Getting Older

[lonnie g]

On ‎12‎/‎10‎/‎2016 at 10:10 AM, "hamma" said:

Funny you should post this, I was just talking with my GF last night about this very subject.

 With 2 degenerated disc's, and a pulled muscle in my hip/butt applying constant pressure on my right legs sciatic nerve, and the discs at the same time. Im not only consistently heavily medicated,with opiods, mind altering drugs,and muscle relaxers,.(which accounts for my long winded posts I believe).. but also receiving cortisone shots regularly. (more monday am) I pretty much spend my time off my feet, in bed. Not that I mind this site to spend alot of my time on, because I actually feel grateful its there for me to divert my attention from pain, to something I truly love,....fishing. Although I do have the drugs? they only do so much

 But,... not being able to go fish by myself on the boat anymore is quite a bit more debilitating than I had anticipated. I figured that some of the younger guys that dont have a boat would be willing to get out off the shores and fish the whole lake instead of just the public accesses. But thats not the case.

 I am grateful for the 2 guys I have met on this site that I have fished with. They both not only offered me a chance to get out and fish. But also proved to me that there truly is still some "real" people out there. With morals, decentcey, and integrity.,.. I see my kids, and my girfriends kids, and wonder where this world is headed, But I digress.

 Im ten years the op's junior and definately dont have the sea legs I once had, I dont cover my decks with rods as I once did, I sit nowadays when just a couple years ago I'd stand and run my trolling motor. And worse of all is I can't just decide to fish and go. My basshunter sits in the yard collecting leaves as I cant  be lifting its bow into the truck anymore. And to fish off the tracker I "need" another person with me as I cant climb over the bow after getting it back on its trailer., to pull the truck and trailer out of the water

 With the injuries I have, I actually "HAD" to re-power the boats manual steer, and trim, tiller motor,.. to a electric start, electric steer, newer, tiller motor.,... And the older power drive trolling motor? I used to manually stow and deploy? gone too,.. as the pain I endure stowing it was too much to make fishing worth while, and it was replaced with the i-pilot link minn kota ulterra, and intergrating humminbird helix 9  di si gps finder up front. I love these new "toys" but they are a requirement now as without them? I fear I wouldnt be fishing at all anymore, And thats just not a option.,..lol. The ulterra tm will deploy and stow with the touch of a button, and I can run, steer, and stop it with a remote control,.... and I have to believe the good lord, and Minn Kota,... provided me with this option as my only salvation..

 Yeah, luckily,.. things timed out for me just right, and I do believe things happen for a reason. I wasnt riding my Harley anymore, and wasnt fishing either as I couldnt physically run the boats anymore, so I sold the bike, to pay for the "upgrades" I needed to at least offer chances, to fish off my tracker,.. which worked out well.

Now,... I have spent the last year and a half in extreme pain, 95% of the time in bed. Without the options and actions taken within that time, I would be one miserable, angry, and bitter, landlocked bass angler.  But, just knowing the upgrades are now in place? Eases my outlook for future fishing ventures,...

  Bass Resource has been a huge help, in a few ways, as I can spend much of my time with my mind on my bass fishing techniques, tactics, and experiences I have acquired over the years, and share them, other than just laying here grovelling in pain. I have had the priveledge to meet the 2 guys that offered fishing ventures I would not have had otherwise. And to be honest.. being able to help some newer anglers, answer some questions, and just being able to discuss bass fishing stuff, with like minded, or even better, anglers with different views. Is an incredible opportunity for any angler to have at their fingertips.

 I cant thank you all, especially Glenn and the mods here enough. Getting older does bite, but we do have a venue here that can ease the pains of going even greyer haired, wrinkly, and bored. 

 In my mind? this site and you guys rock. Even enough to make one feel younger than we truly are.

 Now be careful and go fish as long as you can, I know I will till the day the good lord decides my time here is done. Pain and mobility may hinder, but the true bass angler looks, and rises above that, and finds a way, just like seeking our quarry, when they dont seem agreeable.

agree I admire you gentleman as well.  keep going never give up.  fish with a buddy.  may go bless you all  lonnie

[greentrout]

63 yrs. old. Seen & done a lot. Don't fish as hard as 20 or 10 yrs. ago and walk a lot more banks and fish small waters. Listen to your Dr. & realize tomorrow is never promised to anyone.

 

"A man's got to know his limitations."

 

Magnum Force -- Dirty Harry Callahan

 

 

 

 

[XpressJeff]

Bought a nice, compact boarding ladder from Cabelas for $59.99. 

 

A small price to pay for being able to get back in. Between replaced knees, bad back and other worn out parts the only thing that still works the same is my cantankerous attitude.

 

Be careful folks!

[Ghostshad]

I had several close call's to before i finally went in , i think i had to many rods on the front deck , that's something i won't do no more but i do think keeping your cool & having a plan. I fell in & sunk like a rock , swimmed back to the top of the water , grabbed the boat for a few seconds & caught my breath & worked my way to the big motor & got on the fins & trimmed the motor up & got back in my boat. Keep using that motor trim on your mind it may save your life. A friend told me about doing it probably over 12 years ago , but i never forgot it , ThankGod & anyone who reads this don't you forget it . It saved my life maybe i'll save your's to . had no ideal this topic would get so many replys, and some good ideals 

[J Francho]

14 minutes ago, Ghostshad said:

Keep using that motor trim on your mind it may save your life.

 

That's the ONLY way I could ever get into my Xpress, even with the assist bars on either side of the seats.  The shape of the hull made it very difficult.  My Bullet was easier, since it sat so low in the water, and there was a grab bar on the port side, by the passenger seat.

[fishwizzard]

On 12/27/2016 at 7:39 AM, Way2slow said:

  How many are going to wear a hot, bulky foam vest all day.  

 

I fish out of a kayak and there are a bunch if really nice PFDs out there for the yakak crowd.  Many of them have pockets and such like a flyfishing vest and the model I am currently drooling over has a stowable rain hood and a beer can holder.   I do a ton of wade fishing as well, almost always alone, and this spring I am going to buy one of these and wear it whenever it is cold enough for waders.  

 

[AC870]

You ain't got to be old for it to happen. I got off balance and took the plunge last year at 47. We were fishing a bridge. I dig paddled to riprap to get back in boat. Worst part was my pride (wife witnessed it) and I fried an iPhone 6. 

[Fishing Rhino]

9 hours ago, AC870 said:

You ain't got to be old for it to happen. I got off balance and took the plunge last year at 47. We were fishing a bridge. I dig paddled to riprap to get back in boat. Worst part was my pride (wife witnessed it) and I fried an iPhone 6. 

 

That's why I keep all the valuables, keys, wallet, cell phone, etc, in a watertight plastic storage container, in a compartment in my canoe or bass boat.