Getting Older 2024

Ghostshad reply :

I was wondering last summer i finally fell out of my boat, i have bad knees & they finally gave way on me. i bought a Auto LifeVest & now i wear it all the time. I'll be 63 in 9 days & i was wondering if other people my age was not as steady in the boat as they once was. I know i'm gonna be a lot more cautious than i have been , maybe not as many rods under my feet & hold on a lot more. I wanta Thank God He took care of me one more time . Getting Old Sucks . GodBless & Thanks

Way2slow reply :

Well, I've got a few on you, I turn 69 in Jun, but my body feels like it will be turning 109. I've always had a bad back, just didn't know it, and the stupid stuff I did when young didn't help. Stuff like picking up Ford and Chevy V8 motors and sitting them in and out of the bed of pickups. Picking up the back end (the motor end, not the front end) of VW bugs showing off. I was just a dumb country boy, built like an ox (when I turned 15, I was 6'1, weighed 185 and pure muscle) and didn't know any limits on how much I could lift. My calves were like tree trunks and had a hard time finding pants that fit in the waist my legs would go in. I usually had to buy larger sizes and have the waist taken up a few inches. At 16, I had a 33" waist , a 44" chest with a well defined six pack for a stomach, not many dared mess with me in school, definitely didn't worry about no school bullies. Today, my back is paying me back with overtime added in. I haven't had any surgery on it "yet" but it's looking like it won't be long. For the past three days, I've barely been able to walk after a couple hours of picking up pecans the other day.

Throw in the arthritis in my hands, neck, back, knees and my old body is just about worn out. I just had basal joint surgery on my left hand, and I'm left handed, where they went in a took out a bone at the base of the thumb and need to have the right hand done when I regain enough use of my left. Cortisone in the knees has helped them some for now. A couple of stints in the heart and loosing 60 pounds, from 215 to 165 afterwards, my skinny butt was smaller than when I was 14. Which I have gone back to 180 now, I was about to dry up and blow away with all that healthy eating so I've added some of the junk foods back in to gain some weight back.

I've quit just jumping in the boat from the dock and started stepping over into it while being careful and holding on when there's something to hold on to.

Catt reply :

65 yrs old in ten days

Ruptured discs, torn ligaments, sciatic nerve damage in the lower back.

Rheumatoid arthritis in knees, elbows, wrist, fingers & neck.

Aint slept more than 4 hrs at a time in 12 yrs, I go from laying, to sitting, to standing constantly.

Had to make adjustments in every part of my life not just fishing

But with God's grace I aint had surgery, don't plan on having surgery, & aint on pain meds!

Goose52 reply :

I'm 64 and I've had balance issues for several years now - it's just part of the aging process. All of us need to be aware of the changes that occur as we get older and compensate as best we can. I still stand the entire time that I'm in my canoe, but I have to keep the back of my legs braced against the canoe thwart to stay steady. I've always worn a PFD 100% of the time that I'm on the water so I've always had that covered. I have to be careful fishing from the bank along uneven or sloped shorelines and have fallen several times doing things that were no problem when I was younger. I just generally now try to be more careful and move slower if necessary whenever balance might be an issue.

NOW, speaking of falling out of the boat...are all of us somewhat older folks confident that we can get BACK INTO the boat if we've fallen out? As we age, upper body strength diminishes and it may be difficult to reboard, especially since you are now wearing heavy, water-soaked clothes, and may be cold from the immersion. Everyone should think this through and have a reboarding plan - use the motor, install a boarding ladder, whatever.

Assess, adapt, and overcome...

Way2slow reply :

Catt, if I ever sleep more than I few hours without have to get up and move around some, I'll know I've done passed into the land of ever after.

As for getting back into the boat. Five years ago, a year after having my heart stint, I tried and could get back in my boat from either side rather easily, this past summer, after being retired for six years and not a physically active as before, the only way I could get back in it was to use the motor to lift.

If you cold weather fish, you have to be extra careful. I have put on my cold weather gear and dove in. That stuff weighs a ton when it gets soaked and those thermal boots made it hard to get in, even using the motor to lift me, and that was in warm water. I felt even it cold water, it was still doable but not something I would look forward to doing. I have never deliberately dove into frigid water just to try getting back into the boat, and hope I never have to, but you have to figure, it's going to be a hellavalot harder than warm water.

Yakalong reply :

I've thought about having a bunch of rods laying on the deck and just waiting to trip over them. But I also know I will be mad if I don't have that one rod I need like right now at my finger tip when needed. So the question of safety or being able to grab that rod fast, right now I'm still "waiting" to fall in.

"hamma" reply :

Funny you should post this, I was just talking with my GF last night about this very subject.

With 2 degenerated disc's, and a pulled muscle in my hip/butt applying constant pressure on my right legs sciatic nerve, and the discs at the same time. Im not only consistently heavily medicated,with opiods, mind altering drugs,and muscle relaxers,.(which accounts for my long winded posts I believe).. but also receiving cortisone shots regularly. (more monday am) I pretty much spend my time off my feet, in bed. Not that I mind this site to spend alot of my time on, because I actually feel grateful its there for me to divert my attention from pain, to something I truly love,....fishing. Although I do have the drugs? they only do so much

But,... not being able to go fish by myself on the boat anymore is quite a bit more debilitating than I had anticipated. I figured that some of the younger guys that dont have a boat would be willing to get out off the shores and fish the whole lake instead of just the public accesses. But thats not the case.

