Us poor anglers. we’ve got cramped backs, sore legs, tight necks, and achy feet after just a few hours of chasing fish from a skiff. sometimes you feel like you don’t even want to take the bow for your next shot. is there no mercy in this world? As it turns out, there is mercy, in the form of these simple tips.
One, wear one of those dumb-looking wide support belts. The kind you’d wear if you were going to do squats at gold’s gym. Their width and their snugness will really help you maintain an upright posture, and they’ll make standing in a skiff all day pretty much pain-free. simms sells one, but look around at your at your drugstore, or ask your chiropractor, to see if there’s a less-expensive option.
Next, and this is one we hate to say: if you typically go barefoot on the boat, put on some flip-flops. (where and when we grew up, flip-flops were known as thongs. That name is no longer descriptive of footwear.) we’re fond of fishing barefoot on skiffs, mainly because you can feel the line under your feet, but flippers will add a huge amount of comfort for your feet and knees. Flip-flops provide more padding and comfort than you might expect.
But, stay away from Teva-like sandals with all the straps and velcro fastener things that stick out all over the place. Those flaps and stuff will snag your fly line constantly, and it’ll usually happen when you’ve got the shot of a lifetime. you want simplicity here: no straps or gizmos that’ll ruin a cast to the only permit you’ve
ever seen. if you’re near the front of the boat, sitting on a cooler (the standard setup), put some kind of cushioning under you. A life jacket works fine for this.
And finally, if you’re running in a skiff on rough water, take a seat where you can face forward. This can reduce stress to your body (you can anticipate bumps and drops), and it also enables you to focus on the horizon to stave off seasickness. These things might seem a little bit ridiculous – until you try them. if you’re going to be spending a lot of time on your feet (especially on a skiff), they’ll help you stay comfortable, which means that you can spend more time focusing on the water than on your aching body, which means you’ll see more fish, and you’ll cast better, and as a result you’ll catch a bunch more fish.
Promise
