At 51 it’s more important now than ever. I want to play this game at the highest level I’m capable of for as long as I’m able. To achieve that from now on I have to be in what I call “fishing shape.” A pro fisherman needs to have focus/mental clarity, stamina and a strong core. This is something I have done since my ball playing days but the last few years I got out of the routine of making my conditioning a priority. I just slipped into a rut and didn’t even realize how it was affecting my performance. About 8 months ago I decided to get back to being the best I can be. Since then 50lbs of fat have been lost, my stamina is through the roof and the mental focus while on the water is amazing.
Here’s the basics of what I do now to achieve fishing shape…
First rule is get rid of the sugar! This can be hard to begin with because your body relies on that sugar for fuel. In just a couple of weeks without sugar your system will flip and begin to use fats for fuel. That’s when you will start to feel different! The mental focus came almost instantly for me and my cravings began to change. Hydration is key! Everything you’ve always been told about drinking more plain water is completely wrong in my opinion and experience. You have to have electrolytes and salt to keep those cells hydrated. Water merely flushes through your system and can take the valuable salts with it.
Instead of drinking coffee in the mornings now I have a Gatorade Zero with hydration powder mixed in. The Kaged Hydration brand is a good one. I crave this when I wake up in the morning and it gives me the same feeling that coffee/caffeine used to. The big difference is it last longer! I still drink a water or two throughout the day but always add those electrolytes in. Animal protein, green vegetables, non seed oils and butter are the fuel! No cereals, oatmeal, granola bars and most definitely no bread. I have 2-3 eggs every morning with a spoonful of olive oil, salt and pepper. Once you completely cut out the sugar your body will burn this animal protein like diesel fuel! The mid day hunger goes away because those proteins fuel me for hours! I make sure and eat more lean protein during the day and a meal at night with lots of green vegetables. Physical training for fishing tournaments doesn’t have to be similar to training for a contact sport. You just want to make sure that you keep a strong core and overall fit body. I do core exercises that focus on lower back and abs 3 days a week. In the gym I will strength train legs one day and upper body one day. I try to keep my maximum reps around 15-20. Higher reps with more sets seems to give me all the strength I need plus adds to building stamina. Just remember, you are training to be a pro fisherman not a bodybuilder. Big difference! Mix in 30 minutes of cardio 3 days a week. What works for me is climbing stairs, hiking the hills on my land and an elliptical machine. All of these things work together to give me what I need on the water competing for days at a time. Build the body and give it the right fuel for what you want to accomplish. I’m excited to get this season started knowing that I am physically and mentally the best I can be! Hope this will help some of you get into fishing shape too.