I am grateful for the 2 guys I have met on this site that I have fished with. They both not only offered me a chance to get out and fish. But also proved to me that there truly is still some "real" people out there. With morals, decentcey, and integrity.,.. I see my kids, and my girfriends kids, and wonder where this world is headed, But I digress.

Im ten years the op's junior and definately dont have the sea legs I once had, I dont cover my decks with rods as I once did, I sit nowadays when just a couple years ago I'd stand and run my trolling motor. And worse of all is I can't just decide to fish and go. My basshunter sits in the yard collecting leaves as I cant be lifting its bow into the truck anymore. And to fish off the tracker I "need" another person with me as I cant climb over the bow after getting it back on its trailer., to pull the truck and trailer out of the water

With the injuries I have, I actually "HAD" to re-power the boats manual steer, and trim, tiller motor,.. to a electric start, electric steer, newer, tiller motor.,... And the older power drive trolling motor? I used to manually stow and deploy? gone too,.. as the pain I endure stowing it was too much to make fishing worth while, and it was replaced with the i-pilot link minn kota ulterra, and intergrating humminbird helix 9 di si gps finder up front. I love these new "toys" but they are a requirement now as without them? I fear I wouldnt be fishing at all anymore, And thats just not a option.,..lol. The ulterra tm will deploy and stow with the touch of a button, and I can run, steer, and stop it with a remote control,.... and I have to believe the good lord, and Minn Kota,... provided me with this option as my only salvation..

Yeah, luckily,.. things timed out for me just right, and I do believe things happen for a reason. I wasnt riding my Harley anymore, and wasnt fishing either as I couldnt physically run the boats anymore, so I sold the bike, to pay for the "upgrades" I needed to at least offer chances, to fish off my tracker,.. which worked out well.

Now,... I have spent the last year and a half in extreme pain, 95% of the time in bed. Without the options and actions taken within that time, I would be one miserable, angry, and bitter, landlocked bass angler. But, just knowing the upgrades are now in place? Eases my outlook for future fishing ventures,...

Bass Resource has been a huge help, in a few ways, as I can spend much of my time with my mind on my bass fishing techniques, tactics, and experiences I have acquired over the years, and share them, other than just laying here grovelling in pain. I have had the priveledge to meet the 2 guys that offered fishing ventures I would not have had otherwise. And to be honest.. being able to help some newer anglers, answer some questions, and just being able to discuss bass fishing stuff, with like minded, or even better, anglers with different views. Is an incredible opportunity for any angler to have at their fingertips.

I cant thank you all, especially Glenn and the mods here enough. Getting older does bite, but we do have a venue here that can ease the pains of going even greyer haired, wrinkly, and bored.

In my mind? this site and you guys rock. Even enough to make one feel younger than we truly are.

Now be careful and go fish as long as you can, I know I will till the day the good lord decides my time here is done. Pain and mobility may hinder, but the true bass angler looks, and rises above that, and finds a way, just like seeking our quarry, when they dont seem agreeable.

Ghostshad reply :

Sounds like we aught to go fishing together & keep a eye on each other. I ve had 2 back surgery, bad knees,ive had the shots in my knees ,shots in my back & even tried stim cell shots in my knees, can't hardly bend over ,can't close either hand, I take 4 pain pills a day for my knees, and i sleep some but i take 2 prescription sleeping pills & 2 over the counter & drink 1 beer at night,i can't sleep at all without drinking 1 beer .Ive come to the point in my life that i think i'm meant to hurt. Sorry to hear were all broke down,ive always said if i was a horse they would shoot me. ive started to wonder if i should stop fishing but its all i got left,but one thing for sure i'll have that Auto Life Vest on .That Auto Life Vest is about the only thing ive bought for fishing that the wife didn't fuss about,but i did fall out of my boat & that didn't feel good. ThankGod were all still alive . Thanks for answering

Well i have to Admit when i got back in the boat,i also used the trim, first thing i did was count my rods & i felt a lot better they was all there, ThankGod because those things are expensive . Getting Old Sucks, The Bible says we'll get a new body,i just hope this one last that long.

Bill B. reply :

I'm 62 and dealing with balance issues that came on suddenly last spring. I can no longer get into my kayaks without immediately flipping them over, and I have a terrible time trying to walk over uneven ground. I ordered a set of pontoons for my kayaks, and they got here last week. Haven't tried them out, yet.

Scott F reply :

I'm 61, and just had back surgery, but compared to you other old geezers, I feel like a teenager! I can see the limitations on my aging body so much so that I had to retire recently while I'm still relatively healthy. If I went back to work I'd soon be only able to fish from a lawn chair.

Fishing Rhino reply :

You guys make me even more grateful. I'm 75 and able to fish independently with either my canoe or Nitro Z-8. Don't mind driving long distances. I've slowed down and don't have the stamina I once did, but I'm relatively pain free. Had two knee surgeries over the past seven or eight years to trim torn menisci in both knees.

The orthopedic surgeon told me over a year ago that I have severe arthritis in my right knee, no cartilage, bone on bone. I still walk around normally and have no pain when walking or moving. When I lie on my side, it will sometimes bind. Still, I can free it up by rolling onto my back or stomach. It clunks a little when it goes back into place, but isn't painful. Maybe it's a no sense, no feeling thing.

