Fishing way too much

[Happybeerbuzz]

“Fish too much”?  That’s like “eating too healthy “ if you ask me.  

[BrianMDTX]

On 6/6/2024 at 12:03 PM, Ryan N said:

That's funny because I have mild-severe scoliosis but my back never complains when I'm fishing for 3+ hours. I used to work as a waiter, and I couldn't go more than 2 hours standing up because of the pinching disks. But with fishing, I don't know maybe it's better posture or I'm always on the move.

I simply cannot stand in place.  After 5 minutes my back screams in protest. Sitting all day? Not a problem. Walking? Not a problem. But standing kills me. 
 

I mostly fish from my inflatable which is 100% sitting. If I fish from the bank, I bring a chair. 

[Ryan N]

5 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I simply cannot stand in place.  After 5 minutes my back screams in protest. Sitting all day? Not a problem. Walking? Not a problem. But standing kills me. 
 

I mostly fish from my inflatable which is 100% sitting. If I fish from the bank, I bring a chair. 

When I used to work at that standing job, I’d wear this back brace by Spartan, it really does support your back for countless more hours. Just wear it under your main clothes and over an undershirt if you want to be conspicuous.

I don’t use it anymore because again, for some strange reason I don’t get fatigued from fishing even in blistering heat.

[Pat Brown]

I fish as much as the good Lord and my busy life allow and I'm deeply grateful for every moment I'm afforded where I'm in communion with nature.

[Captain Phil]

On 6/7/2024 at 7:57 PM, BrianMDTX said:

I simply cannot stand in place.  After 5 minutes my back screams in protest. Sitting all day? Not a problem. Walking? Not a problem. But standing kills me. 

 

I started having problems standing in my late 50s.   I was a flipper and when standing in my boat I noticed my legs and hips felt like they weighed 500 pounds each. At first, I thought it was my weight, but it got progressively worse.  In my 60s, I went to a doctor to see what was happening. They gave me an MRI and told me I had spinal stenosis which is caused by narrowing of your spinal canal.  Some people are genetically disposed to this condition. In my case  it was caused by arthritis. I sought out the best surgeon I could find and he told me to wait until I was ready.  I tried drugs, shots and physical therapy and nothing helped.  Three and a half years ago, I had major back surgery which included a fusion of four vertebrae.  It was rough, but I can now stand and walk without pain.   I am not suggesting anyone go under the knife to fix their back problems.  In fact, I will tell you to only do it as a last resort. Getting old is not for wimps!  😈  

[Alex from GA]

Yep, I'm like others that don't go nearly as long as they did before they got old/er.  I go 4 or 5 hours 3 or 4 days a week and I'm drained.  In January I had surgery and couldn't fish for a couple of months and looked @ the boat under the carport everyday; It killed me.  I also have a wife that tells me to go fishing and quit chasing her around the house.

[A-Jay]

I fish when I can, bottom line.

There's quite a bit that goes into whether or not I'm on the water.

Of course, at least 4-6 months of the year we're iced in up here.

So that's something I deal with.

If I make it to August, I'll be 65 years old.

Despite living a healthy/non-destructive life style and keeping myself in 

decent physical condition, I have some limitations that I can only imagine will increase over time.

So like I said, I go when I can.

And if I'm super fortunate, I am not alone.

Fish Hard

😎

A-Jay

[thediscochef]

This will probably be the least hours I've fished since I started getting serious in 2021. All my places are flooded or tornado damaged. I anticipate Ray Roberts will be closed for at minimum another six weeks. Last year, I think I fished something like 200+ days, some of them on days where I worked too. This year I think I will get about 60% of that total just from closures and a lack of other places that are worth the time. I think I'm going to start driving to Texoma once or twice a week and fishing at the state park there since it's open. Gonna throw a flutter spoon at the dockhouses and see if anything sticks. There are some giant smallmouth and some good striper in that lake. it's just a solid 75 minute drive each way and that's tough to stomach when Roberts is less than 20. I would find a pond, but all the good ones in the county are private or HOA, and if I'm going to drive an hour for a pond, I may as well be at Texoma. 95% of the land in the state is privately owned so there's just limitations on what is public and good.

[Junk Fisherman]

In the summer, when I'm off, I try to get out twice a week during the week on my boat and on the kayak over the weekend if the weather is right.  When I go out on my boat I'll stay out for 6-10 hours depending on the home situation and where I go.  Plus, unless I've gone on Lake Michigan and paid $25 to launch, I'll leave after 6 hours if the fishing is tough.  I never used to do that in the past and would force myself to fish at least 8 hours.  One thing that I've realized as I've gotten older is that I'm exhausted after a hard 10-hour day in the boat and the only time I go on back-to-back days is when I'm on a fishing trip.  And it's not just the fishing but it's the waking up early, launching/retrieving the boat, wiping down and cleaning the boat, and a minimum of 1.5 hours of driving.  And if it's a day where I don't want to fall asleep by 8 PM, I'll make sure to get home by 3 so I can take a little nap.  When I was in my 20s I'd be on the water at daylight, fish till the later afternoon, and still go out that evening.  Not anymore!  

 

But to answer your question, no I don't fish as much as you.  My preferred amount would be every other day or probably every third day.  Like someone mentioned, I too have other hobbies (mountain biking primarily) that I like to spend time doing.  

[bp_fowler]

Last year was my first year seriously bass fishing.  I started on March 1 and fished everyday I could, for as long as I could since then. I even fished straight through the winter here in SE Ohio since we never completely iced over.    
 

My wife doesn’t mind most of time,

so long as the honey-do list is taken care of.  Sure, I have other interests but none that I am quite as passionate about.

She asked me one time if she were gone would I ever remarry.  I told her no I’d sell the house buy a patch of dirt big enough to put a camper on, then use whatever was left to buy a bass boat and a truck to tow it with. After that I would spend the rest of my money/free time fishing.