How have you adapted to fishing with Age and Medical Challenges?

For me, it's all about pace, expectations and safety. I still have a burning desire to catch fish and explore new places but I am OK with shorter days and more time around the fire. Being retired is the best, more time for longer trips and no huge rush with long driving days to maximize fishing time. I love to spend time watching the water and fish behavior instead of thrashing the water and counting fish. I'm glad that I had those 8 hour fishing days and then heading out again after dinner but am content now to take it all at a slower pace. Questionable crossings are no longer 'fun' and that is all ok. I love to be out enjoying the places that the fishes live!
 
MichaelR said:
I’m getting to the point of needing a wading stick. What’s a good brand that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?
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DM me, I have one that is good and free. It is quite functional but too long for me. Happy to get it to a new owner. The one that I have is this one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C328YK?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

There are much nicer ones available including these! :)
Herkileez

Post in thread 'Riverstick Custom Wading Staffs'

Brian Miller said:
I think I already had a hank of paracord ($6) and it took 20 minutes to weave it with the adjustable wrist loop but I like the locking handlebar grips (y)

Lock-On Grips | Lizard Skins

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and the colored Non Slip Grip Heat Shrink Tubing (y)...
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MichaelR said:
I’m getting to the point of needing a wading stick. What’s a good brand that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?
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O clarkii lewisi said:
DM me, I have one that is good and free. It is quite functional but too long for me. Happy to get it to a new owner.
Click to expand...

@O clarkii lewisi - your offer is far better than my suggestion which would be go to a thrift store and pick up an old ski pole. While not nearly as nice as a folding wading staff, they're cheap and fairly functional.
 
Turned 80 this August. I try to be more aware of where I am stepping, whether wading or just walking around near the water. I have used a wading staff on occasion, depending on the stream and CFS. I prefer fishing with another person, but that's not always possible.
 
Evan B said:
Strength training is one of the best things you can do in advanced age, and to prepare for advanced age. Everyone's different obviously, as there's plenty of life that happened to that point that led to the lessened mobility (injuries, disease, etc etc), but whatever you can do to work on your strength is going to make your later years much more active and enjoyable.

I could potentially do a thread with some advice in this department and answer any questions. This is something I literally get paid to do, so I have real experience in the matter.
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Evan this would be great...

I adapted strength training years ago to help get kayaks on and off the roof of the car, let alone paddle. I wanted a back that wouldn't give out and trained for the weight of the Kayaks and the movements to get them up and down safely.

Balance and endurance efforts are the other two things I train on.

Medical literature on memory preservation and slowing of progressive cognitive decline has strength training as like the #1 or #2 thing you can do behind sleep apnea treatment. Shingles shot is probably #3 now for lowering the risk of memory decline....
 
MichaelR said:
I’m getting to the point of needing a wading stick. What’s a good brand that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?
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this is an excellent affordable staff, light yet sturdy, very easy to deploy and store.
www.flyshack.com

Fly Shack Wading Staff

A wading staff helps you maintain balance while negotiating rapid currents and slippery streambeds. Quality Fly Fishing Flies for less. Trout Flies from only $.59. Free Shipping. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! We have Dry Flies, Nymphs, Bead Heads, and Streamers.
www.flyshack.com
 
Wadin' Boot said:
Evan this would be great...

I adapted strength training years ago to help get kayaks on and off the roof of the car, let alone paddle. I wanted a back that wouldn't give out and trained for the weight of the Kayaks and the movements to get them up and down safely.

Balance and endurance efforts are the other two things I train on.

Medical literature on memory preservation and slowing of progressive cognitive decline has strength training as like the #1 or #2 thing you can do behind sleep apnea treatment. Shingles shot is probably #3 now for lowering the risk of memory decline....
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Exactly. Yet getting anyone to do the most basic stuff to help themselves is next to impossible. It's crazy how few people will actually get up to put in any effort to improve their quality of life. If anyone feels "called out," you should :ROFLMAO:

I have a long time friend of close to 20yrs. He's I think 11 or 12yrs older than me. Since we very first started fishing together, his comments complaining about his decline in physical ability were always paired with "wait til 10yrs from now and you'll know what I'm talking about!"

Now we're 20yrs later and in my 40s, and I could literally and figuratively run circles around my 20something self. I do 10k races frequently against people 20yrs younger and 50-100lb lighter than me and finish top 3 almost every time. I'm stronger, better balance, and all those things. It's only gotten better as I've put in the work. I work out alongside and train people in their 50s who put me to shame.

Will it all decline eventually? Absolutely. But going into later years with better habits and overall health is going to make a huge difference.