The doc say when it starts to bother me he'll do a cortisone injection. When it gets to the point that doesn't help he'll replace the knee joint.

Hamma, we'll have to get together next year. There is one exceptional pond down here, less than five minutes from my doorstep. There is a public launch but to get to the pond you're better off with a plastic or aluminum boat that you don't mind denting up a bit. Canoes, and kayaks are the majority of boats that are used. There's a couple of guys that have aluminum bass boats that manage to negotiate the winding rocky channel to the main pond. I've only seen a jet ski on the pond once in the past five years. Haven't seen a party barge. No water skiers. No wake boarders.

Largemouth, smallmouth, pickerel, crappy yellow perch etc. There is either structure, and or cover on every square foot of bottom, and plenty of forage.

My canoe with the trolling motor has swivel seats fore and aft with back rests.

"hamma" reply :

Sounds good to me Tom,.I'll send you a pm.

Hope all goes well with the knee! and when its gets to the cortizone era? you'll welcome the shots, they work wonders for me.

Heal well Scott, Ive heard many good things from back surgeries, as long as you dont overdue things right after.

Careful out there Bill, balance issues? kayaks? I get the pontoons thing and good idea, but did you ever consider a bass raider? very stable platform to fish from.

And Ghostshad? Id have no problem fishing with you, or any other Bass Resource member. And even better? you live in Tenn. its a heck of a commute, but I just loved fishing wilson and pickwick on the TVA chain,....lol

As the posts title is "Getting Older" our bodies may be feeling the effects of the torture we put them through over the years. But our bass fishing tenacity proves that we all have one thing in common, and I believe that to be,... we may be getting older, but we aint dead yet, and Im pretty sure we all will fish, till we are,.....

I may be the youngest so far in this thread, and can only imagine the detrimental damages you all have put your physical well being through. As for me? heck Im surprised I still wake up every morning, and thank the lord I do, for I didnt expect to live past 45 or 50 considering the lifestyle I dragged my vessel through. But it will be a cold day in hell, when a doc tells me I cant fish anymore and I heed his warning. And although my girlfriend would never tell me I cant fish,(yet another reason I love her so) even her or my kids aint gunna deter me from doing so, cuz they know what my answer will be,.

.Id rather croak while out fishing then be prohibited from it!

Someone once said to me "Motorcycles are dangerous, you can die riding one of those things" my reply? "Then I'll die doing what I love!"

Way2slow reply :

Shoot, at age 60, I still felt like a teenager. As for the back pain and arthritis in back neck and ribs etc, I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis when I was 28, so I learned to live with that. I didn't even start needing glasses, and that was only for reading, until I was 56. I retired from the military at 50 and was still running five miles a day, three days a week. I spent most of my time in special duty assignments, playing GI Joe big time. I went through Ranger School and trained a couple of years with the Special Forces, and I was Air Force, but was also heavily involved with a mobile nuclear missile program they had.

After retiring from the AF, I worked on industrial equipment until 2011, Then I got my heart stint for a birthday present and retired a couple months after that. That's when my body starting paying me back for all the h^^l I've put it through up to then. Five kidney stones, two stints and one angioplasty gallbladder remove, lower hernia's on both sides repair, three spots on my lugs, cataract surgery in my right eye, deaf for any frequencies above 5Khz, and some hearing loss below that. Arthritis in my hands so bad, the left is almost useless, nerve damage in my legs so bad I can't even tell when my shoe comes off at times, and can keep on listing.

However, as bad as body is getting, I still think getting old is better than not getting older.

Catt reply :

@Way2slow kidney stone hurt me worst than anything!

Ain't as good as I once was, gone are the days of fishing 14-16 hr a day.

Put entry fees or bragging rights on the line & I'm as good once as I ever was!

@Way2slow

Edited December 11, 2016 by Catt
Operator error

Fishes in trees reply :

When I first got my current boat (2002), it occurred to me that I fished alone a lot and I could fall out of the boat. So I practiced one day in a shallow cove, jumping out of the boat and getting back into it. I recommend this as a mid-summer activity. Fast forward 6 years later and I was fishing in March in 42 degree water and it was windy and just for a moment I turned and was off balance and at that instance the wind blew harder and sent my boat sideways into a stump and over the side I went.

It was pretty clear water and looking up and seeing the bottom of your boat over your head is a strange experience. At that point adrenaline kicked in, legs started working and in a moment I was hanging on the side of the boat. A couple of minutes later I was back in the boat, the practice getting back into the boat paid off. Half an hour later, I was back at the ramp, changed into clean warm dry clothes and I could think about how close a call I'd just had.

Point of this story is about how important preparation is. I'd considered that I might fall out of the boat and had a plan on how to get back into it. (I used the tilt/trim to lift me up and then I rolled onto the back deck). Just as important I had spare weather appropriate clothes to change into back in the truck. Driving my boat back to the ramp (which took 20 minutes or so) was a little chilly, to say the least. I keep a couple of space blankets in the boat bins now, at the time, that would have stopped the wind quite a bit. I was shivering quite a bit before I got the cold wet clothes off of me and the clean dry clothes on. 10 minutes after the dry clothes were on, I was warm and fine.

Way2slow reply :

Fishes in trees, I make the plunge every few years. Also, going by your screen name, when you make a cast like that in my boat, you can expect a comment like "I thought we were fishing, not squirrel hunting" or be asked if you are squirrel hunting.

