Anyone else had experience with hand injuries or strains from fly
casting?

--riverman

I think I was destined to have wrist problems. First, I worked on a
salmon farm in Maine for a while. Many people came down with carpal
tunnel syndrome while working there. I didn't but when I started, some
nights my wrists ached at night so bad it was hard to sleep. Secondly,
I play fingerpicking-style guitar. I learn a lot of Leo Kottke's tunes.
He's a real rapid fire fast fingerpicker. Well, Leo had to take 6
years off from playing because he screwed up his wrists. I am not half
the player Leo is, so I can mess up my tendons far more easily!
Flycasting has to be considered repetitive stress. I first started
noticing tingling fingers about 8 years ago during the fall runs. I was
fishing so much, and having such good success, that my carpal tunnel
couldn' t take it. So my pinkie and ring finger on my right hand feel
tingly. Finally, last winter I built a couple more bamboo fly rods.
Pushing a hand plane is strenuous work, and I developed trigger thumb.
I would notice it in the morning, and it would loosen throughout the
day. Haven't had a problem since I completed the projects, but I am
leery about staring another rod!

Pete

oh woe is me