Accommodations made by an aging fisherman...

[Mobasser]

Whenever this topic comes up, I'm always reminded of my friend Mike who fished with me. He'll turn 74 soon. His leg got shot up in Vietnam and he's had a limp since 1970. Sometimes he's just too tired to go. But he still loves fishing, and tells me he'll fish until he just can't do it anymore.                                    He's in pretty good shape for his age, considering everything. He's also one of the toughest guys Ive ever known. He has a non quitter attitude about everything, and this is how he keeps going.

[Bankbeater]

I always tell someone where I am heading, and I always call and say that I am on my way home. 

[volzfan59]

I’m 65, had a few concussions (3 I think) so my balance isn’t great anymore. Not stumbling around like a drunk, but I probably can’t pass the field sobriety tests I used to give.

 

Accommodations, I only fish small bodies of water now, rarely fish alone, always let someone know where I’m going and I’m only good for four or five hours now.

[Alex from GA]

Last January I got  sick and was in the hospital a couple times for almost 2 weeks and had to start over with being mobile.  Ever since my balance hasn't been worth a darn.  No more kayak fishing and have to sit in the boat all the time.  My fake shoulder failed and it hurts to cast for a long time also.    84.

[Swamp Girl]

15 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

Last January I got  sick and was in the hospital a couple times for almost 2 weeks and had to start over with being mobile.  Ever since my balance hasn't been worth a darn.  No more kayak fishing and have to sit in the boat all the time.  My fake shoulder failed and it hurts to cast for a long time also.    84.

 

[Tackleholic]

On 2/5/2025 at 2:15 PM, A-Jay said:

https://boatefx.com/

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

 

A-Jay

 

The 3 wheel trailer jack;  where did you get that?

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Tackleholic said:

The 3 wheel trailer jack;  where did you get that?

Made by ABT Lure Company,

which seems to be defuncted at this time.

https://www.facebook.com/ABTLures

A-Jay

[jbmaine]

I'm in my seventies and both the missus and I have disabilities that make fishing not as comfortable as it once was.

 As a bit of a back story, I spent decades standing in trout rivers or in a canoe. For years the missus and I fished out of a canoe. When that got too uncomfortable we bought a skiff. That worked for a number of years but finally it got to the point that after a day of fishing it took a week for my back to stop hurting and finally we bought a multi species style boat ( Lund Fury) and that for us has worked out great. We can both sit and fish, stand up and move around, be on the water all day with out hurting. We rigged it with an Ulterra so stow and deploy is the push of a button. We have a sun top to get out of the sun as needed. Comfortable chairs to sit on. As I said, for us it is perfect.

 Here's a few pics.

[Swamp Girl]

@jbmaine: You have a beautiful boat!

[OkobojiEagle]

jbmaine: color me envious!

 

oe

[Crow Horse]

I'm 69 and have most of the typical issues most people have at my age. I'll add a couple of things to the list that makes life easier for me. I have a 10' sit in yak.

 

Larger wheels for my kayak cart with premium bearings.

A travel urinal. I take care of business on the water and don't need to beach.

A choker sling to make lifting my poorly balanced yak back onto the cart easier.

I made a small tarp, a little smaller than the cockpit to use in inclement weather to keep me a little drier.

I use a coccyx cushion (Cushion Lab) that allows me 7+ hours on the water pain free.

A small tool (I don't know what you call it) that is used to open twist off caps. Those small Gatorade bottles sometimes are difficult for me to remove.

I use a Gullwing paddle. They are no longer made but they reduce shoulder strain big time.

 

[Columbia Craw]

Well I’m 71 and for the most part, still in good shape.  I use a butt seat for stability.  I have neuropathy in my feet so standing on a trolling motor for hours gets painful.  I just have to take a short break.  I just bought a new thermal vest which has some flotation built in.  I always use a pdf when running and a kill switch.  I also know I’m not 50 anymore.👍

[WRB]

I will be 82 in July and inside looking out I am 22 and still love to fish. Still can get up at O’ dark 30 and get ready to fish.

