A lesson for �Team Pampers�

[Catt]

From time to time we the members of Bass Fishing Resource . like to pick at each other with one popular subject being young guns (Team Pampers) against ole school (Team Depends). For this lesson I'm want to relay some important information to y'all Team Pampers members from all us Team Depends members on what y'all have to look forward to.

With old age come physical disabilities that will change the way you fish regardless of how macho you think you are. Don't take this as a pity party since none of us Team Depends members are seeking anything other than to show how one must adapt to the pains of old age.

I'll start this picture show by listing a few of my physical disabilities and how I've over come them.

Disability 2 ea. ruptured disc lower back along with torn ligaments

1. No longer can I stand for hours on end Flipping-N-Pitching; I have learned to Flip-N-Pitch sitting.

2. No longer can I arch my back on the hook set; simply don't do it period

3. No longer can I take that bone jarring high speed run in rough water; added 6 of foam to my drivers/passenger seats, learned what a throttle is for, went back to launching where I intend to fish.

Disabilities severe arthritis, calcium deposits, and fluid built up in left shoulder.

1. No longer can I wrap my line around my arm and yank straight up when trying to get un-hung; simply a no-no, wrap the line around a pair of pliers and pull straight.

2. No longer can I fight a bass of decent stature without using both hands

Disability severe arthritis and minor tendon damage in the right elbow

1. No longer can I cast over handed all day long; changed to double handed cast, roll cast, & underhand cast to elevate pain.

2. This disability combined with the left shoulder has changed my hook setting technique; now when I set hook I must stand and the same time adding more power and speed.

Disability torn cartlidge in right knee

1. No longer can I jump out of the boat when it's on the trailer period

[fishizzle]

Sorry for all the pains bro.

Not sure where you want this thread to go.

1. sorry for your pain

2. At 36 years old I already have arthritis in my big toe from a sports injury--sometimes it won't bend now.

3. last year I tore ligaments in my ankle when I drank too much and had a "thread the needle contest" (team pampers should know what that is), BTW, I won that contest

4. Recently I started pumping iron and everyday there is a new pain that doesn't go away in my shoulders or knees.

5. So last year I decided to not jump out of boats on trailers---now I climb down

Not looking forward to the distant future

[Catt]

Where I want this thread to go is for other older anglers to give how their disabilities have changed how they fish. This is not intended for jokes even though they will come; it's for serious learning because despite how macho we males think we are the disabilities will come.

If you have nothing positive to add feel free to move on to the next thread

[TommyBass]

Im only 24 so I never really thought much about that.  I do jump out of the boat alot, guess I may want to slow that down.  Normally I always run / jog up the ramp once getting out, always felt like it kept me in shape but I could be expediting the inevitable.  I have always wondered what all of the revolutions around the reel would do to my wrist.  Does anyone have wrist trouble yet?  

[shootermcbob]

Catt, I am 45 and after having 4 major surgeries on my left knee, It only bends about 90 degrees. I am a bank fishermen and particularly have good success around the rip-rap on my home lake. I have to be very, very,  I mean methodically careful, when walking, standing, moving because, according to my doctor, my next surgery is a total replacement. I also am the only fisherman that I see, ever, warm up before starting to fish. I have had a rotator cuff repaired in my right shoulder and absolutely, positively do not to repeat that process.

By the way, I am not sure If I am Team Pampers, or Team depends, but either way I will keep some diaper rash ointment with me just in case ;D

[CWB]

Just hit the big 50. I can't stand for more than 30 minutes or so and have actually fallen out of the boat leaning over to land fish. (got them both) Climbing back in was no picnic so I installed a ladder. Still set the hook with the best of them but back and knee injuries from football are starting to get more and more nagging. I prefer to sit while fishing when I can and I'm not ashamed or embarrassed- I'm still fishing. Lesson here is it stinks getting old. Enjoy your youth if you still have it! :-[

Not quite ready for Depends yet!

[SMfisher]

well said Catt, i'm almost 56 worked in the underground coal mines for almost 30 years i also have had back surgery and get arthritis a lot worse when its cold. but i like fishing so much i try to forget about the pain. i fish almost every day sometimes twice and fish nights too.

[Uncle Leo]

Interesting, it is ironic how as you age you take the time to go fishing as you tend to slow down and come to realize the importance of just chilling out. Sometimes age and wear and tear will slow you down. Just being out helps me to relieve the daily stress. Oh the joint pain, tends to bother you more as you set behind a desk, much less being active. Even if you do not fish I guess it is much more important to just stay active. Being young you just take that for granted as getting around is much more fliud. By no means am I an old man being 49 but d**n it I just refuse to get old.

