More Exercises for Fly Fishing

What does exercise have to do with fly fishing? How many of you want to fish more as you get older or when you retire? I believe staying in shape is a way to ensure this. Even this past year I have noticed that I enjoy fishing more since I have been working out regularly. I can hustle a mile or so down stream to a good fishing hole or to get further away from the crowds and not feel worn out. Or wade upstream fishing for hours without feeling tired. As I get older, staying in shape will pay off even more. My grandpa lived to be over 100 years old. That adds up to a lot of days fishing.

The majority of the exercises I do are aerobic exercises that keep my heart rate up for an extended period of time. At the same time they are low impact so my joints don’t have problems. I have had friends who kept in shape by running outside several miles a day who, in their later years, have had knee problems. So I don’t overdo it and I stay low impact. Using an elliptical, tread mill or stationary bike is a great way to go. One thing I like about ellipticals is that they also provide an upper body workout with the handles. I alternate between the exercise equipment. Often what I will do is run a mile on the treadmill to get my heart rate up and then do two miles on the elliptical. Three miles in 30 minutes is a good pace for me, but pick whatever pace is right for you. A good fast walk for 30 or 40 minutes is also adequate. I often go on walks with my wife in the evenings when the weather is nice. Four or five times per week is a good frequency. I also include in my workouts some stretching exercises, sit ups, a small amount of weight lifting and, of course, the shoulder pushups and the back exercises.