My balance isn’t what it was but I believe in my fishing skills, casting and working lures, detecting strikes.
No longer have my boat so must rely on back seating.

Tom
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

p

[MN Fisher]

65 here and still in decent shape...if only this ankle would heal up. If you have morbid curiosity, here's the latest pic I have of it - I will warn you that it's not pretty... https://drive.google.com/file/d/1utnT2axOxdrU5nQYiDZ3mNo5zZdx6ym2/view?usp=sharing

 

I count myself lucky that other than loss of depth perception from the missing eye, I'm not subjected to a lot of the things other my age are. I hope to continue this trend for at least a few more years.

[Motoboss]

I’m 70 and feel 50! I fish at least once a week and play golf twice in the same week. Don’t smoke, drink and usually might work out lightly every other week.
No major injuries and come from a 95+ year old family members DNA line. I’ve been fortunate.

 

 

 

 

Or maybe it was the quadruple bypass in ‘21 that gave me my youth back! 😆

[33oldtimer]

I'm mostly a bank fisherman. 2 years ago late winter I was fishing on the river bank. I stepped onto a flat piece of concrete that was leaning toward the water. I didn't realize there was wet sand on the bottom of my shoes. My feet went flying out from under me and I was in water over my head. Thankfully the water was not crazy cold and my car was not far away. But that was a wake up call for me. I'm extremely careful now about what banks I will climb up and down, and staying away from generally slick areas. I was very lucky, my balance is not like when I was in my 40s and younger. 

[TLHSS]

I'm old and a bank fisherman.  I fish a little every day during the spring, summer and fall.  Adjustments I've done as I've aged:

 

Knots were getting tougher for me, and created frustration.  So I moved to using Duolock snaps.  They give a larger area to tie a good knot, and I don't feel they've impacted my presentation.

 

I lighted up my load.  Only one UL set-up while I fish the bank (spin or fly), a few confidence baits, and a small amount of terminal tackle.  Everything fits in a small bait bag.

 

No barbs or trebles.  Safer for the fish, but I also found it was safer for me as well

 

I carry a small folding camp stool.  Not to sit, but to place my bait bag.  Prevents too much lower back flexion.

 

I carry a JDM bank net, which when collapsed has a 12 inch handle, but extended to 5 feet.  Carbon fiber so it's very light.  Allows me to land fish from steeper banks without fear of falling in.

 

Everyone in my family (wife and adult kids) are Apple phone users.  I also wear an Apple Watch.  I easily share my location using the "Find My" option.  I let folks know where I'm going, but if plans change I'm quickly and easily found.

 

I work out every day.  Walking, back work and core work.  And I attend physical therapy once a week which helps with my balance.

 

[A-Jay]

I mentioned here already that My strength, balance, flexibility, dexterity, mental acuity, endurance, vision and hearing have all experienced some decline.

'Decline' in some areas might be a relative term.

Fishing with a 10 ounce rod & reel for a several hours a day, a few days a week

doesn't seem like quite a chore.

A-Jay

[Motoboss]

9 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I mentioned here already that My strength, balance, flexibility, dexterity, mental acuity, endurance, vision and hearing have all experienced some decline.

'Decline' in some areas might be a relative term.

Fishing with a 10 ounce rod & reel for a several hours a day, a few days a week

doesn't seem like quite a chore.

A-Jay

 

My work out room. Improves flexibility, stability, strength, coordination and concentration. Occasionally my wallet 😆

 

[Cuivre]

On 2/6/2025 at 3:23 PM, Bankbeater said:

I always tell someone where I am heading, and I always call and say that I am on my way home. 

I used to do that as well.  But it got to the point where the people who picked up the random numbers I dialed kept saying "who are you and why are you telling me this?" 😜 (I'm single and live alone.)

[Reel]

I use a localisation app on my phone so family knows where I am.

I'm lucky I like fishing ... a lot.  I live North and I go from the beginning of April to late November and sometimes December.  Because of the passion, hurting is less important! 

[Catt]