1) Modify casting style so joints do not become stressed, ie under hand, side arm, using both hands and casting with either arm.

2) Better boat positioning so you squat less to cast under a over hanging tree.

3) Slow down and enjoy get rid of that stress. Much harder to manage as you age.

Hopefully the Young Guns will take heed to this, we are not complaining just enjoying. Take what we learned.

[roadwarrior]

Team Pampers <30

Team Depends >30

Suggestion for both teams: Learn to cast and set the hook with

your forearms and wrists; less strain, less fatigue, maybe a little

less distance on your cast, but greater accuracy.

;D ;D ;D ;D

[hawgchaser]

Well, I'm only 33 so no major problems yet. However, the most important thing I have learned is that its not always about the fish. Everyday I get to watch the sunrise or sunset on the water, is a gift from god!

[Triton21]

9 back surgeries(coal mine accident in 1981), Both hips replaced(right one twice, 11/26/97, 12/29/08), osteoarthritis in every joint of my body. I still fish every chance I get. Fished 3 local tournaments a week last year. Don't know about this year, will know more after Ky Lake Trip.

[SirSnookalot]

At nearly 64 I would guess that I'm one of the elder statesmen.  I have many of the same ailments, most notable would be my back and hyperextended elbow and copd.  More than the aches and pain would be fatigue.

Helping me to combat the myriad of maladies is being a non boater since moving to FLA for the most part, no more jarring of my back, I'm sure has eliminated additional problems.

Not saying this would help others but it has me.  I walk the beach nearly everyday and no longer carry a tackle bag just a small fannypack, saving my shoulder and some fatigue.  My rods and reels are heavier but I got used to that and it has strengthened my upper body, added 20 yards to my golf driver.  When I get a little tired or sore  I pause a bit, do some stretches and look at the ladies in their bikinis hehe.

Get home, have lunch then go do freshwater and walk the ponds or the canals.  By the end of the day I have racked up some mileage.  The walking and stretching has been most beneficial.  Being more active and less sedentary is my adaptation  Oh yea, my wife........she won't let me eat crap anymore, big big help.

[Paul Roberts]

Im only 24 so I never really thought much about that.

Substitute any number and TommyBass hit a key point.

Approaching 50 and no MAJOR problems as yet. But they are creeping in.

-Detached retina (from climbing stairs!!! -Go figure!)

-Tendonitis in dominant elbow (my Doc's first case of 'bass elbow'. Can fish ambidextrously now).

-I've got a hip that grinds now, only noticeable when hauling a 50+lb pack into the high country. I know that my elk hunting days are numbered.

-Need reading glasses, so I have to peer over them to talk to you LOL.

What these "minor" chips are signaling is that I have to be MUCH more careful with my body than I used to. Elderly people (>70) tend to be relatively fine until they fall, and the slide begins, oftentimes terminal. Recuperation is MUCH more difficult. This is true with us "younger" folks too.

Some suggestions:

-Stretch (those muscles and tendons)

-Exercise (walking is fine). Stay on it. It gets harder to play catch-up.

-Good time to look at your diet.

-I now wear a neoprene forearm brace when fishing to protect tendons.

[Raul]

From time to time we the members of Bass Fishing Resource . like to pick at each other with one popular subject being young guns (Team Pampers) against ole school (Team Depends). For this lesson I'm want to relay some important information to y'all Team Pampers members from all us Team Depends members on what y'all have to look forward to.

With old age come physical disabilities that will change the way you fish regardless of how macho you think you are. Don't take this as a pity party since none of us Team Depends members are seeking anything other than to show how one must adapt to the pains of old age.

I'll start this picture show by listing a few of my physical disabilities and how I've over come them.

Disability 2 ea. ruptured disc lower back along with torn ligaments

1. No longer can I stand for hours on end Flipping-N-Pitching; I have learned to Flip-N-Pitch sitting.

2. No longer can I arch my back on the hook set; simply don't do it period

3. No longer can I take that bone jarring high speed run in rough water; added 6 of foam to my drivers/passenger seats, learned what a throttle is for, went back to launching where I intend to fish.

Disabilities severe arthritis, calcium deposits, and fluid built up in left shoulder.

1. No longer can I wrap my line around my arm and yank straight up when trying to get un-hung; simply a no-no, wrap the line around a pair of pliers and pull straight.

