY first steelhead on a jig. I've got a new 10 1/2 footer all rigged up in the garage waiting to go, too. Wahhhhh.

In the mean time, if you guys fishing the Sky could report how bad the fishing is, and how it's not worth being out there, I'd sure appreciate it. :p

Sorry to hear about you not being able to fish. I know exactly how you feel. I broke my leg about 3 years ago and couldn't fish. It was horrible. I hobbled down to a really small creek behind my house to try and catch a little trout. If you have a cast on your leg, don't think about the itching :p .

~ Dr Pepper

Hey hang in! I had surgery on my knee in October just as the silvers were flooding the Chehalis. I two days after the surgery I was launching my 20' sled alone. Big mistake! Those two silvers probably set me back a week or so on my recovery. My advice...don't rush it. The fish will be waiting for you. Get well soon!

He's right about not rushing it Skywalker. Get a ride in someone's driftboat in a while. I often come back too soon from injuries because I can't stand not being out there. I broke my tailbone about 7 weeks ago and wish I hadn't tried to sit as soon as I did; but that's pretty tough to avoid altogether. It's still not healed or ready for much sitting. Hang in there; at least you can sit in a boat.

Take care.

FYI:

Went to sky and the fishing sucked. Lots of crackers and rude people. They kept long-lining and corking me. I got snagged many times and my rod broke. when i was leaving i slipped and my sneakers and jean got muddy. Right near my car one of the local dogs chewed my ankle and if that wasn't enough my car was broken into. My 8-track and baseball bat was stolen. One the way back I got a speeding ticket for doing 34 in 30 zone. What a day. I should have stayed home.

I have to go Christmas tree shopping now. Hope it is safe!

LMAO!

UFK, next to Percocets (which I'm avoiding today because I have a report to prepare for tomorrow), humor is my favorite medicine.

Ah, reminds me of last winter. James (Prfctdrift) and I were doing some drift fishing on the bank. After a half day's fishing and a couple of fish we were walking out a trail along the river and there was a 1/2 gallon Jack Daniels bottle in the trail, James kicked it to get it out of the way and his foot went right through it. Sad part was that he had some of the Jim Teeny neoprene wading boots on and a large chunk of glass cut right through the top of the boot, and was stuck in the top of his foot like it was wedged in a log. He started squealing like a stuck pig so I dropped my fish, rod, etc and ran up to see what the fuss was. I reached down and pulled the glass out (like pulling a dart from a electronic dart board) and as I pulled it out there was blood on the end of the glass. So he stripped his neo's off and sure enough it cut a hole about an inch across right in the middle of his foot above his big toe. I immediately cut off part of my shirt and wrapped it, then we walked out the mile we were in there. Only to find out that eve after the hospital trip that he had severed his big toe tendon in half. Needless to say he went in for surgery and was on crutches for about a month and a half, then had to nurse the leg and foot back into shape...
I felt bad for him, while I was out catching all the fish. Remember you can resort to the worst, PLUNKING... It's what he did for about the first month, or caught a boat ride.
Keith

I know what your going through Skywalker, take your time and let it heal. Mr. Ice has just become your best friend, keep it packed. I had my ACL replaced on my right knee last Oct. and the same on my left this Sept. along with my right knee scoped and cleaned out at the same time. I was finally able hit the river last month and make up for lost time with a good mix of late summers and a few earl winters. It's a ***** getting old and your body starts to break down, too many sports and fun when your young and invincable. Hang in there you'll be out there befor you know it.

I know how you feel, I broke my leg while muntain biking and was out for a few months, this hapened in November so I was out for winter steelhead..
but I am back and kickin now, so I need to catch up for lost time..hehehe

UFK,

Dude, you're killing me! Somebody STOLE an 8-track player??!!?? Man, that's low.

Luke,

You need to feel the force, and hobble down to ANYWHERE and get that jig wet. There has to be someplace with handicapped access that you can hit up. Don't ask me what you're supposed to do if you hook one, guess you'll have to cross that bridge when you come to it. If you do get out there and score, just think of the tale you can share with us when you get back.

The winters are going to be thick this year. I was up on the peninsula the Sunday after Thanksgiving and we lit them up on 1/8 oz cerise jigs in pretty dirty water. All of us left with limits of chrome winter fish from 8-11 lbs. After the banner fall, I'm sick of fish but these made nice holiday gifts to some happy recipients.

Now, if you could just channnel the force for us and slow down this freakin' rain, we'd be in bi'ness. You got any of that Jedi stuff you could work for us?

RT, didn't I read something subtle from someone else about that? I'm gonna have to check out some of the other threads, like maybe the boot/sneaker thread. Slippery ones?

D@mn, at least I can sit...my wife is getting quite familiar with the sight, actually.

Dang, the least he could have done was enjoyed the JD before he hurt himself on the bottle.

PLUNKING?? Cringe.....well, I DO live about 45 seconds by car from Cheapskate hole on the Snohomish. I s'pose I could break down and sit on my @$$ for a few hours a day. Don't know if I can handle all the gomers next to me, though. :p

Tell me about it! Why the [Bleeeeep!] did I have to go and dislocate my ankle today?

well, let me tell you. Christmas tree shopping was not safe either! Cool $80 down the drain. Could not find any cheaper. Could have bought another Lami for that. I may need that Percocets! Is it some kind of a drink?

80 bucks for a frickin' tree? Geez, it must be a Redwood or something? Usually they're around 10-20 bucks around here. Don't think anything's different this year?

Regular XMAS tree. they were all in same price range. We checked 3 different places before buying. Last year was $10-15 cheaper.

how far is this battle ground from seattle? I am there next year.

Battle Ground is down here by Vancouver, WA, near the border between Oregon and Washington. It is about 160 miles southwest of Seattle. Still gonna come just for a Christmas tree? Course it is a 60 dollar cheaper Christmas tree. :p

Yowza! Wifey paid $56 for the tree this year at a lot in Snohomish because I'm not going to go rambling through the tree farm on crutches, but usually we pay about $25 for a stout 8 footer at Allen Acres in Stanwood.

Percocets are a prescription pain medication, somewhere along the lines of Vicodin, Percodan, etc. Ya don't wanna abuse the stuff, but it sure helps you get a good night sleep when nothing else will.