Oh my Back.

[Bulletproof]

Fished my first tourney of the year, the Sanford Lake Pike Open.  Nice to get out.

But let me tell you what, my back is killin me.  Does anyone else experience the back pain after standing and throwing a baitcaster for 8 straight hours.  I knew I was in trouble after about hour # 2 and I could already feel the back gettin going.


Pike Open had only 2 limits of 4 fish.  19 pounds won it.

we had two fish, had a ton follow and or swipe.

Good time.  oh and if anyone has any home remedy for preventing the back ache im all ears.

[fiker]

I do.   Mine is usually caused by standing on one foot while using the trolling motor.

I have not tried anything that cures this except to sit and not stand for a while.

I used to see back harnesses sold in the catalogs but haven't for awhile.  They look like the harnesses that people wear that lif stuff all day long.

I wonder about the seat that Al Linder usess.  (Cabelas for $147 I think).  It looks like part of a desk chair.  He can sit on it, or lean against.  I called their office, and they claim it works really well.  The have Lund set them up with it when they buy their boats.

There is also a sit lean seat from Wise that is in the catalogs.  That might help also.

Sometimes I think my back pain is from the way I've been casting.  I mix up the way I throw.  Sometimes two handed, sometimes one handed.

I too am interested in how others have solved the problem.

[bosshawg]

 i also experience the back pain of standing  & casting all day. i do wear the back brace belt at times & yes it helps. i also take some asprin (tylenol, excedrin) before leaving the house and bring a couple w/me if needed during the course of the day. strecting during the day also relieves some of the pain.
  i being somewhat overweight and not in shape, doesn't help either. as i do for golf, always do some strectching routines before hand and eventually it gets better.

[Potter]

Bosshawg is on the money with this one.  Stretching before you head out is very important.  Taking something for pain before your day begins is a good idea.  An anti-inflammatory like Motrin, Advil, Aleve, or aspirin should provide you with the most relief (provided you can take theses types of medications).  Hopefully only your shoulder will be sore at the end of the day from setting the hook! 



Potter

[Hooksetter]

I take prescription Motrin, 800mg, in the morning when I leave the house for a day on the water. I take another around 10:00 am and another around 3:00pm. Thats about all that works for me, and even with that my back still bothers me after a day on the water.

I started walking/running on my treadmill in January. I'm hoping that will help me this year.

I thought about trying a brace too. I'm going to wait and see if the treadmill makes a difference first.

I fished a tourny last Sunday and the back actually felt pretty good afterwards.

[DennisB.]

Guy's I am curious, is your back pain betweeb the shoulder blades and feels like a stabbing pain? I get this real bad as well. Also from what I hear a rescessed TM pedal takes this pain away.

[smbassman]

I have experienced this stabbing shoulder blade pain every year until I got my BassCat with the recessed TM pedal. 

On my previous boats, the first half dozen fishing trips resulted in the severe back pain and I was only in my mid 20's.  This year my first fishing trip was in Arkansas where I fished 7 days straight, 8-14hrs/day and never even brought a seat to lean against and never had any of the typical back pain.  My legs were a little sore at the end of the week, but since I am a professional desk jockey, that is to be expected.

So my guess is that the recessed TM pedal is the cure!  Luckily for everyone, all the other boat manufacturers have begun copying BassCat, so they are available on most boats now.

[Revtro]

I feel yer pain.  I fished all day Saturday and my middle back was on fire.  I kept having to sit down on a seat with back support to get it to stop or stretch it out for a minute or two, but then after a few minutes of fishing it would go into spasms again.  I have a recessed pedal (so no upper back/shoulder blade pains) and I use a lean seat, but still I have a lot of pain by mid day.  I think a brace is gonna be a necessity for me.  Not sure where I can get one.

[fishon1219]

Yep, Back pain in between the shoulder blades, and it feels like it is on fire. I just attributed it to the 100 extra pounds of beer and chicken wings were my stomach should be. I thought i was the only one with this pain and now I feel better that we can openly talk about this problem in a public forum. My DR. said loose about 100 lbs and the pain will go away. I told him hostess tastes to good so give me a pill. You can imagine his response. If indeed the reccessed trolling motor pedel helps I have to get one, but I only have the pain when I do alot of worm fishing. When I am just casting a spinner bait or something else I still have the pain, but no were as intense as when I am finnesse fishing.

[Cheetam]

If indeed the reccessed trolling motor pedel helps I have to get one...

Make sure a qualified professional installs it...

[dartag]

i have the recessed mount on my boat and i like it.  keeps both feet level all day..  mine came installed.    i can see where it would be no fun to install.  cutting the carpet and floor of the boat..the screwing it down..  sends chilll down my spine thinking about it.   remember to cut off any screws sticking through the hulll so they don't snag weeds.

[canvsbk]

?remember to cut off any screws sticking through the hulll so they don't snag weeds.

I knew there was a reason my boats so slow!

[djkimmel]

Many newer Rangers have the recess built-in under the deck so it is easier to enable the function later if you want it after starting with a flat deck.

[fishon1219]

Thanks for the support guys. I have found that bondo or bubble gum works good for screw holes.

[djkimmel]

Don't forget duct tape... you may be able to make a back brace with enough duct tape... I haven't tried it though.

[dartag]

Don't forget duct tape... you may be able to make a back brace with enough duct tape... I haven't tried it though.

Red Green    my hero    would be proud of you for endorsing  " The Handyman's Secret Weapon "  Duct Tape

[Duke]

My brother told me the cure to all of these problems once: Shutup and fish you big baby!

I gave him the finger. 

[djkimmel]

My little brother loves Red Green! (or at least he used to...)

My other 'little' brother (one of five, not counting 5 step-brothers), the 'marine,' would probably have done some variation of the 'shutup and fish you big baby' method.