Fingers and Hands Cramping While Fishing?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on August 13, 2009 at 12:47pm

Funny, I figured this would help my conditioning... I'll hold off the night before next time.

Jon Sessler said:

Quit giving your hands and fingers such a rigorous workout the night before....and perhaps the cramping will stop.

Permalink Reply by Josh Potter on August 13, 2009 at 12:56pm

I don't know if the handicap would help. You fish with a 250 pound handicap on a regular basis and it hasn't seemed to help you. I just hope that hand is numb next time I get to the west side because I am going to donkey punch your hanicap if I see him.

Mike Bess said:

Wow Josh you should really take it easy. It sounds like it a miracle that you can even fish. You should petition NW Bass for a 10-12lb handicap for every tournament you participate in.

Josh Potter said:

I have never experienced cramping in my hands but they definitely get sore. It is always worse when I forget to drink water. Couple that with a nicotine habit and you can get dehydrated in a hurry. You could also have tendonitis like others have mentioned. I have a torn rotater cuff in my right shoulder and I lose feeling in that hand fairly often.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on August 18, 2009 at 12:17pm

That sounds like an awesome idea. You may want to start practicing eating your lunch through a straw though. Just close your eyes and pretend the straw is Grimes.

Josh Potter said:

I don't know if the handicap would help. You fish with a 250 pound handicap on a regular basis and it hasn't seemed to help you. I just hope that hand is numb next time I get to the west side because I am going to donkey punch your hanicap if I see him.

Mike Bess said:

Wow Josh you should really take it easy. It sounds like it a miracle that you can even fish. You should petition NW Bass for a 10-12lb handicap for every tournament you participate in.

Josh Potter said:

I have never experienced cramping in my hands but they definitely get sore. It is always worse when I forget to drink water. Couple that with a nicotine habit and you can get dehydrated in a hurry. You could also have tendonitis like others have mentioned. I have a torn rotater cuff in my right shoulder and I lose feeling in that hand fairly often.

Permalink Reply by Eric DeLay on August 18, 2009 at 12:21pm

Just so you don't feel left out BBD, you could probably apply his advice to pencils too.

BigBass Dez said:

from this point on you have put a new meaning on the phrase "HOW TO PROPERLY HOLD YOUR POLE" by jon sessler ..lmao !!

Jon Sessler said:

Quit giving your hands and fingers such a rigorous workout the night before....and perhaps the cramping will stop.

Permalink Reply by S Hwang on August 19, 2009 at 10:37am

What louie is trying to say is that his knowledge of his hand and palm are unsurpassed.

Permalink Reply by Jordan Doucet on August 19, 2009 at 12:47pm

Good advice T. Thanks for the heads up. I also talked to Mel Marchese about this. He mentioned he had the same problem and said it is caused by the contracting muscles in your fingers being much stronger than the extracting muscles. You can train this by doubling up a rubber band and doing mini workouts for you finger and hand. I'll let you know how it goes.

T Dot said:

i use to suffer from the same things. bombing heavy lures awe day long - something had to give. other than equipment change, here is what you can try.

have you ever noticed how hard you grip the rod while casting, and retrieving? i cant help but hold it with a tight grip when bombing a lure, but when on the retrieve you can change a few things that will help.

i dont remember where i learned this from, but im sure this will help.

most ppl will hold and grip the reel in an un-natural position, thus causing things such as hand cramps.

turn you hand over, palm side up, and stretch your fingers out as straight as you can, and as spread out as you can. now let go. from there you will see, how your fingers sit at a resting position. this is the best position your fingers should be in at all times. in simple terms, this is how your fingers lay while you are asleep. some way some how, you should grip / hold the reel with your fingers as close to the resting position. the way i accomplish this is to jam my index finger between the reel and the rod - and i am set. as you can see, the only finger out of position is the index finger.

now to take care of your hand position.

the natural hand position is the handshake position. so now with your fingers in the resting position, turn your hand so it is face up - now remember how this feels. now turn your hand so it is in the handshake position. do you feel the difference? the later should be more comfortable. i have noticed this also gets rid of my PPE [ping pong elbow].

combine the 2 positions while reeling, and you will notice a huge decrease of fatigue and discomfort.

i cant really hold the reel in the handshake position at all times, so its slightly off a few degrees. i have noticed after modifying my hand positions, my discomfort has almost disappeared.

once you get use to these new positions, muscle memory will take over.

let me know if this confuses you at all. you should notice a big change after the 1st day.

fyi - not only have i modified my hand positions, but ive also changed alot of my gear to take off strain caused from launching heavy lures.

T Dot aka webPT [ill send you the bill at the next club meet]

Permalink Reply by Russ Baker on August 27, 2009 at 12:37pm

J,

Sounds like a bad case of Carpel Tunnel. I find surgery is the best option or stop fishing, not to the latter.

I have the same problem as well. Started when i was skipping senkos and flipping for 8-10 hours.

I have had it so bad that I actually had to take my other hand and pry my fingers outward.

Russ

Permalink Reply by Misanthrope on August 27, 2009 at 6:02pm

You just swallowed a mouthful.

T Dot said:

you be yealous cuz my general knowledge is far superior than yours be.

i am the great an powerful OZ, and have the knowledge of the [proper] hookset. as illusive as think knowledge may be, i will pass on such knowledge as time progresses...

until then follow the yellow brick road.

Seung Hwang said:

What louie is trying to say is that his knowledge of his hand and palm are unsurpassed.

Permalink Reply by Jon Sessler on June 27, 2012 at 3:43pm

Another one from the glory days.....

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on June 27, 2012 at 4:54pm

That sounds like an awesome idea. You may want to start practicing eating your lunch through a straw though. Just close your eyes and pretend the straw is Grimes.

Josh Potter said:

I don't know if the handicap would help. You fish with a 250 pound handicap on a regular basis and it hasn't seemed to help you. I just hope that hand is numb next time I get to the west side because I am going to donkey punch your hanicap if I see him.

Mike Bess said:

Wow Josh you should really take it easy. It sounds like it a miracle that you can even fish. You should petition NW Bass for a 10-12lb handicap for every tournament you participate in.

Josh Potter said:

I have never experienced cramping in my hands but they definitely get sore. It is always worse when I forget to drink water. Couple that with a nicotine habit and you can get dehydrated in a hurry. You could also have tendonitis like others have mentioned. I have a torn rotater cuff in my right shoulder and I lose feeling in that hand fairly often.

Permalink Reply by Mike Bess on June 27, 2012 at 5:46pm

This was copied and pasted.  I am not sharp enough to write this.
Mike Bess said:

That sounds like an awesome idea. You may want to start practicing eating your lunch through a straw though. Just close your eyes and pretend the straw is Grimes.

Josh Potter said:

I don't know if the handicap would help. You fish with a 250 pound handicap on a regular basis and it hasn't seemed to help you. I just hope that hand is numb next time I get to the west side because I am going to donkey punch your hanicap if I see him.

Mike Bess said:

Wow Josh you should really take it easy. It sounds like it a miracle that you can even fish. You should petition NW Bass for a 10-12lb handicap for every tournament you participate in.

Josh Potter said:

I have never experienced cramping in my hands but they definitely get sore. It is always worse when I forget to drink water. Couple that with a nicotine habit and you can get dehydrated in a hurry. You could also have tendonitis like others have mentioned. I have a torn rotater cuff in my right shoulder and I lose feeling in that hand fairly often.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page