2. No longer can I fight a bass of decent stature without using both hands

Disability severe arthritis and minor tendon damage in the right elbow

1. No longer can I cast over handed all day long; changed to double handed cast, roll cast, & underhand cast to elevate pain.

2. This disability combined with the left shoulder has changed my hook setting technique; now when I set hook I must stand and the same time adding more power and speed.

Disability torn cartlidge in right knee

1. No longer can I jump out of the boat when it's on the trailer period

Man, we must be twins or sumthing like that, now for the past month I 've been suffering from tennis elbow.

S*t, another stripe on the tiger.  

[BassmanDan]

Very timely thread...this is the first winter I've not fished in the last 5 years (and it's killing me). Carpal tunnel and now bass (tennis) elbow forced me to take some time off to heal. I started casting left-handed some last season to alleviate the pain and probably will have to continue... even though it SUCKS losing your accuracy and having to re-learn. I second what others have said about walking...my dad was on his last legs a couple years ago but he forced himself out of bed and started walking...it was like a miracle and now he goes 4 miles a day and could probably walk me under the table. Stay active!

[Paul Roberts]

Hey BassManDan, get a neoprene forearm brace (drug stores). It really does help. And stay working on being a lefty for a while (I know how frustrating it is!). But it took a full year for my elbow to heal. Doc said I'd be in for surgery (and all the possible complications down the road) if I didn't respect the healing process.

BTW: Welcome!

[frogtog]

Mine started at the ripe old age of 45. I was fishing one day and broke my line. Out of the blue I can't see the hole on the hook to get it tied.

1 - Cataract surgery from all the glare off the water.

2 - C4,C5 and C6 replaced due to all the rough water rides.

3 - Shoulder, Elbow, and Risk wore completely out from so much casting

4 - Can't stand all day due to knee and back pain

5 - My skin is completely messed up from to much sun while fishing

I still go fishing and blow ungodly amounts of money on it, I just have had to do things a little different now. :

[Long Mike]

At the ripe old age of 62, I have been remarkably lucky.  I have a gimp knee (old skiing injury) that does not want me to climb stairs, so I do it carefully.  However, once I get to the top, I can literally run back down them.  I also have a condition known as Essential Tremors.  Everyone has them but mine are much more severe.  Sometimes the simple act of tying on a hook can be a ten minute ordeal.  That's it.  No other major problems.  Of course I wake up every morning and hobble around as if someone kicked the crap out of me the night before, but after about thirty minutes I'm good to go.

[Muddy]

My shoulder problems due to getting hit really bad by a van years back, now complicated by a severe calcium and vitamin deficiency.

I have had 3 hernia surgeries in the last 5 years. I had a bariatric bypass, and my stomach wall muscles were compromised from a gun shot wound I got in my 20's.  The incisional scar keeps opening

My knees are pretty blown out as are both my hands.

I am blessed to be still on this side of the daises however and i have to learn how to enjoy myself given these physical restrictions.

I have seen worse and I am grateful for being able to still enjoy my life.

[Paul Roberts]

My shoulder problems due to getting hit really bad by a van years back, now complicated by a severe calcium and vitamin deficiency.

I have had 3 hernia surgeries in the last 5 years. I had a bariatric bypass, and my stomach wall muscles were compromised from a gun shot wound I got in my 20's.  The incisional scar keeps opening

My knees are pretty blown out as are both my hands.

I am blessed to be still on this side of the daises however and i have to learn how to enjoy myself given these physical restrictions.

I have seen worse and I am grateful for being able to still enjoy my life.

Holy Moly Dom. You've been around the mill and then some.

[BASS fisherman]

One of the only things I truely fear in life is getting old.

[Muddy]

One of the only things I truely fear in life is getting old.

You were born old! ;D

[BASS fisherman]

Old and moldy!   ;D

[The_Natural]

My wife is dealing with this at the ripe old age of 29. She was diagnosed with arthritis/fibromayalgia at age 22, and she has constant back and neck pain. I have to rethink everything we do activity wise to account for her back. She is on Celebrex, which is generally a senior medication for athritis. Every night a different spot hurts. Her shoulder, neck, wrist (from being on the computer) or lower back (from sitting). She takes Ultram daily for pain, but this relief only goes so far. Unfortunately, we are leading up to the day she has to be on opiates daily.

[Paul Roberts]

Wow. So sorry to hear that. I have a neighbor who was just diagnosed with the same. I guess "quality of life" is a sliding scale. We make the best with what we do have. Hope you guys can stay positive. Prayers go out to you two.