Skeeter Dan reply :

On 12/10/2016 at 4:06 AM, Ghostshad said:

I was wondering last summer i finally fell out of my boat, i have bad knees & they finally gave way on me. i bought a Auto LifeVest & now i wear it all the time. I'll be 63 in 9 days & i was wondering if other people my age was not as steady in the boat as they once was. I know i'm gonna be a lot more cautious than i have been , maybe not as many rods under my feet & hold on a lot more. I wanta Thank God He took care of me one more time . Getting Old Sucks . GodBless & Thanks

You are not alone. I'll be 63 in may. I had neck surgery back in May 2010 . since then I have no balance. I've had to quit riding my motor cycle. WHY ? NO BALANCE ! I bought my want a be Bass boat in 2013. I have always been sure footed in a boat. Hell I was raised in a boat. I water skied since I was 6. Played all kinds of sports. I had Great Balance !!! but now days stepping off a dock in to my boat or walking from the seat up to the front and lowering the trolling I feel like I might fall in. So I'm waiting for that day to happen. When it does happen I just hope the water temp isn't lower than 50 % F .

On 12/10/2016 at 7:23 PM, Goose52 said:

I'm 64 and I've had balance issues for several years now - it's just part of the aging process. All of us need to be aware of the changes that occur as we get older and compensate as best we can. I still stand the entire time that I'm in my canoe, but I have to keep the back of my legs braced against the canoe thwart to stay steady. I've always worn a PFD 100% of the time that I'm on the water so I've always had that covered. I have to be careful fishing from the bank along uneven or sloped shorelines and have fallen several times doing things that were no problem when I was younger. I just generally now try to be more careful and move slower if necessary whenever balance might be an issue.

NOW, speaking of falling out of the boat...are all of us somewhat older folks confident that we can get BACK INTO the boat if we've fallen out? As we age, upper body strength diminishes and it may be difficult to reboard, especially since you are now wearing heavy, water-soaked clothes, and may be cold from the immersion. Everyone should think this through and have a reboarding plan - use the motor, install a boarding ladder, whatever.

Assess, adapt, and overcome...

My fat a## will have to use the motor and trim button .

hunterPRO1 reply :

is it possible to mount a seat on the front ?

Ghostshad reply :

A friend of mine told me about using the trim on the big motor , i never would of thought of it , but i never forgot it. And yes falling in & sinking & having to swim back up to the top of the water is Very Scary ,Thank God i kelp my train of thought on what to do. And this is a great Forum to talk about this , I hope this topic will help someone else when they fall in. GodBless & keep Your Loving Hands around us & keep us safe & free from Harm. Thank You Lord

WRB reply :

This thread sounds like the organ recital I hear every time friends drop in to visit.

Getting old isn't for sissies and doesn't get better with time, but is a state of mind.

Boating safety is critical and everyone should be prepared for emergencies like falling overboard.

Cold weather slows you down especially as you get older and easy to trip or loose your balance, so be careful.

Having fallen into cold winter water due to trolling motor error on my part I know from experience how difficult it is to get back into the boat. What I do is use a dock tie rope with loops on both ends and leave it on a rear cleat. The tie down rope makes a good step with both ends attached to the cleat use the rope loop as a stirrup step to get back into the boat. You can also use the rope along with the big engine cavitation plate. When you are wet in heavy clothing it's very difficult to get back into a boat alone! Think ahead and be prepared.

I am 73 walk 3 miles every other day, trailer my boat and fish alone or with a partner often. You got to keep moving and stretch everyday to keep the joints working. I feel good, my bones not so good with several surgeries from spinal fusion,both shoulders repaired and bad hips...you can't let limitations stop what you like to do.

Tom

Wayne P. reply :

Getting back in the boat was discussed on another forum about adding a ladder.

You need something to PULL you onto the deck no matter what method you use to elevate yourself.

I use this:

A-Jay reply :

I fish alone a lot. My Lund has a built in ladder that pulls out of the hull.

Hope I never have to use it.

A-Jay

WRB reply :

Triton boats, some models, have or had a similar biult in ladder step at the transom.

Someday when it's warm and you have a passenger to help try falling out of the boat and getting back in with clothing and shoes, could save your life.

Tom

A-Jay reply :

On 12/13/2016 at 6:27 AM, WRB said:

Triton boats, some models, have or had a similar biult in ladder step at the transom.

Someday when it's warm and you have a passenger to help try falling out of the boat and getting back in with clothing and shoes, could save your life.

Tom

I will Tom - Probably should have done it already. During a "warm water period" I'll do a video of an in water re-entry & post it.

Should be interesting. Fortunately, I'm still in at least average physical condition for my age so we'll see how it goes.

On the other hand, my Metal condition has been in question for some time now . . . .

A-Jay

Fishing Rhino reply :

I fell out of my canoe with hip boots on. It's impossible to get into a canoe, even moreso with the heavy boots full of water.

So there I floated. Tried to kick with my legs, but that was a no go, then it hit me. Go to the stern of the canoe, hang onto the rail with one hand, and use the other to operate the trolling motor. Worked like a charm. Got to shore, laid on my back and lifted my legs to drain the boots. Then after much tugging and wiggling, I got the boots off. It was a warm day, sunny, with no wind. I resumed fishing, dried off, and slipped into my sneakers. Took the hip boots a couple of days to dry, even lying in the sun.

