I hope posting this topic in this forum is OK I didn't know what other forum would be appropriate. Has anyone had shoulder problems when throwing swimbaits.. I throw small 8 to 10 inch baits and dang I can't even take my shirt off without some pain in my shoulder. The pain is actually on the top of my shoulder area. I can't chuck a swimbait that extra 10ft by putting a little ooomph behind the cast. I'm pretty sure it's from throwing swimbaits. Anyone else had an shoulder issues??

Mike

I have had elbow issues but not shoulder. I got one of those forarm straps at Wally world and it eventualy went away. Sorry I dont know of a shoulder strap that would help.

Just start trolling and give it a rest. It maybe stronger then ever after a rest but it sounds like you are just doing to much.

Don.

I haven’t suffered any swimbait related injuries but I’m not surprised to hear about elbow and shoulder issues. Based upon conversations with friends, it appears that most of our recent sport related joint pain has been the result of less than ideal conditioning and/or overuse. Chalk it up to the joys of not being 30 anymore. Your favorite doctor/physical therapist should be more than happy to recommend some specific exercises to strengthen/stabilize your shoulder.

In addition, you may want to check out a book titled “Fit To Fish: How to Tackle Angling Injuries” by Stephen Hisey and Keith Berend (Frank Amato Publications) which addresses fishing related shoulder, elbow, wrist, lower back, knee and ankle pain. The book provides descriptions, symptoms and treatments for the various conditions. You can view the table of contents for the book at Amazon.com.

Tim

Well Mike, I can sorta understand where you are coming from.

I was always involved in contact sports, and as a result Ive got a ton of injuries. I kept in great shape until 4 years ago; these days every injury Ive ever had is making itself known. Two years ago I had major shoulder surgery, the one I cast swimbaits with. It doesnt affedt my ability to fish now, although my shoulder usually aches all the time. I wonder if I will be able to fish at the level I want throughout my life?

The only solution I see for myself is getting back in the gym and working out. Without a doubt, my body feels much better when Im working out; the way I see it, when my muscles are strong, tight, and have endurance, they hold all my joints together much better. This reduces pain, plus your muscles are conditioned for all those little stresses you put on those muscles you use when casting.

I dont see a quickfix solution to these sorts of problems; and as we all get older its gonna get worse. But if you head off the problems by committing to some level of working out, you might be surprised at how much your body responds.

Mike

Do you think it's from casting or from retrieving? If it's the casting, maybe you could try some other methods, like sidearming or underhanding the bait. I only throw overhand for distance about 30% of the time. Most times you can just fling it underhand and get all the distance you need.

Something that stuck in my head a long time ago was some advice I got about fly fishing. A guy told me to imagine you have a newspaper tucked under your arm while you cast. That way you don't get tired and you don't get in to trouble with the cast. When you chuck a bait underhand, it's very similar. Just tuck your arm against your side and twist your body to launch the bait.

I will try to make a video some time on the water to show what I mean. Casting swimbaits on the right tackle with the right motition shouldn't wear you out at all. Retrieving, yes possibly, but casting no.

I had no problems cating but it would hurt to hold my elbows up and keep the rod tucked. Setting the hook was the worst. I talked to a swimbait expert and swimbait related injuries expert (SWMB8R) and he emediatly diagnossed me. He said I had Vagasitis or was it Vaganitis?
He recomended that I suck it up and get back to fishing. Well I did and the pain is gone but not because I kept fishing. That Forarm band realy worked it just took a while. I also had should problems from heavy lifting a few years ago and had surgury and I havent had any problems with it since.

HA... I think both terms applied to you at that time Matt.

Anyways... Rob had good advice... If something isn't working for you, you need to change your methods of casting.

I think we all at one time or another have had issues if you do it enough. Just make sure you have the correct gear to throw swimbaits. When I started throwing big baits exclusively in the early to mid 90's, I was using a flipping stick and was killing myself. As soon as I switched to a better rod to throw them with, the pain went away.

When I throw a swimbait it's usually a underhand deal. I'm more accurate throwing at cover underhand kinda like Jimmy Houston does a spinnerbait. There is just a quarter size tender spot on the top of my shoulder. It kinda hurts when I take my shirt off. IT's not unbearable by anymeans but when I sleep on my side it does effect me. I've put the swimbait rod up for a few trips and it' seems to be getting better but not by a whole lot. I'm gonna bear this out a little longer and see if it fixes itself. If not I'll go to the doc. I agree with you Rob I need to work out more. But guiding is in full swing right now. I should have thought about that this winter when I was bored LOL

Mike

Mike I had shoulder surgery and they shaved a little bit of bone away right in the joint. I have 3 tiny scars the size of a pencil erasure and My shoulder is great. I Have full movement and I can even throw a football. I was out of work for 5 weeks but I was fishing after 2 weeks. the docter actualy recomended it. Your pain sounds very similar to what I had. If your doc recomends the surgury dont be scarred.