Any back pain relief remedies from casting for hours?

[Pike4me]

I'm only in my second year of muskie fishing and I'm hooked forever, but I, my son and several other friends have problems with our mid back (between the shoulder blades) from standing and casting for several hours. We use the tall casting (butt) seats and have also tried a back brace, but still encounter pain and stiffness. We consider ourselves to be in pretty good shape and try stretching before fishing and really don't like taking pills for this. Are our bodies just not made for this kind of abuse, or are there some remedies that some of you use that work? Thanks.

Scott

[Sponge]

Scott, I had the same pain between the shoulders...ended up being from getting stabbed in the back at the office! ;) I take Motrin before, during + after I fish but since you don't want to do that, I'm at a loss....nothing wrong w/ taking a break now + then...the no pain no gain concept results in MORE pain later...good luck dude! :)

[Marc Thorpe]

Sponge,not getting stabbed is your remedy!

[lpeitso]

I was talking to some of my friends about this. They said make sure your rod is balanced at the reel. It will help with the strain that you put on your arm, and intern you back. Most rods I have felt are tip heavy. Use some tape, to tape some extra weight to the bottom of your rod. It may look a little odd, but so do some of the back support systems.

Lance

[RK]

Lance is right on about the rod balance issue. Makes a big difference when a rod is balanced right. Go get a Normark balancer - they slip over the rod butt, and you can adjust the amount of weight in them to fine tune things. They come with some heavy slugs of weight, and you tweak it with quarters. Head down to the dock with a pocket full of change and mess with it till it feels good.

Another (and more obvious) solution is find baits that won't kill you. Sometimes fish don't give you the option (fish were going on 10" Jakes last weekend and I felt it for a couple days - not how I want to start the muskie season).

Finally, get a 'take a break' rod and reel - something lighter and easier on the body to use during the slower part of the day. I (and several fishing friends) use a bass flipping stick with a 6500C. Trading a heavy outfit for something that light for a couple hours makes a world of difference.

RK

[Jim McCullough]

Scott,

There are two things that I do to counteract the rigors of this sport. First, I have reels that are right hand and left hand retrieve. When one side of my body get's tired, I switch to the other side and work that for a while. This is the easiest way for me to keep things balanced. The other thing I do is to troll for a while when I start to get tired. This is probably the best way to take a break as you are still in contact with the fish.

[Slamr]

I was having the same probs....but as I've switched to all longer rods I have almost no back pain. My shortest rod is 7'6" now, and I find that the longer the rod, the easier it is for me to LET THE ROD DO THE WORK IN CASTING. Regardless of the length of the rod, let the bait weight load up on the end of the rod, and use your wrists to snap the bait out. Concentrate on NOT throwing so much with your upper arms and back. AND always carry ADVIL in your tackle box.

Slamr

[Chris]

SHOES!! I know it sounds odd, but trust me it makes a huge difference!
I used to have problems with my back getting sore until I started a job where I had to wear work boots that support my feet better. In the fall I wore them out and my back felt great after a full day of fishing. Even if I wear a high buck pair of tennis shoes that are supposed to have great arch support my back still hurts. Try wearing a comfortable pair of low cut work boots and you will see the diference. I even wear them in the summer in 95 degree heat with shorts, even though I get crap from the fashion police.
I also fish all day with a cable operated Motor Guide with one foot cocked up at an angle.

Hope my experience helps,
Chris

[Crossingeyes]

Head to the chiropractor. After a long day of casting my upper and lower back kill. I run in and get adjusted and feel like new in no time.

Smetana

[Byron T]

Mineral Ice. It's like Ben Gay ointment, but much better. I've used for years. After a long day of casting, I rub it on my shoulders and neck before going to bed. Last year, a friend of mine went with me to Lac Seul. After 2 days of fishing, he was so sore he could hardly move. I gave him the Mineral Ice to rub on (he was very reluctant to use it because of the strong smell), and the next day he was pain free and chomping at the bit to get out on the water.
Try It, you'll like it.

[RoyC]

Does Mineral Ice repel mosquitoes and prevent sunburn? If not, maybe someone should develop a product that does all three! It would be nice if attracted muskies also!

