no greater gift
How have you adapted to fishing with Age and Medical Challenges?
- Thread starter RCF
- Start date
Unfortunately, Puget Sound area beaches can be a b*tch to walk and wade. Rocky, slick with seaweed, covered in sharp, lumpy, rolly oysters and barnacle-covered rocks.
I'm not too old yet, but a disintegrating knee, touchy Achilles tendons, and arthritis-prone hips has taken all-day beach trips off my list.
I can walk a beach (or wade a stream) all day, but then I can barely walk for the next two
I've gone to 90% kayak fishing. Peddling the Hobie mirage actually makes my knee and hips feel better, even after 3-4 sunup to sundown fishing days.
Have you tried Voltarin? I only use it on my knees and finger joints when they really start to bother me. I guess the fish smell it, too. Have to wash hands really well after applying it.Unfortunately, Puget Sound area beaches can be a b*tch to walk and wade. Rocky, slick with seaweed, covered in sharp, lumpy, rolly oysters and barnacle-covered rocks.
I'm not too old yet, but a disintegrating knee, touchy Achilles tendons, and arthritis-prone hips has taken all-day beach trips off my list.
I can walk a beach (or wade a stream) all day, but then I can barely walk for the next two
I've gone to 90% kayak fishing. Peddling the Hobie mirage actually makes my knee and hips feel better, even after 3-4 sunup to sundown fishing days.
Voltaren gel is the go to in our house, very effective anti-inflammatory.
Thanks - I have used it on my Achilles and various other tendon issues.
The microfractures and cartilage fissuring in the heads of my femur and tibia don't much care about topicals/OTCs, though.
A steroid shot has been working well for daily pain, but it still won't take much abuse.
1st world problems - I have a pretty great life if my worst issue is I have to fish from a kayak instead of wade ~100 days a year!
(Was just describing how/why I switched it up, as per the OP!)
Years ago and "old guy" that had lost most of his vision taught me the "weavers knot" because according to him "once you learn it you can tie it in the dark or if you go blind."
Is a weaver's knot a sheet bend?
Sheet Bend
The Sheet Bend or Weaver's Knot is recommended for joining two ropes of unequal size. The thicker rope must be used for the simple bight as shown. However, it works equally well if the ropes are of the same size.
www.animatedknots.com
I usually use a Davy Wotton knot to tie on my fly. It has not failed me, is very easy to tie, and is especialy useful when dropper tags get short, because it can be tied with very little length of tippet.
Davy Knot
The Davy Knot is small and economical. With practice it can be tied using up only a smallest amount of tippet length. It can also be tied extremely rapidly, even in cold and awkward conditions.
www.animatedknots.com
I started planning for age and medical issues back in my late 20's.
I discovered stillwater fly fishing and gave up fishing water that is in a hurry to get somewhere else.
I found a friend and got him addicted to fly fishing. He gives me flies for Christmas. Unfortunately, he has some vision issues that might cut down on my receiving a steady supply of flies in the future. I am starting to tie again. I am also looking for a much younger fishing buddy.
I am looking for a solution to putting my Outcast pontoon on top of my RAM 3500 truck. So far I have managed by some workarounds. I have purchased other floating craft that is smaller, but not as nice as the pontoon boat.
I really would like to find a solution so I could carry my pontoon on top of the truck and still tow my Casita trailer. There is a market for somebody to come up with a useable product.
For wind issues and getting back to the launch I have developed a small and effective solar trolling motor setup. Unfortunately, it is designed for my pontoon boat. That still leaves me the problem of transporting the boat.
One of the best things I did was buying a Casita camping trailer. It really simplified getting ready for trips. I also sleep better and have all my fishing stuff with me all season long. I just leave it hooked up to the truck almost all season long, and have even taken it on day fishing trips.
I have switched to fly snaps for "tying" my flies to the leader in most cases. I spend much less time tying knot while fishing. Streamers and chironomids flies work really well with the new system. Still looking for how to incorporate the mid-size flies into the system.
The issue of peeing while fishing is a work in progress. It helps to drink less fluids. Somebody needs to work on this!!!
Looking forward to many more years of stillwater fishing. It hopefully, will be one of the last hobbies I have to give up.
I discovered stillwater fly fishing and gave up fishing water that is in a hurry to get somewhere else.
I found a friend and got him addicted to fly fishing. He gives me flies for Christmas. Unfortunately, he has some vision issues that might cut down on my receiving a steady supply of flies in the future. I am starting to tie again. I am also looking for a much younger fishing buddy.
I am looking for a solution to putting my Outcast pontoon on top of my RAM 3500 truck. So far I have managed by some workarounds. I have purchased other floating craft that is smaller, but not as nice as the pontoon boat.
I really would like to find a solution so I could carry my pontoon on top of the truck and still tow my Casita trailer. There is a market for somebody to come up with a useable product.
