To Elwood

[bassiusmaximus]

Have faith and be strong we are all praying for you.

[FlyLie]

Thinking of Elwood and Family

[Bobby Headrick]

Thoughts and prayers to you Elwood

[fishhound]

i shall also keep ya in my prayers

[Dave Clark]

Elwood,I've never met you but I've always enjoyed your posts so good luck with next week......Dave

[elnutsmalljaws]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the thoughts and prayers. Tough situation right now hoping for the best but trying to prepare for the worst. Can't just ignore the possibility of 7 more days and it is all over. Really want to go to Dale Hollow and fish one more time before surgery date and even though my surgeon is against it, I think I will anyways. I am not sure anyone other than my buddy's Cliff, Mike and my Wife really knows how much I LOVE to FNF fish on Dale Hollow. I don't think Passion is even the right word. I am wanting to go and obviously fish but also take pictures of my favorite spots and get a clean map to write exact instructions on how to fish them for my son Joshua. I know that if the worst does happen Cliff and Mike will make sure that Joshua gets to catch his Smallie on Dale Hollow and I would be honored to have either of these 2 guys be there if I can't. You don't know how many times a day Dale Hollow and my top 10 honey holes pop into my head. That certain cast at that exact angle with those perfect conditions just waiting for the bobber to drop and then let the games begin. Cliff always says I am a big fish fisherman because I fish big fish spots and he is right. Nothing like a fight of a 5lb Brownfish on a 10 foot FNF rod. If my boy was a bit older right now and it was not as unsafe as it is to have a 6 yr old out right now, he would be skipping school and we would be heading south as I type. But too cold and too dangerous for a rambunctious (sp) 6 yr old to be on the water now. I don't have a lot to pass down to my boy but would love to pass as much knowledge as I can to him in the hope that he too could win the Billy Westmoreland one day as well. I am just rambling and got off the subject. Thanks to all for the comments, elnut

[Tim_T]

Really want to go to Dale Hollow and fish one more time before surgery date and even though my surgeon is against it, I think I will anyways.

Go Elwood, I am not a medical expert and have not been through anything like you are going through, but I cannot see a good reason not to. Doctors don't know or understand everything. JMO

[DJD]

Hmmm as much as I would consider a trip at this point I would stack the chips in my favor as much as possible. If getting stronger for the operation by resting and spending time with my family, church or getting personal affairs in order was what the doctor ordered then I would not go. But I understand we all have a mind of our own....JMHO.

[bassiusmaximus]

Hmmm as much as I would consider a trip at this point I would stack the chips in my favor as much as possible. If getting stronger for the operation by resting and spending time with my family, church or getting personal affairs in order was what the doctor ordered then I would not go. But I understand we all have a mind of our own....JMHO.

I would agree with Don, However I am not sure I could follow the advice either. That's a tough call. Whatever you decide be sure you do what you feel is best for you and your family.

[BPenrod]

Prayers sent for you Woody!

[kyjake]

Will plan on meeting you sometime when you get able to get back to the lake.
Jake

[elnutsmalljaws]

What is best for the whole ordeal all the way around is to not go fishing and risk rupturing 150 miles from UK Hospital. BUT there is no guarantee that I will or will not rupture just like there is no guarantee either or on any part of what I am about to go thru on the operating table. The only guarantee that I do know is that I don't have a lot to give to my son if I should pass away. Lord knows with losing a 6 figure job plus bonus January 2007 due to my illness and then only working for a couple of months with the state government earning right at 1/6th of what I used to make before losing that job dje to going back into the hospital for a 3rd time in a couple of months and State Government says BYE BYE. Call it what you want, on probation don't want his sickness on our health plan, but these IDIOTS knew my wife worked in the same building and whether it was on my plan or hers IT WAS STILL THE SAME. 401K gone, Savings gone, Checking living paycheck to paycheck disability check to disability check and still looks like I will be giving up my boat so when this happens then it all is getting sold, rods reels tackle, you name it and it will not be in my garage. I don't have nothing to give to my son from a father to a son. I have heard that we saved him from a 3rd world country where so many children died that month in the orphanage but he has saved us just as much as we saved him. What a little guy he is. My little Buddy, My Son, My Best Friend, My Angel. He gets in the car the other day and he has been advanced to 2nd Grade Reading Word List. Pretty good for a Kindergarten kid. He is a stud athlete. Great in Soccer - Averaged 8 goals a game in the 5-7 year old league last year when he was 5, flag pulling machine on defense. Point Guard on his basketball team and I pity the guy that Josh is guarding because he does not stand a chance. My boy, Handsome, Smart, Athletic, Creative and he loves to fish. He would rather be outside running and ripping than playing video games. I don't have a lot to leave him but I know I have instilled the competitive spirit and don't take any crap from nobody attitude. He knows he is not to start it and dam well better finish it. If he starts it then he deals with me, not allowed to be a bully but he will not be bullied. Josh Loves to fish and I want to teach him all that I can about Dale Hollow and I may only have 7 days to do it before my surgery. I am considering going to Dale Hollow Mon and Tue of next week. Spend time fishing the early best bite and then spend time in the afternoon taking pictures of my best 20 spots on the lake and giving exact insctuctions on how to fish these areas with different lures and when. This way when the time comes, he will have all the needed stuff that I know to try and win his own Billy Westmoreland Tourney. I want to leave as much of me with him as I can. People die everyday and with Josh being born in Katmandu Nepal and then abandoned in a field, found by a police officer, then nobody claimed him from the ads that ran for months and months in the local paper his life has been hard enough. He has been with us since he was 4 months old and he is no different to me than my 2 biological daughters, I would die for any of them. I am just wanting to find a way that one day my son will understand that his old man was no where near the best fisherman on earth, not the best in the state of KY or TN, but when it comes to Catching a few Smallies on the FNF, then his old man would put his talents up against anyone at anytime. Not saying that to brag or pat myself on the back but I may not be good at a lot of things but I have been known to catch one or two on the technique and I want Josh to know what I know. Again I am bantering and taking up way too much time. I plan on going down to Dale on Mon and Possibly stay the night and fish Tuesday as well. I don't feel comfortable in asking someone to go with me and put them in the position in case I rupture or something so I Will be going by myself. hopefully I can get the pictures taken and the maps marked to what I want on them just in case the worst happens. Cliff, Billy, Mike, Vaun, Roy, Steve, John, Mark, George, Dave adn a few others that I have left out get the honor and pleasure of taking My Boy Josh and his Mother, My Wife, Krista out in my boat if the worst thing happens and let him and her try and catch one on the FNF. Done ranting now, just want Joshua Alexander Prabal Lumpkins to catch a Smallmouth Bass out of Dale Hollow Lake on the FNF.