Snacking Necessity

For those like me, there is little time on the water for such trivialities such as sustenance intake. In our minds successful fishing takes all of one’s concentration, so much so that we neglect our body’s basic needs. Now, while this may seem like the logical thing, there is a startling truth coupled to it. Not only is this practice foolish but it is also extremely dangerous. For those not in the know, fishing is a remarkably strenuous sport, burning large numbers of calories even on comfortable days. On tough days like those with wind, rain, cold or super-hot temperatures the human body has to work double time to maintain its internal temperature, necessitating the burning of calories to produce the requisite energy. For those of us who fail to take in the necessary fuel, we run the risk of fatigue related illnesses such as heat stroke, hypothermia, and severe exhaustion. Down the road, if there is prolonged exposure to this sort of abuse, permanent digestive and pulmonary damage can be possible. So, while it may seem like a hindrance, every angler should remember to regularly hydrate (with water, not soda) and snack in order to maintain a healthy, fishing ready body. A good rule of thumb is one water bottle and hour and a sandwich every two. Be smart, be safe. Fishing isn’t worth your health.