Just One More Cast… Keeping Balance in Your Angling Life

balance balance
GOOD BALANCE IS CRITICAL TO WADING SAFELY. AS WE GROW OLDER, OUR SENSE OF BALANCE CAN BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPAIRED. A WADING STAFF IS A USEFUL TOOL FOR OVERCOMING THIS IMPEDIMENT.

Last November, I had the good fortune to spend a long day fishing Hot Creek. The air was crisp and clear. Although there was a hint of winter in the air, there was no need for multiple layers of clothing. As for the trout, they were more than reasonably cooperative. It was the kind of day I wanted to fish slowly and thoroughly, working as much water as possible. As perfect as this day seemed, though, I was dogged by concerns for my footing as a walked along the stream. I wasn’t falling or stumbling or anything like that, but I did not move fluidly or confidently, and it troubled me. This sort of thing had been going on for some time. I was not as eager to wade, or to walk through willows and deadfalls, or to cross loose rock.

I am not alone in this. In the past few months, I have talked with several anglers who tell me that they no longer fish some of their favorite locations, or even fish at all, because they lack confidence in their ability to be out on the water without falling. None of us are as young as we once were, and I began to worry that I was on the way to joining my friends on the sidelines.

Issues with balance are not uncommon as we grow older. They sometimes can be the result of a serious medical condition, so if you are experiencing difficulties with balance, it is a good idea to consult a physician. Impaired balance can be due to various conditions relating to the ear. One of these is called paroxysmal positional vertigo and involves feelings of dizziness connected with movement of the head. Other ear issues include Meniere’s Disease, which brings dizziness, hearing loss, and ringing in one ear, and labyrinthitis, an inflammation of the nerves that affect balance. Your balance can also be affected by cardiological conditions, including heart arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, decreases in blood volume, issues of blood pressure, and postural hypotension. Balance can also be affected by prescription drug side effects, neurological conditions, and even wearing incorrect prescription eyeglasses. On the other hand, compromised balance skills also can just be the inevitable consequence of aging, which can produce inner ear dysfunctions, reduced vision acuity, slowed reaction times, and loss of muscle strength and flexibility, as well as leading to a simple lack of exercise.

My doctor advised that my situation was not the result of any serious medical condition, chalking it up as yet another by-product of growing old. On hearing this, my first approach to the problem was to engage in sullen resignation, which actually worked to make me even more anxious when I was out on the water. Then I saw an announcement of a balance and movement class that was being offered through the physical therapy department of Mammoth Hospital and decided to find out if I could do something more productive. The class was based largely on an approach developed at Otago University in New Zealand. It consists of a set of muscle-strengthening and balance-training exercises that can be done at home. In addition, we were introduced to t’ai chi movement. These programs are often offered by physical therapy practices or through hospitals.

The first step of the program was to review the potential causes of each person’s difficulties, making sure to refer people for further diagnosis if needed. The next step was to assess our current abilities. I was less than pleased at the results of my performance on these balance-specific tests. After this, we were presented with programs of guided movements and exercises. Our group met twice a week for six weeks. Additionally, we had homework assignments to repeat our class sessions and increase the amount of daily walking.

The basic idea of the program is to help compensate for imbalance, adapt to reduced balance ability, and maintain an increased level of physical activity. Although our program included t’ai chi segments, you could also base one on dance movements or yoga postures. The program focuses on major lower-limb functions: hip abductors, knee flexors and extensors, and ankle flexors, plus strength training and gait training.

I would heartily recommend that you look for a balance class in your community or consult with a physical therapist to get started on a program that will fit your particular needs. You can Google “Otago” and find a number of Internet sites with diagrams that show the basic exercises. These include a series of these exercises done alone, sometimes augmented by strength training using free weights and resistance work using stretch bands. We were also introduced to a series of basic t’ai chi movements. T’ai chi is often used as a regimen for arthritis treatment and is very valuable in increasing flexibility and balance. Our movements included Heaven and Earth Movement, Fair Lady Works with Shuttles, Side Stretch, Forward Stretch, Ankle Tapping, Kicking Movement, Twisting Waist, and Push Palms, Touch the Sky.

