Wrist Fatigue?

[CK_32]

Does anyone else get wrist fatigue when fishing jerk/swim baits?

I'm going about 2/3 times a week now and my pole wrist I jerk the rod with is starting to get sore after the first hour or so of fishing..

Anyone else get this? Is it something that goes away over time due to using new muscles? Am I doing it wrong?

I've tried posting he rod on my hip while I drag, I've tried bracing it with my arm, but he repetitive motion lifting or dragging the rod is irritating my wrist.

[Dwight Hottle]

Trying using your arm rather than your wrist.

[CK_32]

I've tried, when I do it turns into a dragging motion more than a jerk.

It does aid in the wrist fatigued but it's a totally different bait action when I do.

[Dwight Hottle]

I've tried, when I do it turns into a dragging motion more than a jerk.

It does aid in the wrist fatigued but it's a totally different bait action when I do.

 

Try tucking the end of the rod under your forearm for support & try keeping the rod parallel to the water. Short strokes with slack line should make your baits dance.

[Catch and Grease]

Anytime you start making your muscles/joints do something they aren't used to or more than normal they can get sore... It may or may not get better as they get used to it.

Even though you probably will get used to it, if it doesn't go away try doing something that works whatever's sore less...

Think about it like this, if your running 5 miles a day and don't get sore at all then increase your miles to 6 miles a day what's going to happen? Your gonna feel it worse because your body isn't used to working that hard. I believe that's what's happened to you, since your fishing more often your body is still adjusting to the new demand.

[Mike L]

Do you bowl? play tennis? Know anyone who does?

Chances are you've seen the arm bands that most "crankers" wear.

All it is, is a 2 1/2" wide velcro secured wrap that bowlers and some tennis players use to give support to the muscles that get strained by a range of motion that isn't done consistently or constantly.

You can put it above the elbow, or anywhere on your forearm down to your wrist. Any medical supply house, chiropractor office, bowling or tennis pro shop will have them.

Try it, I'll bet you a watermelon fluke you'll feel better.

Mike

[BassinLou]

It's time to find a 5-6lb dumbbell and start doing reverse wrist curls. Strength training will help your fishing endurance. 

[Catch and Grease]

I'd only use a brace/support as a last resort, I don't like things like that because it makes your body get used to relying on a brace and gets weaker... Not saying braces are bad though, heck I wear knee supports/pads while I wrestle, But if you don't need them then don't use them. I would highly recommend trying other things before jumping to the conclusion that you need a brace/support, and if you do decide that you think you need a brace I would go to the doctor first and get their approval...

Treat the cause, not the symptom.

[geo g]

I agree with Mike L, if it bothers you that much, try a wrist brace, at least for a while. It is a half glove with a good wide Velcro strap around the wrist. Go to a good medical supply store and ask them to suggest a product.

I once had a elbow problem on my casting arm. The Velcro forearm band worked miracles for me and I only needed it for a couple of weeks. I always keep it in the truck in case it starts hurting again. Good luck!

[Paul Roberts]

Whatever the cause, do be careful of repetitive motion stress. It can become debilitating. I spend a lot of time on computers and have learned to mouse left handed, and I switch off. I once strained my right elbow wrestling big bass one spring. Took 3 weeks off after and when I returned to it the pain came back on the first fish! I then switched to left handed fishing -a real learning curve there- and fished lefty for a year until my right resolved. I switch hit now.

[Fisher-O-men]

Learn to work the bait with both hands and alternate rigs.

[SirSnookalot]

It's time to find a 5-6lb dumbbell and start doing reverse wrist curls. Strength training will help your fishing endurance. 

Probably good advise, a wrist band may help some.  I fish 7 days a week, I don't get sore or tired at least not my wrist, arms or legs.  Having a pinched nerve and bulging disk there is some discomfort in my neck, which comes and goes.  I do believe having the those fishing muscles conditioned is a big benefit.  I would not rule out changing techniques and equipment if your muscles don't respond.

A good example of conditioning are PGA golfers, most of them do specific training on their muscles related to the swing.

[gardnerjigman]

does your wrist do the same thing when walking a top water bait? Not that you are jerking as hard as you do with a jerkbait, but you are twitching your wrist several more times walking a bait than a jerkbait. If it doesn't get irritated walking you may check your "form" while using a jerk bait.

[CDMeyer]

Yeah that is fishing, after awhile you will build more muscle in that area and it will not last as long

[CDMeyer]

The pain will not last as long my mistake

[Darren.]

For me the pain used to be in my elbows, but rest, pushups,

among other things really helped.

 

I did use elbow braces of different kinds while I was working

on resolving the problem(s). So I don't have any issue with

using braces to alleviate pain. Will you become dependent?

Maybe, if you do nothing to work your wrists when not

fishing.