Roy

[fishkopp]

SHOES shoes shoes shoes, nothing like wearing a cheap pair of tennis shoes to ensure a sore back.Go out and buy your self a good pair of boots ,I like the wolverine durashock series.They cost about 125 to 175 a pair but they last forever and feel great.Trust me on this one ,Done that been there.

good hunting

mike

[Lunker]

The best way I have found to not just relieve this problem but to avoid it all together is to use an ab roller. It is a great way to stregthen that area of your back. Muscle fatigue is where the pain comes from and once you strengthen thoes muscles up the pain disappears. Mike

[Ketamine]

Exercise on a regular basis helps to prevent soreness after most somewhat strenuous activity, like casting a monster bait all day. Believe it or not a massage after this activity has actually been shown to enhance muscle healing. Of course it needs to be targeted to the areas that ache. It can also lead to other, more fun, strenuous activity. :)

Doug

[Al Key]

4 Vodka martini's do it for me, with extra olives.

[Ramses scribe]

At 61 years of age I can't do it anymore without chemical assistance. I can hear the snickers now, so let me reiterate that I am referring to musky fishing!

Before I even hit the water I start off the day with three 200mg Ibuprofen tablets, and continue that same dosage every three hours for as long as I'm out there. If I don't take those pills the shooting pains in my lower back are such that anyone within 100 yards will hear my screams, and that is not an exaggeration.

My other pain management practices are to switch to the bass casting combination periodically with 6" Suicks, small bucktails, etc., and to wear a lightweight pair of boots rather than soft-shoes. By taking these steps I can generally get through a marathon session without too much discomfort, though no matter what I do the first 20 minutes of the next day will be spent groaning and walking around like the hunchback of Notre Dame. That also is not an exaggeration. Golden years my arse!

Tom Filipowicz

[RoyC]

I hear ya Tom. I am well into my 40's and learning more about muscle soreness. I remember asking my 6-year old son once if he ever got sore muscles from all of his running around. He looked quite puzzled, then asked me what "sore" means! Now he is 13, and is finally starting to understand!

Roy

[strike_zone]

Get yourself a good quality back belt. Also, As some have pointed out... get yourself some top quality shoes. There is a huge difference in the back support you get from great shoes... take it from somebody with a herniated disc and a compressed disc!!!!!

Failing that, find yourself a good woman who would be willing to work the kinks out for you when you're done for the day. It's amazing how a great massage can make you forget about that back pain!!!!!!

Steve Wickens

[esox14]

A good massage can help you relax. I have had weeks where my whole body was sore because I was out so much and didn't get very much sleep from doing other stuff also and had a professional massage. Ask for a sports massage. They pull the muscle from the bone but it feels good and helps you relax.

[dougj]

Here's what works the best of anything I've tried, with out modifing what you are doing as far as lures and equipment, or just plain quiting.

I carry a big bottle of just plain Aspirin in the boat. When someone starts to complain about feeling a little sore (not only the back, but in a lot of other spots), I prescribe 3 Aspirins, and call me in the morning, this truelly works!

Doug Johnson

[MN Bassfisher]

What kinds of shoes do you guys recommend to help back pain?

[Musk Rat]

You would be suprised what loseing a few pounds will do. Also stretchig before during and after fishing helps me since i don`t like dieting much.

[BigFishCarlson]

Scott: Try the following...first, balance the tackle as noted, and go with a longer and lighter rod. The reel quality and line size will effect effort, so go with a superbraid and decent reel. Next, seek out a reputable trainer from your local gym and have him/her show you a good upper back and shoulder workout with free weights, and especially the rhomboids. And don't forget the abs. Next, hopefully you don't smoke...quit if you do. And add an aerobic workout to your routine. Also, try the weightlifter's belt or low profile back brace. Remember to work the abs well at night, as you will atrophy from the belt. Next, add the NSAID du jour. Motrin 800 mg three times a day is a good dose, if your stomach agrees. If you take other meds, check with your MD first. Don't forget to bend one knee when possible, like putting yor foot on a stool...it relaxes your psoas muscle, the main hip flexor, and takes stress off the anterior spine. Pay careful attention to technique...let the rod work, and cast shorter distances when possible. Flipping instead of overhead casting is effective, too. If single, marry a massage therapist and buy a jacuzzi. Lastly, don't forget it's trolling season. Hope this helps. Mark

[PIKE4ME]

I thought this question would raise some experienced replies. Thanks everyone for your responses. Some of these I'm already trying, but there are many others that I will definitely give a try. Just as a foot note, catching and releasing a 40 and 47 incher between my son and I in just two outings makes it all worth while. What a thrill.

Scott