While "cooling my heels" indoors from those scorching 90-plus-degree temperatures outdoors today, I was touring the Internet when I happened across the thoughts of some anglers with whom I have a lot in common, starting with the fact we're all in the same age bracket. I decided to stop and read a while and am glad I did.
The first entry I happened across was this one:
"I often have wondered just how much longer I will be able to take the boat out fishing. Like many seniors, medical concerns have been in my past, and it makes one stop and think about when it will be time to let the boat go.
"Being in fairly good health at the moment is something I certainly am happy to report, but reality suggests that one day, things could change that may require the termination of some things I do today. The problem is that we don't know when this will happen.
"As a senior citizen, you begin to notice changes. You might have a few aches and pains that seem to appear overnight. Your once sure-footed movement while on the boat is not quite as stable as it was just a few years ago. I also have noticed that my endurance and strength have degraded but are still within reason. Simple things like standing on the deck making cast after cast have become less, too. More often than not, I'm fishing from a seated position and only standing for short periods. I don't like it, but it's my reality. I no longer go out in the boat alone. I like to have someone assist during the launch and recovery of the boat. Currently, my senior-citizen wife handles those chores. She drives the truck during these functions, while I put the boat in the water. We both wipe down the hull and secure the tie-downs when leaving the area.
"This year, I have spent a bunch of money on updating my rig--new trailer, new carpet, and new boat cover. I also have updated all of my rods and reels over the past couple of years and am ready for a few more years of bass fishing. I must admit, however, that this may not have been the most responsible thing I have ever done, since we don't know how much longer we can be boaters. We did these things simply because we are not ready to quit just yet. At least, now we can take the boat on the road without worry of trailer failure.
"Now, as I marvel at how fast the pages of the calendar have turned, my philosophy of life still has not changed. It is so true that I want to wear out and not rust out. I want to keep boating as long as it is safe. I just do things a little slower these days. All I can say, my friends, is to fish on and stay positive for the future and make the most out of each and every day."
From another senior angler who admitted he has fallen over the side a couple of times, I learned that he now stays so close to his PFD he sometimes forgets to take it off. He justifies his actions by saying, "I would rather be safe than sorry." The main thing is that he still enjoys the sport he has known his whole life, and he has no plans of giving it up, as evidenced by the fact he went out and upgraded his bass boat from a 16- to 21-footer. And like the earlier senior angler, he, too, has upgraded all his rods and reels.
And from a third old-timer, I read that he was preparing to head out on his boat with a friend for the first time in three months. He explained that his friend would have to do all the work because he had been in and out of the hospital multiple times during that period and still could not walk more than a few feet. "My legs are so weak that it's scary," he said. He also went on to note that he would be starting cardiac rehab the following week. In the meantime, though, it was all about getting back on the water.
These fellas' collective advice to the younger generation of anglers is to "enjoy it while you can. You are what I was, and you will be what I am."
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