Knapp: Aging comes for all anglers. Here’s some changes and purchases to make to stay in the game
It seemed a rather minor disruption during my morning dog walk, a case where Bella wanted to go one way and me the other.
Standing on a film of black ice, however, the rapid change in direction resulted in a slip where I landed hard on my right knee.
Doing my best to put the intense pain in the back of my mind, I continued the 2-mile walk, during which the pain gradually dulled. However, by the end of the day the swelling made any movement difficult
During the 11 months since that incident my knee has experienced X-rays, an MRI, a steroid shot and a series of hyaluronic acid injections which have helped dull the pain and inflammation. But it’s still a factor, along with the other aches and pains associated with a body approaching the 70 year mark.
All of which brings me to the point of this week’s column, adjustments one can make to keep on fishing as the years pile up:
One of the first steps, I’ve come to realize, is an adjustment in attitude. This takes on several forms.
One, simple tasks aren’t quite as simple anymore, ones like launching and retrieving a boat. Even though you’ve done something hundreds of times, it pays to slow down and stay focused on the task at hand. It’s simply easier to make mistakes, both physically and mentally, as we age.
Another adjustment relates to trip duration. Fishing shouldn’t be an endurance test. Not so long ago I figured any trip worth making had to align with a day’s work, i.e. eight hours. Anymore, a five- to six-hour day is fine, enough to test the waters and justify the expense involved in making the trip in the first place.
I do most of my fishing from a boat. Typically, this involves climbing over the bow of the boat at the end of the day to latch the bow strap and safety chain. One of the best investments I’ve made is a set of trailer steps that make this process much easier and safer.
Trailer steps come in several varieties and price points, from generic “universal” models to ones designed specifically for certain trailer makes. And there are plenty of DIY examples online that can save you money. I went with a Trick Steps model specific to my brand of boat and could not be happier.
A recess in the front deck of a boat allows the trolling motor foot pedal to sit in a position that’s close to level with the deck. For most anglers — me included — this takes some of the strain off your legs and lower back when operating the motor. Many boat makers have offered this option for many years, and I think it’s one that’s worthwhile. It’s something to consider when purchasing a new boat, and there are kits available to install on existing boats if the bow deck configuration allows it.
Younger anglers can stand on the deck, operate the trolling motor and fish away for the entire day with little to no effect. Us older ones feel the pain, however.
Even though I don’t sit on the bow seat of my primary boat, I do use the seat to lean against. This takes some of the strain off the body and helps one keep their balance. Adjustable seat pedestals and seat profiles are available to make your fishing perch as comfortable as possible.
Whether you sit, lean or stand depends also on the type of fishing you are doing.
When I’m fishing for bass, I like to bow position, which is optimal for controlling the boat in relation to the targets being cast to. But for lake-dwelling walleyes and panfish, I prefer sitting in the back of my tiller-controlled 16-foot Lund, operating the trolling motor via the remote fob. This type of fishing, at least the way I do it, often involves vertical (under the boat) presentations easily accomplished from the comfortable high-backed seat.
For those that don’t do it, fishing is often seen as a passive, lazy activity requiring little physical effort. We anglers know better. And as we age, making modifications that ease the effort helps keep us in the game.
Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.
