Accommodations made by an aging fisherman...

[OkobojiEagle]

I've experienced 7 decades and my strength, balance, dexterity, and vision are failing accordingly.  I've made several accommodations to continue my favorite pastime:

 

1. I tie my boat to the dock cleat from a boat cleat positioned mid-point of either side of the boat (not from bow or stern).  Less stumbling around in the boat and is more stable.

 

2. I've rigged a wooden shovel handle to fit in a rod holder bracket to assist my balance when boarding and un-boarding when a sturdy dock post isn't available.

 

3. I wear a pfd ALWAYS when in the boat.

 

4.  I wear a lanyard that carries fishing license, my personal identification AND a very loud plastic referee's whistle.

 

5.  My phone is NOT in my pocket but near my driving seat.  (It wont work after being dunked should I fall in)

 

6.  I've given up any free standing when fishing (am always sitting or using a seat post)

 

7.  I use a long handle net for boating most fish.

 

8.  I anchor more often when in a stiff breeze.

 

9.  I've begun using clips to attach crankbaits, top water lures and jerkbaits.

 

If you've made other accommodations in your fishing I'd like to read them.

 

oe

[2tall79]

Flow-Rite Drain Plug

Boarding ladder

Ratchet handle for winch

Added step up to bow casting platform

Always have a reserve battery for phone and jump start

 

[A-Jay]

I'm in the middle of my 6th decade and very happy to have made it this far.

My strength, balance, flexibility, dexterity, mental acuity, endurance, vision and hearing

have all experienced some decline.

It effects my fishing as well as most all of my everyday life. 

I manage my fishing trips

so I don't use up so much energy I put myself (and others) at risk.

Fatigue is a huge factor in many 'accidents'.

I added a set of trailer steps at the bow.  Significantly smoother getting on & off my rig now.

At the ramp & in the garage.

 

Finally, I am no longer able to resist the Bait Monkey.

He's just too powerful.

So I don't try.

A-Jay

 

 

[padlin]

Some of yours pertain, I can add.

 

Going to the gym to try and improve my flagging strength and balance.
Went to bait casters as arthritis in the fingers prevents casting heavier baits from spinning gear, at least for more than a handful of casts.

I now sit on a Purple seat cushion, cane seat in the canoe is too hard now.

For the first time in my life I wear more than a ball cap to avoid the sun. I’m talking long T shirts, long pants, and actual sunscreen.

I tell my wife where I’ll be.

Make pit stops.

 

The biggie is always having on the life vest, and yes, I tried swimming at the Y a couple months ago, no way would I make it out if I were in the middle of the pond. I do carry a whistle for all the good it might do. No homes where I fish and luckily few if anyone else on the water.

[Mobasser]

I'm 67, still doing ok, but have the usual things for my age. I always stay hydrated well. Wear PFD always. My canoe is a wide style, and I carry less things these past few years. There's less to trip or stumble on. I prefer to fish with my grandson, or my old friend Mike, as both are good partners.                    I still enjoy bank fishing and one thing I think is important is watch your step when your walking around the lake. Always have your phone with you, and of course ID and contact info. Dress for the weather, and have fun.

[king fisher]

I have started taking little blue, oh I'm sorry, wrong forum.  All jokes aside, my mind has is not as sharp as it once was.  In order to compensate for my ever increasing senior moments, I have started not only writing down the number and size of the bass I catch, but I also make a written note of the lie I plan on telling when asked about the number and size of bass I catch.  This way I don't let the truth get in the way of a good story, and I don't make the unforgivable mistake of not letting the bass properly grow and mature as the story is told.  One notebook for facts, another one for alternate facts, and a third book to remind me which facts are required in which situations.  

[tander]

38 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I'm in the middle of my 6th decade and very happy to have made it this far.

My strength, balance, flexibility, dexterity, mental acuity, endurance, vision and hearing

have all experienced some decline.

It effects my fishing as well as most all of my everyday life. 

Some of that I can work on, some I can't.

Maintaining the best version of me (physically)

has been a priority for a Long time.

Feels like it's paying off, especially now. 

https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/borninfiftynine

 

As for 'accommodations to my fishing' . . . 

 

I consciously manage my fishing trips

so I don't use up so much energy I put myself (and others) at risk.

Fatigue is a huge factor in many 'accidents'.

 

I added a set of trailer steps at the bow.

Significantly smoother getting on & off my rig now.

At the ramp & in the garage.

 

Finally, I am no longer able to resist the Bait Monkey.

He's just to powerful.

So I don't try.

A-Jay

 

 

Really like those steps!!! What brand is this? About to turn 74 and thinking I need those.

[A-Jay]

14 minutes ago, tander said:

Really like those steps!!! What brand is this? About to turn 74 and thinking I need those.

https://boatefx.com/

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/255015-just-ordered-a-set-of-boat-trailer-steps-~/

 

A-Jay

 

[BrianMDTX]

I’ll be 65 this year. I have a small inflatable that’s very stable when I’m sitting. It’s advertised as being stable enough to stand in, but I guess I’m not stable enough lol, so I remain seated. I’d love to be able to stand, but I’d rather stay high and dry. 
 

I also leave the water when I feel I’ve been out long enough. Some days that’s 6-7 hours and some days it’s 4-5. I listen to my body more than I did when I was younger. It’s smarter than I am. 

[Swamp Girl]

I'll turn 69 this summer. My main change is I no longer fish the lakes that require multiple portages and sleeping on rock. I fish close to home and limit my fishing to less than six hours. 

 

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

I still enjoy bank fishing and one thing I think is important is watch your step when your walking around the lake.

 

So true!

 

1 hour ago, king fisher said:

I have started not only writing down the number and size of the bass I catch, but I also make a written note of the lie I plan on telling when asked about the number and size of bass I catch. 