It's absolutely possible to be very physically capable as you age. It just takes commitment, which is the part most people struggle with.
 
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SurfnFish said:
When I started surfing at age 12, we had a posse of beach rats. Alcohol, rich diets and lack of exercise took all but the three of us who took diet and exercise seriously out of the lineup over the decades, and we are now the only survivors of that group.
Btw, the sportswriter you mentioned reminded me of something Tom Stienstra would say

a simple but effective balance exercise is when walking, do some careful yards backwards and side to side...part of my routine when walking the mutt in the forest on an uneven dirt path
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At 78 I have great balance as far as that goes . But after having an ankle fusion, there is just nothing to help the loss of balance because of the fusion , it's just an ankle that has no ability to adjust balance , no flex . I have no issues with everyday life, but wading I certainly depend on the wading stick now . These days I don't find the need to wade up to the top of my waders ,it's just getting out knee high or so ,lock in on the rocks ,and fish .

It was interesting going to rehab after the fusion , first words out of the therapist's mouth was ,can't do a thing for that ankle , it's fused , and there is actually no rehab for it . He did have me work on the upper leg keeping those muscles working right . Lower leg , there is nothing much , when it's fused . Can't push off with the foot so there is no way now to get those calf muscles to do there job like before , I do try to concentrate on flexing that calf muscle when walking .
 
Hello my name is Ken and I'm 55 years old from the PNW. Thank you for inviting me to this meeting about Flyfishing and aging.

It's been 36 days since my last flyfishing adventure. I would like to come clean and admit that I have been in denial that father time has been wading with me for a while now. Retired from competitive sports in my late fortys when the "day after" started to last for a week or longer. Also I've now spent the better part of 15 years in an office chair after 20 years of manual labor (carpenter) and it shows. Arthritis in my hip is something I cannot ignore any longer for my health and long term aging goals. In the last few years I have taken a couple of spills on big rivers because I can lift my right leg and bound from rock to rock like I used to ;). I am lucky enough to have my 86 yo father still getting it done to motivate me for the possibility that I too may shoot my age one day. 2026 will be the year I go bionic (que 6 million dollar man) and reinvest in my future self. (Looking at you Bullwinkle lake BC 2026)

Thank you all for sharing your stories and providing some insights on the path ahead.
 
GA

Geriatrics Anonymous
 
509 said:
I have a cap on the back, and the boat rack is on top of the cap. That makes it over seven feet from the ground to the bottom of the boat.

With the trailer attached I have to lift the pontoon up to the boat rack from the side of the truck. Seven feet is a long ways. I do carry a ladder just to attach the straps to rack.

I have thought of getting a bed cover, and a very short boat rack. The other alternative is to find 8 foot pontoons for the boat. Those have been difficult to find.

The other option is to disconnect the trailer to load and unload the pontoon, but that only makes slightly easier to lift the boat.
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I have a fiberglass Escape trailer. I added a hitch to the back of trailer and used a 'hitch n haul' platform to load pontoon boat on it's side. I had a couple of solid metal hooks added high on the rear of the trailer as tie downs for the pontoon boat, worked like a charm.

1765832916250.png
 
Yardus said:
Hello my name is Ken and I'm 55 years old from the PNW. Thank you for inviting me to this meeting about Flyfishing and aging.

It's been 36 days since my last flyfishing adventure. I would like to come clean and admit that I have been in denial that father time has been wading with me for a while now. Retired from competitive sports in my late fortys when the "day after" started to last for a week or longer. Also I've now spent the better part of 15 years in an office chair after 20 years of manual labor (carpenter) and it shows. Arthritis in my hip is something I cannot ignore any longer for my health and long term aging goals. In the last few years I have taken a couple of spills on big rivers because I can lift my right leg and bound from rock to rock like I used to ;). I am lucky enough to have my 86 yo father still getting it done to motivate me for the possibility that I too may shoot my age one day. 2026 will be the year I go bionic (que 6 million dollar man) and reinvest in my future self. (Looking at you Bullwinkle lake BC 2026)

Thank you all for sharing your stories and providing some insights on the path ahead.
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hip replacement is a breeze these days, I was surfing with my new hip 4 months after replacement.
 
Back in 2021, I had an accident that resulted in my left foot being pretty much torn off. The only thing holding my foot to my leg was the achilles tendon. I had a good surgeon and he was able to reattach it, but needless to say, it's nowhere near the same. My balance is shot. I have no feeling in that foot. I've got about 60% - 65% mobility in what's left of my ankle. I walk pretty normally and there isn't much pain to speak of. Could've been a lot worse. Wading is super sketchy though, even with a wading staff. I love to spey fish, but I'm starting to realize that those days might be over.
 
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