Hey Fellas; There will be no swimbaits in my near future.

I had a bariatric bypass 6 years ago, I lost 239 lb!! the surgery saved my life.

There are now side effects showing up, I am severely Calcium and Vitamin D depleted, and will be undergoing some massive doses of both

My right collar bone was broken and that shoulder was dislocated when I was hit by a van several years ago and those two injuries are what is now causing the problem. My bones are weak and to avoid surgery I am going to have to be careful . I am sticking with 6'6" rods and no baits more than an ounce.

If this issue does not get better I will be looking at surgery in the late summer/early fall.

Because of the area and type of problem , no brace will help. He told me I will have to cut my hours when and if the pain gets too much. I know I will push that limit by my very nature.

ps The good thing is my doctor is a Northern Pike and Musky guy and knows what casting can do and the equipment we use, so i know he is speaking from experience.

Get that shoulder better. Those swimbaits will wait.

Muddy, I too have bad shoulders old football injurgies, played large but was small. I had my left one reconstructed. I cast right handed but at times that one flares up. You need to modify your casting style. I have learned to cast with both arms and at times I will cast underhand if needed. Downsize baits when needed. Keep the faith Bro doing what you love tends to help to manage the pain. Wish you well Bro, you beat worst in the past ie that weight loss.

Does throwing side arm work better for you? I actually throw overhanded and side arm, Doc seems to think side arm would be better

Dom,

I know you love rapalas and such but this would be a good reason to become a more regular soft plastics guy...  trade the spinnerbaits and crankbaits for a t-rig and c-rig & you'll be casting about 1/4th as much.  

I'm sure I over simplified it but after my shoulder surgery, I was plastics only for almost 6 months.  It was my only option to be on the water at that time, without constant pain.

The big other help for me then was casting 2 handed.  To this day I rarely cast 1 handed.  But I also don't have any short handled rods.

Does throwing side arm work better for you? I actually throw overhanded and side arm, Doc seems to think side arm would be better

At times yes. Sometimes even need to pickup the dreaded spinning outfit.

To this day I rarely cast 1 handed.

Same here.  I started changing my mechanics after getting some tendinitis in my right arm and shoulder a couple of years ago.  I have to say, before really looking at how I cast, I was a really sloppy caster, LOL.  What I may have temporarily lost in distance was FAR offset by accuracy.  

Muddy, take it easy, take a close look at your mechanics, and adjust to maximize velocity while minimizing movement.  We gotta get you better so you can come up and catch some of my girlfriends

Muddy, when you are revamping your cast, focus on keeping your shoulder relaxed, and your elbow relaxed and close to your body. Snap from only your wrist. Kinda like drums. If Buddy Rich was a bass fisherman, how would he cast?  ;D

I always use two hands unless I'm casting at a short range target. I used to play lacrosse as a kid so it always felt natural to use two hands. Made sense to split the load between the two instead of put it all on one.

Muddy,

Sorry to hear the shoulder news.

You may be fishing finesse for a while until you get your shoulder back into good condition.

Just take it easy so you will not have any setbacks.  

Dom,

I know you love rapalas and such but this would be a good reason to become a more regular soft plastics guy... trade the spinnerbaits and crankbaits for a t-rig and c-rig & you'll be casting about 1/4th as much.

I'm sure I over simplified it but after my shoulder surgery, I was plastics only for almost 6 months. It was my only option to be on the water at that time, without constant pain.

The big other help for me then was casting 2 handed. To this day I rarely cast 1 handed. But I also don't have any short handled rods.

Thanks Fletchero, I have the last time you suggested plastics saved also. I am going to go to Jigs and plastics mostly this year BRENT IS GONNA MAKE OUT TODAY OR TOMMOROW

Yes my doctor also said to check my mechanics and avoid any twisting action that I can

Yes I am going to the 2 handed cast

Thank you all

THANKS Keith for the help.

Dominick

Muddy, when you are revamping your cast, focus on keeping your shoulder relaxed, and your elbow relaxed and close to your body. Snap from only your wrist. Kinda like drums. If Buddy Rich was a bass fisherman, how would he cast? ;D

I always use two hands unless I'm casting at a short range target. I used to play lacrosse as a kid so it always felt natural to use two hands. Made sense to split the load between the two instead of put it all on one.

If Buddy Rich was a fisherman he would cast a mile! However, there is always a however; If he ever got line wrap or forgot to disengage the spool he would go to jail for  hitting a satellite or going into enemy space

Buddy would use a "roll" cast.

Great John, A PRESS ROLL CAST AT THAT 8-)

One handed.  LOL!

He and Johnny Carson must be laguhing over this by now 8-)

I miss him a lot, that  is one chair that can never be filled again.

Is Shaunessy still alive?

I don't know. Mr Mutton Chops,double bass man.

Apparently is, just turned 79. He'd roll cast with his side burns.

OK, I'm don now.  

I havent seen him for a long time. The last time I saw him was at the Bottom Line, I think??? any way it's been a long time. He could swing a big band with the best of them.Once Johnny went off the air, i think he taught a bit and I am sure he made an instructianl CD for DCI

Glad my shoulder problems (football) are in my left arm.   I rarely cast single handed with a baitcaster anyway.  Burley makes fun of me cause I do a KVD similar whip/hatchet cast.  

When I learned I used to always 2 hand cast. I am grateful the rods I have are some I learned on and all of them will let me 2 hand with ease.

Does throwing side arm work better for you? I actually throw overhanded and side arm, Doc seems to think side arm would be better

for the last 3 years ive cast like i was skipping a rock. its 95% wrist and 5% everything else. you might give that a try.

Thanks for all the suggestions, all along what the doctor talked about.

I'm glad I stayed out of this discussion. I was going to suggest that you tape your rod to your "rod," but then realized that you are probably not very good at drop-shotting.

are you suggeting I am all about a finesse presentation?