Way2slow reply :

Actually, it's not that hard getting back in if the water is not too swift. well, let me say when I was younger it wasn't, haven't tried this technique in a long time. You get into it under the center braces with your butt on the bottom and pull your legs up to lock yourself in place, then use the paddle like the kayaker's do to spin themselves back over. It usually takes a couple strong strokes but it will spin over, back upright with you sitting in it, provided you have a little flotation built in so it will float full of water. Then you can bail out water or paddle to the bank.

I used to teach this in a canoe class I taught many, many moons ago and have done it hundreds of times.

Now with all those rods there, that might create an obstacle to overcome.

This is also if you flip it, and don't just fall out. I could get in my 17'Grumman if I had the motor on it by climbing in over the bow point, but that was not easy and usually left a few red/raw spots.

Fishing Rhino reply :

I've dumped over twice in my two canoes. The first time I was trying to poke at something with my paddle. I reached too far over the side. Uh Oh. I knew I was going in, but I tried to prevent it which succeeded in swamping the canoe, and dumping a tackle box over the side. Fortunately it floated, I wa in shallow water about four feet deep. I retrieved the tackle box, waded to shore and bailed out the canoe. This was the canoe in my avatar.

The only thing I lost was a little pride.

In my aforementioned unplanned swim, I remembered the lesson from my first experience and just fell over the side. I ended up in the drink, but didn't swamp the canoe.

The first episode was in 2008. The second in 2009.

OCdockskipper reply :

"See this scar on my chest. Mary Ellen Moffat. She broke my heart". - Matt Hooper, Jaws

At 53, I am a little younger than some of you and am fortunate to not yet have some of your struggles, but I do often think about things like balance. Particularly when I am on the dock getting in & out of the small Pond Prowler an hour before sunrise. I imagine not paying attention & stepping between the dock and the boat, how that kind of a fall would really do a number on me. I'm not so worried about drowning as opposed to getting a limb in an awkward position as I went down. I would think that would lead to a nasty bone break. Worse of all, it would mean I couldn't go fishing that day...

Ohio Archer reply :

Lots of good ideas being discussed in this thread. Auto inflate vests, ladders, ropes, motor trim. On my older bassboat (which sat very low to the water) I used a rope with multiple loops tied in it and slipped over the rear seat post as a "ladder". My new boat sits much higher but has a factory installed boarding ladder. Wish it was on the port side though as that is the side with the trim switch on the motor.

I don't have an auto inflate vest but do wear my regular vest all day. Even with the higher gunnels I've had a couple times when I thought I was going into the water. Not sure I trust the auto inflate models to do what they are supposed to do each and every time. I might consider one when the temps climb back up since a full vest is way too hot in the summer.

I keep a spare set of dry clothes in one of those plastic vacuum bags in one of my storage compartments. Full insulated suit, wool socks, gloves and hat all shrink down flat. Hopefully, I'll never need it for myself or someone else.

Balance is ok, legs and back have a couple issues but nothing show stopping at this time (I get shots in my Lumbar every few months).

I usually fish alone like a bunch on here so having a dock to get in /out is almost mandatory. I have climbed up and over the bow and TM but it is not that easy. Looking for a decent set of bow steps that wont break the bank. Tracker has them for Targas but you need a hull ID to get one. All the rest that are tall enough are $400+. I'll just use my small step ladder for the time being.

I guess the alternative to not fishing and putting up with all our aches and pains would be to sit home in front of a keyboard and complain about our aches and pains. ;-)

Quote

Master Chief John Urgayle: Pain is your friend, your ally, it will tell you when you are seriously injured, it will keep you awake and angry, and remind you to finish the job and get the hell home. But you know the best thing about pain?

Lt. Jordan O'Neil: Don't know!

Master Chief John Urgayle: It lets you know you're not dead yet!

Way2slow reply :

For an auto inflate, bite the big one and get the Mustang Hydrostatic. You don't have to worry about moisture setting it off. I bought two, one for me and one for my dad when they first came out and have never had one go off when it wasn't supposed to. Can't say the same for the SoSpenders auto inflates I have that I was using before the Mustangs. I still keep the SoSpenders in the boat with fresh kits in them just incase I happen to have a third and god forbid, a fourth person in the boat but I personally only use the Mustang. I take it out of the boat and put in on before even launching and don't take it back off again until the boat is on the trailer and out of the water.

I personally see no reason to assume I am going to be conscious to pull the cord on a manual inflate and the only reason I'm wearing it is to keep me afloat if I'm in the water. Yea, you just fall in is one thing, but if you get ejected or are in a collision or something, (old saying goes "s**t happens") it's very possible you may not be able to personally pull the cord. I want my butt protected in those cases also.

Catt reply :

Coming from a background of racing dirt bikes, cars, & boats I'll wear all my safety gear!

This time of year hyperthermia is a serious issue!

Robeng reply :

Great ideas and nice to know that at 63, I am not alone.

Always be safe. Be prepared. Good advice. Thanks.

Way2slow reply :

That's where a good Merino wool base layer is supposed to come in handy. When I say good, I mean just that. I can't wear just any wool next to my skin, even some of those claiming to be Merino, but I have several sets in different weights that don't itch, even if I get too active and start to sweat.