 

Good suggestions above. In addition to monitoring your

fishing style, on the non-fishing end you could also get one

of those hand squeezers/grips, even guitar finger strengtheners

will work.

 

I mentioned pushups helping my elbows -- when I did these

I could feel the warmth of the blood flow into my elbows and

this greatly helped over time.

[Felix77]

Trying using your arm rather than your wrist.

 

This ... It takes a little practice.  I ended up with fatigue when working a Zara Spook as well and once I began working my arms more and wrist less it became easier to manage.  It does take time though ...

[SHaugh]

I've done a bit of buzz bomb fishing for salmon... quite a workout.  What I found is that there are at least 3 ways to accomplish the same action... all wrist... all arm... wrist and arm... even a little body twisting for that kind of fishing..

 

My advice would be to work on several different ways to accomplish the same action.. then alternate between them.   What does the damage is a repetitive motion that is exactly the same every time...

[Chris S]

what kind of rod are you using?

[J Francho]

I will fish until my hands and arms become  T-rex claws - contorted, cramped, and useless.  Never once did I regret it or complain about it, lol.  If it hurts, take a break, try something else.

[Josh Smith]

Not anymore.  Not for a while.  It used to be I'd get fatigued but that was, oh, 20 years ago maybe.

 

For a while there I could fish forever without a break.  Now, it appears I have slight ulnar and carpal tunnel.  (Numb pinky for the first; numb thumb, first and middle fingers for the last.)

 

For this reason, a lot of the action comes from my fingers these days.  I sort of roll the reel in my hand.  I split the wrist to finger action about 50/50. 

 

My elbow only comes into play if I'm doing high lifts of a jig, or  if I'm setting a hook, or something else that requires medium motor movement.

 

Actually, when I set a hook, my wrist comes up, my knees bend, and my back arches.  I don't know that my elbow even moves when setting a hook if I'm standing up.

 

When I'm burning a lure, I keep my arm and wrist locked and turn at the waist.

 

Regards,

 

Josh

[BassinLou]

Does anyone else get wrist fatigue when fishing jerk/swim baits?

I'm going about 2/3 times a week now and my pole wrist I jerk the rod with is starting to get sore after the first hour or so of fishing..

Anyone else get this? Is it something that goes away over time due to using new muscles? Am I doing it wrong?

I've tried posting he rod on my hip while I drag, I've tried bracing it with my arm, but he repetitive motion lifting or dragging the rod is irritating my wrist.

 

Since we can't see your biomechanics, we will not be able to properly tell you if your fishing the jerkbait correctly. What I can tell you is, if your wrist is just sore without lingering pains or swelling than you may have not developed tendonitis yet. If you have developed these symptoms then you may have developed some tendonitis and you may have to take a break for a week or so and ice with mild stretching. The tendonitis will usually present itself on your elbow most of the time. Hence "fisherman's elbow" aka tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis. Trust me you don't want that. I personally battled with this for 2 yrs and it can be debilitating. If this technique is new to you, then use the technique for shorts bouts instead of long bouts. Take breaks often. Over time you will develop the endurance. Also you may want to look at your gear and maybe lighten it up or make sure its properly balanced. Lastly, ask a fellow angler that has experience with this technique to evaluate your form and maybe give you some feedback on correcting your technique a bit. Maybe some or all of these factors maybe your culprit. Best of luck, if you are not finding any remedy, send me a PM and I could go into further detail. I am not pulling the information out of the air. My profession and backgound is in Exercise Physiology and I have dealt with these similar types of issues before. 

[CK_32]

Never used a top water bait. Only a jerk bait and a drop sinker. Still new to fishing really. My experience is very limited.

I'll look into wrist rotations at home and see if that helps, if not maybe a brace. I just wanted to see if this was something the body overcame, just have to live with, or I'm doing something wrong.

[cottny27]

Might want to try putting a rod balancing system on your rod's butt and see how that helps.  It works great for T-riggin where your rod is always in the 9-12:00 position.  For a jerkbait application I am not so sure it will help though.  I just take 1" platic end caps bought at any hardware store, add brass weights or quarters in the cap..slip on and you are done.  I'm surprised nobody mentioned that yet.  

[BassinLou]

Never used a top water bait. Only a jerk bait and a drop sinker. Still new to fishing really. My experience is very limited.

I'll look into wrist rotations at home and see if that helps, if not maybe a brace. I just wanted to see if this was something the body overcame, just have to live with, or I'm doing something wrong.

 

Bracing is just a band aid. Bracing will give a supported feeling, however they are making the muscles lazy. Unless your situation has become very chronic then I would look into bracing. 

Here is a website I quickly found that can be a start for you. http://www.hughston.com/hha/a.seven.htm

Look into the exercise before you decide to begin bracing.