I grew up fishing the Gulf Stream off the Coast of Va. Beach. It did get cold there but Never Great Lakes, Illinois Cold. NOSIRREE!!

Much truth in that !

Love this story. History matters. Experience shared is golden.

Roger that Robert. I read every Posting !!

Your Wisdom lifts me up. I retired for the second time in Nov of 2018. Damn good thing. With several co-Morbidity's I would have been easy target for COVID. I retired from the military. Wore me out to only be 38. Quite fishing almost 30 years ago, but I am back.!! No Nursing home for me !! I like this article. Alot to think about. Best Woman Ive ever Known married me Last Summer. I question her Judgment, But I am one lucky guy so I keep my Trap shut. Looks like survival may get tricky. I hope you, Her, and I, can all survive COVID and carry on. I will remember this great Article. Who knows, I may need the knowledge sooner than Later ~ Just Sayin.

Im close to Kenosha. Im back in the game after not fishing for maybe 30 years. This time next year, IL be up that way. Ive been told the fishing is good up around the Dells. Steelhead is new for me. Below is my 1st King, 11#er, Lake Michigan about a month ago

I just spooled 6LB line on 2 reels, hoping to squeeze in some trout fishing this week. Wifey has a sense as strong as any game fish out there. When its time to hit the stream something always keeps me from going. Why retire? Im practicing my Whine.

I have that in Jig configuration. Nice Fish!. You see, our fish in Illinois and Wisconsin are spoiled. They want it a certain kind of way and thats all there is too it. The last Walleye I caught was at 11am, exploded on a Swim bait as soon as it hit the water. Go figure. Takes a special kind of Fisherman to brave the cold.

I fish the upper Fox River more than anywhere else, from Waterford, Rochester, down thru Burlington and Wilmot all the way up to the Cheddar Curtin. I get the hives if I step over the state line by 1 inch. The door slammed shut. Everything thats worked thru the summer and early fall no longer works. I also could use a bit of advice !

The same can be said for tackle, large sinkers, and treble hooks. Many moons ago, 1987, on a Pristine moonlit Lake in Orlando, Fla, I was night fishing from the bank in a 98 acre Lake that had almost no fishing pressure. I had 4 lines in the water and of course all lines were popping. On one retrieve my rig, carrying a 3 ounce parimid style sinker, became lodged in the reeds and grass. It did finally let go. Needless to say I couldn't see it flying at me until it was about 12 inches away from my face. Beneath my Mustache I carry a Long scar on my upper right Lip. The rig wasn't worth it. I was lucky. It could have ended much worse.

I, too am retired. I just retired in 2018 for the second time. I take it easy, and fish every chance I get. Best part of retirement is being able to fish when everyone is at work and stay home when everyone is fishing. A side blessing is not have to be around People when COVID is killing so many. Thats a blessing.

Ive been every where in this world. No place like Wisconsin, or its People. I drive for an hour just to fish the Fox River and many of the surrounding Lakes. I had the Pleasure of watching a fly fisherman below the falls at Echo Lake a few weeks ago. He really demonstrated the Art. Im ready to sell in Illinois and move north !

Even when the bite is zero, being out in the natural beauty of Wisconsin, truly Gods best work, is well worth it!. Many Ballard Ducks resting in my fishing spot along with a few Canadian geese. Medicine for the soul.

Roger that ! You too, Brother!

Roger that! The Big E was a Historic Carrier. My final Sea Command Was Nimitz CVN68. She is in the Arabian Gulf as we speak. Nice meeting you here. Never met a Marine I didn't like !