 

I love the king!

 

P. S. - I also bought some waterfront property and have a deck and two canoes there. I love fishing without having to carry my canoe, but I still carry my canoe more than half my trips to fish water other than my pond.

[RobA]

Good post.  My interest in trailer steps has been rekindled.

[steve carpenter]

77 going on 78. I fish mostly small lakes ponds thet are very deserted. I work out 4 t0 5 times per week to maintain strength and balance. I now fish from a 14 foot fiberglass boat where I can set or easily walk around inside the boat. My trailer is a tilt trailer with rollers instead of bunks. Also installed a electric winch with remote to launch and retrieve the boat. Can launch and retrieve with only trailer wheels on shore with 4wheel truck. Very few ramps where I fish. Also carry extra clothes, battery, first aid supplies and make sure loved ones know where I am. 

[Tackleholic]

I'm 82 and the bow pedestal seat absolutely kills my back.  Yesterday I ordered a stand up seat which adjusts from 45to 90 degrees, mostly used as a fighting seat in salt water;  hope it works.  I will take advice from the BR member who recently said he keeps the trolling motor remote control on his person, always;  this in case he falls overboard with the trolling motor set on auto.

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, steve carpenter said:

77 going on 78.

 

[papajoe222]

Yea, been there, doing that.

The most impactful change I've made, as far as fishing goes, it the amount of time I spend on the water fishing. About four hours of continual chucking and winding, or pitching, or worming, is all this 75yr old can muster. I may be in the boat longer depending on how far from the launch I travel, or how scenic the surroundings are, but the days of 8hrs. of continual fishing are gone.

[OkobojiEagle]

Yes, number of hours on the water have decreased, but also the hours of which I choose to fish.  Evening into night used to be frequent fishing times, now I don't need to use my vehicle's headlights when returning home from the water.

 

oe

[Catt]

17 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

1. I tie my boat to the dock cleat from a boat cleat positioned mid-point of either side of the boat (not from bow or stern).  Less stumbling around in the boat and is more stable.

 

74 & holding 😉

 

 A friend of mine added a cleat in front of his throttle on the gunnel for this reason. He has a short rope with loops on both ends.

 

I have a boat pedestal that's 3-4" taller than normal, its part of my tackle, & goes everywhere I go. 

 

I absolutely hate foot controlled trolling motors, mine is a Riptide hand control. Don't have to stand of one foot to fish. 

 

Most of my fishing clothes are either camo, browns, or greens. My kids said since I still bank fish they bought me reds, yellows, & other bright colors.

[VTFan]

At 68 I can relate to all of what OkobojiEagle listed. My balance has really worsened in the past few years. Now a days when I'm fishing from a boat I make sure I have an empty coffee can for the purpose of 'mother nature's call' so I don't have to stand near the edge of the boat. 

[scaleface]

I have to lean on the seat to run a foot control motor. I stand when using a hand control but have to take occasional breaks and sit down. The biggest change I have made is avoiding hot weather. No more fishing on 90plus degree days. 

[OkobojiEagle]

22 minutes ago, VTFan said:

Now a days when I'm fishing from a boat I make sure I have an empty coffee can for the purpose of 'mother nature's call' so I don't have to stand near the edge of the boat. 

I stow my anchor and rope in a 5 gallon bucket with lid.  On more than one occasion the anchor has been stowed under the seat and the bucket has seen double duty as a porta-pot.  A roll of paper stows very neatly in a plastic coffee can and the old jacket that never leaves the boat is a great privacy blanket.  

 

I've not considered this an accommodation to age as my grand children have used this set up more often than I have...

 

oe

 

 

[Lottabass]

This is a good topic for us old folks.  Lots of good advice here.  Poor vision is one thing I don't know how to counter.  I used to be able to knock the nuts off a knat at 30 feet but no more.  One day I cast a Whopper Plopper by a stick up and little did I know there was a lunker holding that limb and when the Plopper got in the strike zone that big 'ol bass pushed that stick right into the trebles!  

[padlin]

Tying knots has gotten a bit tougher, between the vision and a little dexterity loss. Getting more contrast between the line and a background helps some with the vision side, but the fingers only do what they will do.

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

Fantastic information helpful to many of all ages. These tips and tools improve the overall experience.

 

I fish for recreation. Good to have information that preserves that recreational focus while taking care of all the other vital aspects of safety and well being!

 

Bravo to each of you for adding to the body of knowledge. I'm taking note and using what I can. THXs! Be well, Cheers!

[Cuivre]

I'm 61 and I fish out of a kayak and bass boat for bass and crappie.  The only 2 times I fell into the water was on my bass boat deck crappie fishing.  First was reaching for pole timber to tie off to, when the TM hit a tree I didn't see-so I was leaning forward, off balance and went in with the sudden stop.    The second time was when I was tying a knot and the wind was blowing my boat down through the trees and one hit especially hard....and over I went.  Both times where when it was warm, fortunately.  

 

I am getting a longer, wider, more stable kayak (BigRig FD-delivery is tomorrow) and a 3 hp Newport electric motor just to keep me from having an accident in the kayak- especially since losing gear risk is higher and I'm fishing out of that more than my bass boat.  I've been using a stand assist strap for years- it also helps me lower myself back down into the kayak seat more gently.

 

I got a Knot Assist 2.0 to help me with tying the FG knot- that makes all the difference in the world for me and this knot.  

[Mobasser]

I've thought about investing in a magnifier that clips on my cap, like fly fisherman use. Tying knots may be easier that way. I think for me with aging, trying to keep yourself in good shape goes a long way here. Stop smoking, try to eat healthy, and keep your weight in check can all help us, and  could add some years to our favourite pastime. It's a daily thing we should all be aware of.