I've never had to prove it to myself and hope I don't, but it's claimed wool still helps hold some body heat even when wet. Not enough to save you in the long haul but enough to buy you some time.

Redlinerobert reply :

I fish alone from time to time, and in the past I'd not wear my life jacket. I'm ordering a couple of the waist life preservers in order to wear one at all times when I do happen to fish alone. The life vest goes on when I fire up the large motor, off when not in use.

For the most part, I fish with my dad. When not with him I do fish with my wife. He doesn't particularly like wearing the vest. My dad is approaching 79 this year and I make sure to give him the extra time he needs to get positioned in the boat. That usually means holding steady so he can use my shoulder to get up on the back deck and in his seat, and vice versa when it's time to move to another spot. I also hand him his fishing rod that's ready to go as well when he's ready for it. I see it as an honor to do this for him.

keeganzpapa reply :

Way2slow I have seen kayakers perform this maneuver but they are usually sitting in the kayak upside down and use the paddle to flip back over. I am very interested in learning it but can't wrap my mind around how to position myself into the upturned canoe if I am drifting in water next to the canoe which is probably drifting next to me upside down. Am I missing something? I'm not trying to be wise, or poking any fun, don't take this wrong please. This could save my life and I want to understand it. The only way I have read about uprighting a canoe is to get under it with a hand on each gunnel side and springing up with your legs. (Sure, maybe 30 years ago, and then only on my best day, and then only if I could spring up off the bottom. Thing weighs about 80# empty.) Any help is appreciated. Thanks

J Francho reply :

On 12/20/2016 at 3:26 AM, keeganzpapa said:

Way2slow I have seen kayakers perform this maneuver but they are usually sitting in the kayak upside down and use the paddle to flip back over. I am very interested in learning it but can't wrap my mind around how to position myself into the upturned canoe if I am drifting in water next to the canoe which is probably drifting next to me upside down. Am I missing something? I'm not trying to be wise, or poking any fun, don't take this wrong please. This could save my life and I want to understand it. The only way I have read about uprighting a canoe is to get under it with a hand on each gunnel side and springing up with your legs. (Sure, maybe 30 years ago, and then only on my best day, and then only if I could spring up off the bottom. Thing weighs about 80# empty.) Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Greenland style of rolling. Here's a decent resource: http://qajaqrolls.com/rolls

I don't know how you'd do any of this in a canoe.

keeganzpapa reply :

OK, I guess I misunderstood. From viewing the link from "I do what I want" it would work if you have only rolled onto one side, or did something to keep yourself from completely falling all the way out, and I could see myself doing this, if I were upside down but still locked into the canoe. My imagination had me tipping out into the water, which is the more probable situation, with the canoe turned upside down in the water next to me. This actually happened about 30 years ago when a branch which was sticking our from the bank caught me and flipped me over. Fortunately the creek was shallow enough to walk the canoe up onto the bank and upright it.

J Francho reply :

As teenagers, we intentionally capsized our canoe (it was also heavy, like yours) to see if we could right it without too much water inside. It wasn't easy for two of us, but we got it righted without too much water. I can't see one person doing it, unless is was a very light, carbon fiber hulled craft.

Way2slow reply :

Ok, most likely you are not going to be in the canoe if you flip it and naturally the canoe is going to be full of water if you roll it over. Most canoes have two or three center braces going across the top.

You roll the canoe on it's side, or upside down if you wish.

Then you slide into the canoe with your legs between the center braces and the bottom of the canoe. Mine has three center braces so I slid up until my belly was against the back one. Once in place, you draw your legs up until you thighs are pressed firmly against a center brace, holding you firmly between it and the bottom of the canoe.

Now you will reach out to your strongest side with the paddle, with the paddle turned so it's flat with the direction of stroke and at the surface or very near surface at one side of the canoe. Also note, you generally will be completely upside down in the canoe when you start this maneuver. I'm not sure it would work if you tried to start with the canoe on it's side, can't remember ever having tried that.

Now for this next part, speed and strength is essential, with all the energy you can muster, you make a hard pull down and under the boat so the force is rolling you and the boat over toward the surface. When at the effective end of this stroke, make a quick 90 degree turn of the paddle so the edge is cutting the water and as fast as you can, go back to the side you started, turn the paddle flat again and make another stroke. Usually, this should have you almost completely out of the water and you have to make several quick rolls with the paddle on that side to finish getting you up. Get it right, and you will be sitting upright, on the bottom of a canoe full of water. Then you can just bail water or if you have some seriously good balance, just ease it to shore flooded, however, it's going to be about as stable as trying to sit on a log and paddle.

ONE WORD of ADVISE: Make sure you are using a long "canoe" paddle. I have serious doubts about anyone being able to do this with a boat paddle. Just in case you don't know the difference, you need to do a little homework, the blade on a canoe paddle is much wider and longer than a boat paddle and the handle is generally much longer.

One other thought, I've never used or tried anything but good, wood handle canoe paddles, and would have doubts about those aluminum handle things being strong enough. You are generating some serious force on that shaft when you start making your strokes.

XpressJeff reply :

Thank you folks!

I am only 61 next month but for the 23 I was in the Corps I was "10 feet tall and bulletproof". I am paying for it every day now. both knees replaced (left one twice), 2 bad disks in the lower back and neuropathy (sp) in the feet. Yes aging is not for wimps, however; the good Lord has something for me to do that he has filled me in on yet so I am planning to make the most of my time.

