Just a question to anyone who had knee surgery right before tournament season opens up. I had my entire meniscus removed & ligament repair yesterday & thought to myself, man I got my first tournament end of February. How in the heck am I gonna pull this off. Of course it's my trolling motor leg so that adds a little something to the mix. Any tips from you guys would be great cause as I'm laying here all I'm thinking about is fishing!!!!

Well, my injury certainly wasn't as serious as your sugery, but I broke my left foot (base of the 5th metatarsal) on Nov. 3rd. I was in a bit of denial and tried to continue to fish and limp around as best I could.

I learned a big leason!!!! At 7 weeks, my foot was NO better! After my 3rd doctor's visit, I finally realized the reality of my situation! I had to get off of my foot for it to heal....bottom line! I quit fishing, got in a orthopedic boot and sat around for weeks. My foot is finally getting better and just a few days ago I whacked some fish finally!

My tip..........don't rush your recovery for any certain tournament. Listen to your body, take the time to heal and you'll be way ahead in the long run!

Good luck!

Oh,you can fish the tourney..........then,you may not be able to fish the rest of your life! Skip the first few tournaments and rehab your knee. FZ1,is good:FZ1,is wise.

You should be ok, I was up and fishing in 2 weeks. Follow thru with therapy and stay on the anti-inflammatory medicine. Keep it iced and flex it so the muscles don't tighten up.

Have not had the pleasure of meeting FZ1, but the "rehab your knee" is good/wise advice. There are a lot of moving parts used in the leg that operates the TM. Take care of the knee - job 1. The fish will still be there after a good rehab.

I broke my tibia last year and fished all year just fine. Take same aspirin and hit the water. Previous to that I tore my acl,mcl, and inner and outer miniscus. I didn't get surgery because everything was so far gone.use that but seat to your advantage and lean a lot you'll be fine. Now if your doc says to stay off it then you probably should stay off it. Standing or even riding in rough water will take its toll on your legs. Get well soon!

Thanks guys. Sounds like we all at one time or another jacked something up. I read all the posts & sounds like maybe I can jump in the back of one of your boats & fish. Let you guys do the work!!! Lol

i would take 8 to 10 weeks off before trying to fish and focus on rehab, although your knee is going to feel a lot better in 2 to 4 weeks, its much safer to wait and dedicate yourself to rigorous rehab to get back close to 100%, ive had 3 knee surgeries and if there is one thing i wish i could change, i wouldn't have tried physical exertion so early after my surgery, i wouldve rehabbed and taken more time off, not worth risking going back under the knife IMO

Whatever you do. GO THRU THE REHAB. Surgery is only half the cure.

I had my left patella tendon replaced in November, just the last two weeks I have been well enough to climb back into the boat. I am taking at least the first half of the individual tournament season off, if not the whole year. I plan to fish out of the back of the boat in team tournaments. I say let someone else do all the hard work of controlling the boat in rough water, sit in the back seat and let your self heal so you can be back at it next year. Like everyone else said make sure you stick with the REHAB.

had right knee scoped twice. torn meniscus both times 20 yrs btween surgeries. Dont heal up nearly as quick at 40. i say fish like bill dance on your seat. keep neoprene brace on for swelling and stability and go get em. ice it down when you get done.