For wind issues and getting back to the launch I have developed a small and effective solar trolling motor setup. Unfortunately, it is designed for my pontoon boat. That still leaves me the problem of transporting the boat.
One of the best things I did was buying a Casita camping trailer. It really simplified getting ready for trips. I also sleep better and have all my fishing stuff with me all season long. I just leave it hooked up to the truck almost all season long, and have even taken it on day fishing trips.
I have switched to fly snaps for "tying" my flies to the leader in most cases. I spend much less time tying knot while fishing. Streamers and chironomids flies work really well with the new system. Still looking for how to incorporate the mid-size flies into the system.
The issue of peeing while fishing is a work in progress. It helps to drink less fluids. Somebody needs to work on this!!!
Looking forward to many more years of stillwater fishing. It hopefully, will be one of the last hobbies I have to give up.
56 in January. Still prefer fishing moving water and will be until I am stuck/regulated to lakes. I don't do overnight hikes anymore. I try to keep my alpine lakes/creeks trips to a max of 2-3hr hikes. Still going on solo trips, as I am an impulse fisherman.
Everything else is about the same as it ever was.
Everything else is about the same as it ever was.
Last edited:
Jim Allen
Steelhead
This one hits home with me. Lost my vision in my left eye secondary to advanced glaucoma. Add on being diagnosed with Parkinson's. Tying on a new fly becomes a major task. But what the he'll I'm out there with the best of them.
thnx for this, cannot wait to try the Davy on winter midges when my frozen fingers become as clumsy as my castingIs a weaver's knot a sheet bend?
Sheet Bend
The Sheet Bend or Weaver's Knot is recommended for joining two ropes of unequal size. The thicker rope must be used for the simple bight as shown. However, it works equally well if the ropes are of the same size.
I usually use a Davy Wotton knot to tie on my fly. It has not failed me, is very easy to tie, and is especialy useful when dropper tags get short, because it can be tied with very little length of tippet.
Davy Knot
The Davy Knot is small and economical. With practice it can be tied using up only a smallest amount of tippet length. It can also be tied extremely rapidly, even in cold and awkward conditions.
Last edited:
fatbillybob
Steelhead
I guess that's when you fish streamers and use the clips like the poster above mentioned?
fatbillybob
Steelhead
A lot of you guys mention still fishing as the cure to not being able to fish running water. I gave us still fishing because it was too hard to get my boats into the water! I got float tubes, big V boat, and personal pontoon boat that can navigate a river. They all weigh a ton! How do you injured guys get those watercraft into the water? I got a 2500 ram and my pontoon fits fine in the bed somewhat deflated. A quick pump and I could be ready to go. Then you could hook your camper to the trailer hitch.
I actually think a small trailered dingy/drift boat with motor at lakes with a boat launch would be way easier than personal water craft. I have a sick passion for a sexy looking wooden drift boat. I would actually like to build one.
fatbillybob
Steelhead
Unfortunately, Puget Sound area beaches can be a b*tch to walk and wade. Rocky, slick with seaweed, covered in sharp, lumpy, rolly oysters and barnacle-covered rocks.
I'm not too old yet, but a disintegrating knee, touchy Achilles tendons, and arthritis-prone hips has taken all-day beach trips off my list.
I can walk a beach (or wade a stream) all day, but then I can barely walk for the next two
I've gone to 90% kayak fishing. Peddling the Hobie mirage actually makes my knee and hips feel better, even after 3-4 sunup to sundown fishing days.
That's too bad but the sound is a great fishery. I envy you!
It is! I just fish it from the kayak now.
A year ago I posted a sad tale of my falling and fracturing my hip and femur. Had just left the boat launch and luckily had a fishing buddy to take me to the hospital. After surgery, the doc said recovery would be 6 mos to a year. A year was more accurate. My best friend and fishing buddy once said while struggling to survive cancer that the word quit was not in his vocabulary. I've never forgotten that in all the years since he passed. So last Aug I went to the D to try that water I love so much and forgot my wading staff. Fished about 15 minutes trying to stay upright in the rocks and finally gave up. Spent the rest of the day enjoying the sights and sounds of the river and the wildlife....and a cold beer. A few weeks later I took my pontoon to a local lake. My wife says no to me fishing alone so I took her with me. At arrival I saw the wind blowing gale force with white caps and dust clouds blowing down the shoreline. I wasn't about to put my wife or myself in that situation so suggested a nice place to have lunch. So alas, I can say this year I have not caught a fish. Next summer I'm going back to the D with a wading staff. And I'm going back to that lake with my pontoon. Don't care if I catch a lot of fish but just want to be there and hopefully catch one which would be icing on the cake. The word quit isn't in my vocabulary either. I see photos of fish posted on this forum and get the itch. I'm 84.