Consider Taking Breaks With A ‘Resting Rod'

Welcome to the second installment of the Aging Angler series. We began with a modified approach to reduce stress and injury when casting heavy musky combos.

- Marty Farman

A lightweight baitcasting rod and even a spinning rod come into play during the course of a day for the author. Such “resting rods” allow him to be sufficiently rested to pick up the big stuff for prime time.

While the modified cast can provide great physical relief, it’s still a big rod, reel and, often, heavy to-retrieve bait. Any way you slice it, the older angler and fatigue are partners for life. That means you will tire and need rest. This could mean sitting down and looking at your Facebook page while your partner is catching a musky ... but there are alternatives.

The first law of musky fishing is that the angler who keeps his lure moving in good water the longest wins. It’s really hard to catch a fish when your rod is lying on the deck. This one concept is the heart and soul of everything about the Aging Angler series — you simply must find a way to keep your bait moving through the water.

Clearly, trolling is often a viable choice if you enjoy it or when conditions dictate, but I am suggesting a way to rest while you continue casting all day long. It requires a “resting rod.” Actually, it likely requires two or more different resting rods as well as a “get out of jail” pass from musky rules.