Fishing Exercises for Anglers

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Fishing Exercises For Anglers: Get In Shape For Fishing Adventures

Anyone who fishes can tell you it’s about a lot more than sitting in a boat with your feet propped up which is why it’s super important to do your fishing exercises to prepare for long days on the water! While we all enjoy those relaxing days on the lake, sitting and rocking on the waves, many anglers are more comfortable with heading out into the steady currents of the rivers, feeling the rush of water against their waders. Though many non-fishermen believe this to be an easy task, anglers know better and fishing exercises are a must. The constant flow of the current requires mindful strength and awareness. To prevent fatigue, there are a number of fishing exercises you can do at home that will improve your form and make it easier to stay in the river longer. Today, we’ll focus on the esssential fishing exercises.

Fishing Exercises: Core Strength

Abdominal muscles help keep your back in a healthy and upright position, reducing the strain placed on your low back when bracing against the current. While the thought of doing countless crunches and sit-ups may take you back to your high school years, this simple exercise can make a world of difference. Start slow with 15-30 crunches per set and do as many sets as you feel comfortable with. Remember, you want to feel some strain, but not outright pain. Over time, you’ll be able to do more crunches and maintain your ab strength.

Oblique Fishing Exercises

In addition to your core abdominal muscle fishing exercises, you’ll want to work on your oblique abdominals. These are the muscles that run along the sides of your stomach and help you twist safely in the water. To improve your oblique abdominal strength, you’ll want to do a modified crunch or sit up. In a normal crunch position, pull your right elbow towards your left knee. Hold this position for a few seconds and release. Then, pull your left elbow towards your right knee, hold for a few seconds, and release. Repeat the exercise by alternating sides. As with any exercise, start slow and build up to more repetitions.

Upper Arm Fishing Exercises

Chris Watt ColoradoWhen reeling in your catch, you’ll use a number of upper arm muscles. Strengthening your biceps can go a long way towards helping make the catch easier. Basic bicep curls with a bottle of water can be enough to keep your muscles working. The lighter the weight, the more repetitions you’ll want to do. Focus on keeping your back straight and your abdominal muscles tight while you lift your arm. Hold the water bottle in a natural position at your side. Keep your upper arm still and curl the bottle towards your chest. Slowly release the curl and let your arm drift to your side. Repeat.

Fishing Exercises: Arm Circles

While standing, keep your feet hip-width apart and stretch your arms out to your side. Keep your palms facing down. Keep your shoulders down and try to pinch your shoulder blades together. This will keep you in the right form. Then move your arms in a circle, first forward and then backward. This will keep your shoulder muscles loose and will help prevent muscle strain in your shoulder and rotator cuff.

Hiking

While upper body strength is important for maintaining good form and reducing the risk of injury as you pull in your catch, your lower body experiences much of the stress in keeping you upright. In Estes Park, there are countless hiking trails with moderate inclines that can help strengthen your legs. Try to incorporate more walking into your daily routine. While it may not feel like strenuous exercise, it will help develop your muscles and keep you from straining against the current after a long day in the river.

In general, when trying to plan out a fishing exercise routine, focus on a good mix of cardio and weight lifting. It’s important to be comfortable on the water, especially for those long trips where you want to be on your game all day long.

Have more questions about fishing exercises or fly fishing in Colorado? Give our Estes Park fly shop a call! We’re happy to help with any questions on Estes Park fly fishing and more.