Wrist Getting Fatigued While Walking Frog

[cody161]

I have recently started fishing top water frogs and I noticed that after a handful of casts my left wrist is killing me from jerking the rod. What are some ways that you all keep from wearing your wrist out and making it sore?

[BASSclary]

Use a lighter, more balanced rod. Also, try working your bait tip down.

[AK-Jax86]

Shake weight lol

[SirSnookalot]

I'm only assuming that you are right handed and using a b/c, the rod is in your weaker hand. I use only spinning gear, reel on the bottom which gives me a better feel for me with the rod in my stronger arm, I never get fatigued or sore. Not that there isn't other reasons, but for that reason alone I would never use b/c gear unless I was fishing with bait for larger species. I fish 7 days a week, my fishing muscles are in good shape too.

[Sam]

Cody, I follow NASCAR and was surprised to read that the NASCAR drivers actually work out to stay in shape to drive a car. Go figure. Stay in shape to drive a car?

Then, at a few of the bass seminars I have attended, the pros say that they work out to keep in shape. Work out to keep in shape to bass fish? Come on - get serious. Does Hackney and Monroe actually work out???

Yes, most of the bass pros do work out to keep in shape. And you have to work out, too, and do specific arm and wrist excercises to help you cast, set the hook and reel in those big ones.

Now, with that said, do we work out to fish? Of cours not. I try to work out and swim three times a week but with a busy schedule and family it is almost impossible although I do carry my gym stuff in the car to releive my guilt from not hitting the gym.

I believe there are two major issues you have to face. As stated above by BASSClary, you need to reconsider your baitcaster set up. You may have to try to put together a low weight reel attached to a low weight rod and make sure it is balanced. A good tackle shop can help you do this.

Second, you may also have an incorrect reel ratio for the baits you throw. Check the reel's ratio and remember that the higher the ratio the faster the reel turns so you can turn the reel slower if you need to. If you are using a low ratio reel you may be cranking it fast which will wear you out and cause wrist pain.

Throwing heavy swim baits and the Alabama rig can also cause fatigue. You need a heavy rod to throw these baits and they can wear you out as the day goes on.

May I suggest taking a six pack of your favorite soft drink and attaching a rope to it and sit down in a chair and with your elbow on top of your thigh, lift the six pack off the floor and then bend your wrist back and forth for ten times. Do this three times at first and then work up to five or six repititions. Great wrist exercise.

You can do the same to build up your arms. And you can remove bottles to lighten the weight when you first start if necessary.

So check your rod and reel weight; the reel ratio; and do some exercises to build up your arm and wrist. Just don't do so many that you look like Popeye.

We have not discussed how you hold the rod and set the hook but I am sure others will add their suggestions for your consideration.

[Bluebasser86]

I have the same problem each spring when I start throwing jerkbaits a lot. After a few trips I get conditioned to it and it isn't a problem anymore. A lighter rod would probably help a lot.

[GoneFishi'n]

My right wrist hurts when I fly fish for bass and bream. But when I'm using a spinning rod it doesn't. Which the fly rod is lighter. But then again you are constantly moving your wrist.

[SirSnookalot]

There was a similar thread a while back, IMO there are but 2 reasons a person gets fatigued or sore. Either there is a physical ailment, a doctor's visit would be a good choice or just not in " fishing shape". Lighter and more balanced equipment is a remedy that may work, but a workout program to get into shape can never hurt. I'll be 67 next week and as stated I don't get sore or tired because I'm using these fishing muscles every single day, in addition I do a lot of beach walking as I'm fishing which further adds to my conditioning.

And I do believe a race car driver has to be in shape, holding that wheel at a high rate of speed takes both strength. and stamina, not to mention mental alertness which is improved by being healthy.

[Fishing Rhino]

There was a similar thread a while back, IMO there are but 2 reasons a person gets fatigued or sore. Either there is a physical ailment, a doctor's visit would be a good choice or just not in " fishing shape". Lighter and more balanced equipment is a remedy that may work, but a workout program to get into shape can never hurt. I'll be 67 next week and as stated I don't get sore or tired because I'm using these fishing muscles every single day, in addition I do a lot of beach walking as I'm fishing which further adds to my conditioning.

And I do believe a race car driver has to be in shape, holding that wheel at a high rate of speed takes both strength. and stamina, not to mention mental alertness which is improved by being healthy.

Sir Snook mentioned much of what I was thinking. Any repetitive action can become problematic, see tennis elbow, or carpal tunnel syndrome. If you've ever started an exercise regime, you've probably experienced sore and aching muscles and joints at the start. The calesthenics we were put through at the start of basketball season would leave us nearly crippled upon waking up the next morning. Gradually that soreness disappeared during the day. Good thing because we were put through the same drills at after school practice.

Gradually our bodies became accustomed to the gruelling workouts and we'd wake up the next morning feeling just fine. The pain could be, as Sir Snook suggested, a genetic defect or other physical problem. It was the old, "no pain, no gain" philosophy.

Cast in your yard with a practice weight, and retrieve using the same motion as when fishing. If the pain persists, see a doctor. You might be aggravating an existing condition.

One would think you are too young to be plagued by a degenerative joint disease, but, it's not impossible.

[LgMouthGambler]

Youll get used to it. No pain, no gain!

[cody161]

Thanks for all of the great replies! I figured it was mostly using a muscle that was not in shape was why my wrist was getting tired/sore. Also I was killing time back fishing yesterday and I think the way I was having to hold the rod had something to do with it as well. The rod and reel that I was using was just a Abu Garcia Black Max combo. The reel ratio is 6.4:1 or 6.2:1, is that about right for a top water setup?

[hatrix]

I think it happens to any one when you use walking baits for to long. A little over a month a go the top water bite was on big time and I was throwing spooks and frogs all day. It was all I threw for about a couple weeks the bite was so good and the one morning part of my left hand was asleep. The doctor said it was a pinched ulnar nerve most likely caused from doing a repetitive action over and over and it had bothered the tissue around the nerve and pinched it. My wrist was never swollen or any thing. I just woke up with half of my ring finger down to my pinky asleep. It is similar to guys who swing hammers all day. I don't care what shape your in your body is not made to be snapping your wrist like that all day and over time you will absolutely notice effects from it.