To old or just to unfit for rock hopping

[yorkshire man]

Am i the only one who is considering stopping fish from all but the flattest of rocks. I went out on Friday at low tide with the intention of fishing a certain spot off the rocks, walked, slipped and tripped my way out there only for my bottle to go because there was a slight swell had a few casts with a spinner and left.
Then moved on to another spot i have been fishing since i first started 5 years ago never had a problem there and still managed to fall and badly scratch my rods.
I am seriously thinking about giving rock marks a miss from now on which is a pity as ive had some really good sessions off the rocks

[yngkmd]

not me, im not exactly the most sure footed person at times, but i have boots with a good grip and just take it slow and easy when clambering over uneven rocks.
the main thing that would put me off is any sort of long walk with all my gear, but thats only cos im very lazy

[chuckaroo]

it all depends what sort of mood im in. sometimes i really am not in the mood to be clambering and falling over slippery rocks with my gear, it can get really annoying. on other occasions im prepared to walk any distance and stand or wade all day, no prob, but this would happen less often.
and ive noticed how i have been using my trusty fold-up seat a lot recently too.. if im comfortable i'll fish for ages, if not then my sessions wont last as long..
i reckon that safety in line with a little comfort makes for more enjoyable and better fishing practice in general IMHO. you could try a spot of beach fishing and/or pier fishing for a change. vary your type of marks, target and catch different species, just take a break from the rocks for a bit. or head out on a boat?
cheers

but thats only cos im very lazy

haha!

[yngkmd]

ive also found that the older i get the less likely i am to go out in all weathers, i am gradually becoming a fair weather fisherman

[Stan]

When I was a young fella I was like a cat on rocks and cliffs. I used to fish the rock past the statue in Dollymount. We used to go out on the bladder wrack nearly as far as the lighthouse. Likewise I went down cliffs in Ardmore like a mountain goat. Those days are gone.

I think that ones balance is not as good when you are older.

Now I restrict myself to rocks that I am comfortable on.....big rocks and dry. I also make sure that I have excellent boots as they help grip the rocks.

[JimC]

Get yourself a dinghy.... you'll fish places you never could get to before!

[roger de dodger]

it all depends if its raining i give most rockmarks a miss as i,ve seen fitter younger lads than me have bad falls in the wet ,in the dry i will and often do reach places the sas would think twice about going to

[Stan]

I use a kayak a lot now and have had great catches from it

[rockyb23]

slightly OT but I was fishing a local estuary at the weekend and there was a lad zipping up and down in a dinghy exactly like the one pictured above by Jim. I was well impressed at the amount of water he was able to cover while I was pretty much limited to a short section of shoreline and it got me to thinking...

But then I read back an old thread on here where a lad was asking opinions on fishing with a Lidl inflatable and the tone seemed to suggest that any SW angling in a craft that size was A Bad Idea.

What are your thoughts Jim/anyone else?

As for rock hopping - it can be a right pain in the hole on new ground. I had about two casts for two hours' walking/hiking/clambering/slipping/jumping last week because what from a distance looked like lovely fishable fingers of rock were in fact not at all... couldn't get within casting distance of clear water without compromising safety, but then you think... I'll just try the next outcrop... and it's the same story. Next thing you know you're an hour's walk from the car and mightily drunk off at having to repeat the ordeal all over again...

[yappo]

Think I know that mark Jim.

Yappo

[billy the fish]

Im now 59 for god sake, and ask the same question about rock fishing. It gets bloody hard and my balance is up the left. When the rocks are slippery its a nightmare. Two sundays ago my son doggy dave came a cropper on the rocks, while fishing with me. Done his ankle in, and got a nasty cut that bled heavily[ i posted that session in the shore reports]. Last sunday me and doggy dave searched for a new mark on the county down coast, found a spot that looked fishy, the rocks were bloody awful, but as the rocks were 15 minutes walk from the car we decided to bite the bullet, and clamper over them. We both blanked!!!, but thats not strange on the down coast. I must start using marks with flatter rocks, as i love rock fishing.

[JOHN1]

Think I know that mark Jim.

Yappo

Bet you dont

[Bass 3rd]

Rock fishing and falls go hand in hand, granted the older we get the slower we are to react , but 'too old for rock hopping' depends on how quickly you can bounce up again after a fall
My second trip this year saw me skidding down a 50ft rock face on all fours with my rods bouncing along behind me .. heading for the tide
Should of thought twice before purchasing those cheap pair of lidl waders ... grip like eggs !!!
Thankfully nothing lost only a finger nail, skin and my pride

We're a old as we feel IMO.

[twofishdan]

Have to say I empathise with my fellow over 50's!! I now take an age to clamber over rocks that I use to bounce over. Too many years playing football have aged the knees prematurely.

[Stevieg]

slippery rocks can be a mess.. i've broken reels,rod eyes and almost my ankle. yet i found a cheap pair of runners with ice crampons work wonders on even the most slippy marks, 15euro in dunnes

[marlin vs]

Get a pair of indoor soccer runners, they have succers on the soles and work wonders.

[yorkshire man]

so the general consensus is every one falls rock hopping but the older you get the more it hurts and the longer it takes to get back up. so we can add it the getting older but still fishing list just below
squinting to tie hooks and rigs
wishing you lived in a warmer country
sore back after bait digging
this list is becoming quite extensive so i wont go into any more detail
however i may have to buy Better boots help reduce the falls