Well after fishing the McDonalds tournaments for many years I have decided to quit fishing big tournaments.
We usually fish the entire week before the tournament and this year I was so stressed and worn out by Sunday that I could
not drive home. I have had 3 surgeries on my spine, two on my right shoulder, and my hips are bad, and I am about to turn 65. All that fishing just does me in these days. Hopefully I will still fish some of the small local tournaments and I will be doing my usual fun fishing. As long as I can throw a bait in the water I will be fishing. I have done it since I learned to walk and nothing will keep me off the water. Not looking for sympathy or any thing like that. Just had to get something off my mind.
Gene

Sorry to hear that buddy. Sounds like you had many years of enjoyment fishing tournaments. I'm 53 and already it is getting hard to fish 3 or more days serious for me. I'm like you in that ill fish until its impossible to do. Good luck to you sir in the future.

but you can still catch drum lmaoooooo

Don't throw in the towel yet. Instead of pre-fishing the McDonalds tournament for a week in advance just fish 1 or 2 tournament days. Maybe even the first and last day so you can rest in between. Don't feel like you are the only one that gets fatigued. Pretty much everyone looked dead as they were baking in the sun and trying to listen to Bob speak. In fact, I think Sealy is still up on the boat podium determining who gets the raffle boat. But don't give up on big tournaments because of the stress. Slow it down a bit, take it easy, and enjoy the excitement that a big tournament brings. And if your legend or ranger is too rough for you--rent a pontoon boat!

I quite pre-fishing Big Bass tournaments about 20 years ago when I caught one over 12 lbs a couple days before one on Rayburn. Big Bass tournaments are mostly luck so why pre-fish, just go fish the tournament.. I'm well over 65 and still fish three days McBasses..but no practicce and don't work so hard at it anymore..

Now u can just enjoy fishing and worry a little less about winning and more about having fun. I love tournaments but even if they didn't exist I still would be hooked I just love fishing

It can be a haul!

It is a Triton TR21 and the boat ride is not what bothers me. Guess I am just getting old and I know I am out of shape. I usually sit most of the day unless I am really on the fish. Just seems like way to much mental stress these days and believe me it gets much wose if I don't even catch a weigh fish. Just feels like I have lost all capabilities to find a fish and I used to always fill the boat on any lake I was on.
Thanks for the comments guys. You may not believe this but it really helps sometimes to just let it out and see what everyone else has to say.

Gene

+1

That is exactly what I caught on my last trip to Choke and on a crankbait. LOL