I am glad to hear about other's issues and how you deal with them.

I will wear a self-inflating vest, and wear it more than I ever have in the past. My new boat will be the most stable I've ever owned too!

Be careful and enjoy the days you have left!

Catt reply :

On 12/27/2016 at 3:26 AM, XpressJeff said:

Yes aging is not for wimps, however; the good Lord has something for me to do that he has filled me in on yet

scaleface reply :

I'll be 60 soon and still stand up in the front of a 14 foot jon boat for 8 hour . I had a few close calls this year. My 22 foot Lowe has a huge deck but I get wobbly on it when the boat is bobbing . What really got me this year was trying to walk on the riprap below the dam . Now that was tough .

Mosster47 reply :

On 12/13/2016 at 6:27 AM, WRB said:

Triton boats, some models, have or had a similar biult in ladder step at the transom.

Someday when it's warm and you have a passenger to help try falling out of the boat and getting back in with clothing and shoes, could save your life.

Tom

Yeah, my 21x has one on the rear passenger side also. I honestly didn't even know what it was until my son was screwing around with the boat in the driveway and pulled it out.

I haven't ever fallen in but I have fallen down on the front deck a few times accidentally stepping into the recesses trolling motor pedal spot.

Tim Kelly reply :

For the guys with the inflating life jackets, I would ask you to try getting back in the boat with an inflated life vest on. I believe it would be almost impossible. They are great if you're fishing with someone who can pull you back in the boat, but an impossible encumbrance if you're trying to get back in the boat on your own. A foam filled life vest will give you a much better chance of being able to re-board.

XpressJeff reply :

Tim, that's an interesting thought that I had not considered.

Thanks

livin2fish reply :

My plan. My boat is a fairly high sided aluminum bass boat. There is a iPilot hand held device for my Terrova. This floats. It is attached to my life vest, and can be used to bring the boat back to me if I have fallen into the water while the trolling motor is deployed (possibly the trolling motor can be deployed from the hand held with the newer TM's). This can be a life saver if the boat is blowing away from you. Next for getting back into the boat is a heavy rope (about 1 inch or a little larger) with a large foot loop tied to the hand rail on the port side of the boat.

76 years and never having learned to swim, the life vest is always on while cruising or fishing.

N Florida Mike reply :

I'm still in my 50s.Grew up outdoors,not playing video games.Worked on a farm from 19-26 years old.Played baseball / softball for nearly 30 years.Worked a physically demanding outdoor job for 25 years.Never had a bad injury the whole time, except the fish hook in my r. eye when I was 24.

The result? I think overall the outdoor life has caused me to be healthier than I would have been.Other than moderate eye trouble,I have lower back pain if Im on my feet too long.Not serious pain,but it slows me down.I don't fish all day in a boat much anymore,unless my son takes me ( he's a die hard fisherman like I used to be )This is more due to my schedule than the back pain at this point.I have pain in my right wrist from a truck accident with a friend when I was 19.My right shoulder ( I think the rotater cuff) gives me fits at times and makes it hard to sleep on for long.and my right hand goes numb and wakes me up every night,at least once or twice.

Other than that I'm good to go. For now.

Way2slow reply :

That's one of those I would have to say, to each his own. How many are going to wear a hot, bulky foam vest all day. I know some will and do but not me. If the inflatable does create a problem trying to get back in, the same buckles than let you put it on will let you take it off once you're ready to get in. Plus, I've never used a boarding ladder on the back because I've always depended on the motor to lift me in, and I have jumped in with mine on, just to see how it works, and I have gotten back in with the motor lifting me with no problems.

Fishing Rhino reply :

I think Nitro has the neatest boarding ladder on all their fiberglass bass boats. I think they were standard equipment on all the Nitros beginning at 2010 or 2011.

They are easily accessible from the water, and are solid as a rock. The steps have rubber matting on them. There is a more than sturdy hand grip mounted on the hull, and it folds neatly out of the way.

lonnie g reply :

On 12/10/2016 at 11:10 PM, "hamma" said:

Funny you should post this, I was just talking with my GF last night about this very subject.

With 2 degenerated disc's, and a pulled muscle in my hip/butt applying constant pressure on my right legs sciatic nerve, and the discs at the same time. Im not only consistently heavily medicated,with opiods, mind altering drugs,and muscle relaxers,.(which accounts for my long winded posts I believe).. but also receiving cortisone shots regularly. (more monday am) I pretty much spend my time off my feet, in bed. Not that I mind this site to spend alot of my time on, because I actually feel grateful its there for me to divert my attention from pain, to something I truly love,....fishing. Although I do have the drugs? they only do so much

But,... not being able to go fish by myself on the boat anymore is quite a bit more debilitating than I had anticipated. I figured that some of the younger guys that dont have a boat would be willing to get out off the shores and fish the whole lake instead of just the public accesses. But thats not the case.

I am grateful for the 2 guys I have met on this site that I have fished with. They both not only offered me a chance to get out and fish. But also proved to me that there truly is still some "real" people out there. With morals, decentcey, and integrity.,.. I see my kids, and my girfriends kids, and wonder where this world is headed, But I digress.

