Help! Shoulder injury/surgery, can I fish?

After 30 years of multiple shoulder injuries (all related to FUN!), I finally managed to tear my arm bone off my shoulder muscle while driving on a closed course a few weeks ago. Surgery is all-but-certain, expecting to schedule at surgeon consult this week.

That means I’m going to have an adapted ice fishing season, if at all, since my dominant arm will be toast for 6 weeks. I can’t even be a DD, can’t drive for 6 weeks. Or really now for that matter, its a ballet of one-and-one-half-hands-waving in the drivers seat right now…

I still want to hit the ice carefully this year, despite risking an ice fall (cleats!), can’t drive me or my gear anywhere (fishing buddies to the rescue), can’t drill my own holes (I’d gladly pay you Tuesday for an ice hole today), etc…

…Assuming I can get out, any suggestions for landing my own fish (positive thinking!) without the use of dominant arm??? Or is this year a bust, for those who have experienced this? I’d grudgingly settle for just sitting in a heated box with my pals on the ice this year, but I’m hoping there’s a way to reel ’em in that I haven’t thought of yet. Maybe just skulk around random ice holes and rush in and land ’em with my good hand?

I had 5 anchors put in my labrum to hold it in place 7 years ago. I tried doing things too soon and really wish now that I didn’t. I would ask your doctor he should know. Shoulders take a long time to heal.

My buddies dad had a stroke while back, took out one side of body pretty good. He made a sling for his rod to sit in on his leg, reel with strong hand. It’s not a perfect system but it works he said.

Good luck.

They do make battery powered retrieve on fishing reels specifically for those with only one hand. I’m sure a google search will give you several results to research.

The leg sling or a piece of PVC strapped to your leg to hold the rod might work also. Could even jig by bouncing your knee to the music.

Baiting the hook and removing the fish might be more of a challenge. ‘Course you could always trim the point from the hook and just fish without catching.

Had mine done. Was fishing 2 days later. But. Mine needs to be done again so take that how ever you want????

fish shallow water with a long rod and “cane pole” them in. Flatten the hook barbs to make unhooking easier.

No idea what surgery youre looking at, but I can tell you most, if not all, shoulder surgeries are extremely painful. Significantly more painful than say a hip or a knee. Might be better off just taking a rain check on this years ice to reduce the chance of re-injury and even more issues. Sorry, I work in orthopedics and tend to lean the conservative route.. really don’t want to care for your in the hospital

Had my right rotator cuff done 2 years ago – four anchors to labrum + multiple bone spurs removed. IMO you could incorporate your physical therapy and exercises to ice fishing, but need to remember your limitations. I was performing quite strenuous PT within a few weeks and could see improvement within a month. I completed my PT ~ 3 months after surgery with 2-3 therapy sessions/week + daily exercises (multiple times a day). Do not skimp on your therapy or exercises. You get out of it what you put into it.

Wow, split opinions, I can appreciate both sides of this. I’m torn.

As much as I don’t want to miss a season, I’m also concerned about nailing it in recovery. I really like the PVC pipe on the leg idea as well as going barbless, and I found a great idea for cordless flex screwdriver hooked to a reel, but the thought of screwing up recovery and not getting back in the saddle as much much as possible 6-12 months down the road makes me reconsider planning on ice trips this year… I can be pretty stupid and forget I’m injured, and then do things that hurt without thinking, 30 years of banging around hard and using ‘er up is how I got here…

Its hard to envision a winter without ice fishing, but I’m considering it now.

I’ve had 3 Labrum surgeries before I was 25. First two were arthroscopic and the last one was a full slice and dice. For the big surgery, I could not do anything fishing related during the first few weeks of recovery. After I was able to remove the pillow from the sling, I could start fishing again. No issues landing fish, as long as they aren’t trophies and you take it slow.

I could see you still being able to fish if you were in a permeant house with buddies. Not sure if this would work since it just popped in my head while reading this thread. Put a peg with an end on the wall x distance from the floor on your good side. X = the height you can reach with your other arm. When the bobber goes down, grab the line, pull it up to the peg, over and down. I would keep your arm in a sling when fishing so you don’t get excited and forget not to use it. You could step on the line and grab the fish out of the hole or grab the line again and pull some more. I am sure your buddies will have fun laughing at you while you do this rodeo. But you will still be fishing. Good luck.

Depends on the type of surgery and how it goes. I’ve had labrum arthroscopic surgery and recently a full shoulder replacement. The labrum had me incapacitated for basically a whole summer, but that was also in 2001 so I’d imagine things have changed. The Replacement was just in August, and was feeling great and able to fish within weeks (thank Dr. Braman at Tria!). My advice would be to make sure you have a good relationship with the surgeon and PT, and follow their advice.

I tried doing things too soon and really wish now that I didn’t. I would ask your doctor he should know.

Listen to your Doctor. You are paying him too much not to…

The thing that doesn’t always get considered on the ice is what happens to your body when you slip. We all have to drag/tow our gear, drill holes, reel, scoop out holes, etc. Like you mentioned, an ice fall is a big risk. (Obviously ice cleats would help a lot). When your body first notices you’ve slipped and possibly lost balance it tries to correct what’s going on and parts all over your body are going to tense up. A lot of times when slipping and falling arms have a tendency to flail up into the air. That’s not going to feel good and/or help an inured shoulder.

Obviously you’re considering everything or you wouldn’t be posting here. I think it’s doable with friends helping you out, just take your time and have some lowered expectations. Good luck!

I wouldn’t recommend it. As someone who has had rotator cuff surgery I know how long it can take and if you slip on the ice one of the first things to take the brunt of that fall will be your shoulder. Also do the PT or you will never regain your range of motion. Seriously.

not worth the risk of slipping on ice. Would need to do it when you have people there to help. like previously mentioned in a permanent with someone to remove the fish. go when theres snow and not slippery on the ice. if going with buddies you don’t have to fish to have a good time. you could be the guy telling them on the tipup they should’ve waited longer or taken it earlier after they miss.

Had my rotator scoped out 3 years in January. Was back at my ice fishing league in 3 weeks. Wasn’t without pain but managed. Had to use my weaker arm for setting the hook and kept my dominant arm close to my chest to reel. Made it work, but was far from efficient and very clumsy. I would suggest waiting till perms are on the ice and go with friends.