These movements can be found on the Internet, which has a large library of videos. Most communities have t’ai chi classes, which, although they are primarily focused on physical movement, have the additional benefit of being very relaxing.

At the end of my six weeks, I had a measurable improvement in all of the tests from the first afternoon. Even better, I have been able to keep up with the program for almost a year using the guidelines and record-keeping tools I got from my therapist. I actually look forward to doing the routines. Not only has my fishing experience improved markedly during that time, but my overall ability to make my way through life is much more positive. Putting up the Christmas decorations was a much easier task this past year. It is hard for me to remember the time when I was hesitant to make any sort of movement, and that alone is incentive for me to keep up my steps and routines.

Taking Care on the Stream

In addition to working on your physical conditioning, there are things you can do to be safer out on the water. My style of fishing exposes me to two sets of potential hazards. One is getting to and from the stream by off-trail hiking through unstable rock, willows and other vegetation, deadfalls, and slick boggy areas. The other is in-stream wading.

A fall often results when one of your feet slips or otherwise ends up in a position toward the center of your body. This creates a narrow base that does not support your center of gravity. To combat this, concentrate on maintaining a wide stance in which your feet are at shoulder width and your knees are gently flexed. This basic stance is important for both walking to the stream and wading in it.

Walking to the Fish

At some point, you have to get yourself to the stream. Almost every one of those trips involves walking over uneven ground, rocks, mud, and vegetation. If you favor fishing away from the crowds, the going can be even more challenging and the distances greater. Be mindful of ways to walk more safely.

Although it sounds simple, the first task is to pay attention. Keep your eyes on the ground. This does not mean fixing your eyes on your feet — that is a recipe for trouble. Rather, it means looking ahead and planning your path. Watch out for obstacles, slippery spots, loose gravel, sand, leaves, or undergrowth.

Keep your weight over your feet and take steps in a way that allows you to maintain that posture. Flex the knees — a locked-up and rigid stance is easily tipped. Wear appropriate footwear. Shoes that might seem appropriate for fishing may not be sturdy enough to provide proper support to get you there.

Do not get distracted. It is easy to get caught up in looking at birds, the scenery, or the next stretch of water. It should go without saying, but keep your head in the game. I once watched a man looking intently at his electronic device walk into a tree.

If you are carrying a pack or fully loaded vest, make sure it is loaded in such a way that it does not tip you off balance and that you do not have things hanging off you that get caught up in vegetation.

Wading

I wade most of the time. There is a part of me that simply enjoys standing in moving water and feeling as though I have become a part of the stream. More to the point as a fly fisher, wading contributes in a positive way to placing and drifting the fly properly. Make sure your waders have soles that provide traction on the substrate you are fishing. This could mean felt, even lugs or spikes. Be aware, though, that felt soles are extremely slippery on grass and glacially polished granite. I once slipped and slid down a steep grassy slope and almost over a drop-off.

Wear a wading belt and use a wading staff, even on smaller streams and creeks. The staff allows you to create a tripod support in the water and always maintain two points of contact with the bottom while you are taking steps. Go slowly, and make your movements in a careful, controlled manner.

Do not get into a situation in which your feet are crossed. Move using sideways steps (one of the Otago exercises). Feel the terrain on the bottom and be sure the movement is fitted to the bottom. As you slide your feet along, let them work their way to the stable depressions between rocks and cobbles. Avoid walking backward or wading directly into the current, and be aware that the force of the current increases significantly with depth.

I am thankful that I was able to see beyond what I thought was simply an inevitable and irreversible decline and find an opportunity to address the difficulties I was experiencing. Fly fishing continues to be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities in my life, and the idea that I would come to a point where I would have to give it up does not sit well. Becoming an aging angler is very irritating, but this past season has been a lot easier for me. Not only have I added some time on the water to my future, but taking positive action about this has given me a more positive attitude in general. So if you are experiencing difficulties, find some help and stay out there chasing fish.

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