Im ten years the op's junior and definately dont have the sea legs I once had, I dont cover my decks with rods as I once did, I sit nowadays when just a couple years ago I'd stand and run my trolling motor. And worse of all is I can't just decide to fish and go. My basshunter sits in the yard collecting leaves as I cant be lifting its bow into the truck anymore. And to fish off the tracker I "need" another person with me as I cant climb over the bow after getting it back on its trailer., to pull the truck and trailer out of the water

With the injuries I have, I actually "HAD" to re-power the boats manual steer, and trim, tiller motor,.. to a electric start, electric steer, newer, tiller motor.,... And the older power drive trolling motor? I used to manually stow and deploy? gone too,.. as the pain I endure stowing it was too much to make fishing worth while, and it was replaced with the i-pilot link minn kota ulterra, and intergrating humminbird helix 9 di si gps finder up front. I love these new "toys" but they are a requirement now as without them? I fear I wouldnt be fishing at all anymore, And thats just not a option.,..lol. The ulterra tm will deploy and stow with the touch of a button, and I can run, steer, and stop it with a remote control,.... and I have to believe the good lord, and Minn Kota,... provided me with this option as my only salvation..

Yeah, luckily,.. things timed out for me just right, and I do believe things happen for a reason. I wasnt riding my Harley anymore, and wasnt fishing either as I couldnt physically run the boats anymore, so I sold the bike, to pay for the "upgrades" I needed to at least offer chances, to fish off my tracker,.. which worked out well.

Now,... I have spent the last year and a half in extreme pain, 95% of the time in bed. Without the options and actions taken within that time, I would be one miserable, angry, and bitter, landlocked bass angler. But, just knowing the upgrades are now in place? Eases my outlook for future fishing ventures,...

Bass Resource has been a huge help, in a few ways, as I can spend much of my time with my mind on my bass fishing techniques, tactics, and experiences I have acquired over the years, and share them, other than just laying here grovelling in pain. I have had the priveledge to meet the 2 guys that offered fishing ventures I would not have had otherwise. And to be honest.. being able to help some newer anglers, answer some questions, and just being able to discuss bass fishing stuff, with like minded, or even better, anglers with different views. Is an incredible opportunity for any angler to have at their fingertips.

I cant thank you all, especially Glenn and the mods here enough. Getting older does bite, but we do have a venue here that can ease the pains of going even greyer haired, wrinkly, and bored.

In my mind? this site and you guys rock. Even enough to make one feel younger than we truly are.

Now be careful and go fish as long as you can, I know I will till the day the good lord decides my time here is done. Pain and mobility may hinder, but the true bass angler looks, and rises above that, and finds a way, just like seeking our quarry, when they dont seem agreeable.

agree I admire you gentleman as well. keep going never give up. fish with a buddy. may go bless you all lonnie

greentrout reply :

63 yrs. old. Seen & done a lot. Don't fish as hard as 20 or 10 yrs. ago and walk a lot more banks and fish small waters. Listen to your Dr. & realize tomorrow is never promised to anyone.

"A man's got to know his limitations."

Magnum Force -- Dirty Harry Callahan

XpressJeff reply :

Bought a nice, compact boarding ladder from Cabelas for $59.99.

A small price to pay for being able to get back in. Between replaced knees, bad back and other worn out parts the only thing that still works the same is my cantankerous attitude.

Be careful folks!

Ghostshad reply :

I had several close call's to before i finally went in , i think i had to many rods on the front deck , that's something i won't do no more but i do think keeping your cool & having a plan. I fell in & sunk like a rock , swimmed back to the top of the water , grabbed the boat for a few seconds & caught my breath & worked my way to the big motor & got on the fins & trimmed the motor up & got back in my boat. Keep using that motor trim on your mind it may save your life. A friend told me about doing it probably over 12 years ago , but i never forgot it , ThankGod & anyone who reads this don't you forget it . It saved my life maybe i'll save your's to . had no ideal this topic would get so many replys, and some good ideals

J Francho reply :

On 1/13/2017 at 4:27 AM, Ghostshad said:

Keep using that motor trim on your mind it may save your life.

That's the ONLY way I could ever get into my Xpress, even with the assist bars on either side of the seats. The shape of the hull made it very difficult. My Bullet was easier, since it sat so low in the water, and there was a grab bar on the port side, by the passenger seat.

fishwizzard reply :

On 12/27/2016 at 8:39 PM, Way2slow said:

How many are going to wear a hot, bulky foam vest all day.

I fish out of a kayak and there are a bunch if really nice PFDs out there for the yakak crowd. Many of them have pockets and such like a flyfishing vest and the model I am currently drooling over has a stowable rain hood and a beer can holder. I do a ton of wade fishing as well, almost always alone, and this spring I am going to buy one of these and wear it whenever it is cold enough for waders.

AC870 reply :

You ain't got to be old for it to happen. I got off balance and took the plunge last year at 47. We were fishing a bridge. I dig paddled to riprap to get back in boat. Worst part was my pride (wife witnessed it) and I fried an iPhone 6.

Fishing Rhino reply :

On 1/13/2017 at 11:31 AM, AC870 said:

You ain't got to be old for it to happen. I got off balance and took the plunge last year at 47. We were fishing a bridge. I dig paddled to riprap to get back in boat. Worst part was my pride (wife witnessed it) and I fried an iPhone 6.

That's why I keep all the valuables, keys, wallet, cell phone, etc, in a watertight plastic storage container, in a compartment in my canoe or bass boat.

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