Fishing and Tips for being in the wild with your stoma

The more that I get old the more I truly enjoy the time of peace I am able to get outside.  It is rarer these days and I must really work hard to set aside time to be outside in a peaceful environment.  It is good for my soul and I thought it would be harder to do with having a stoma.  Now let's be honest, I really love fishing. I mean it is what I live for when the summer comes around.  So the weather is changing and it is now time to pull out the bait caster and spinning reel and start rocking the lakes and ponds for those beautifully tasty fish.  The joy that I find in being outdoors and connecting with nature is a wonderful thing.  There is a great benefit to staying healthy not only with your body but also your mind.  That is why I like to expand my experiences and just enjoy the health of both and that is not as easy as it would appear.  It takes dedication.  Now that I have had an ostomy and have to deal with a little more complications on the water, in all honesty, not much has changed! I enjoy fishing and being wild and it is all possible still with a stoma.  That is why I want to talk about fishing and enjoying life with an ostomy because it is possible and still fun. 

Gear is truly the answer for all the problems with an ostomy.  Not really, but I like to think so and the amount of time I spend shopping helps to justify my initial thought.  So what makes fishing easy and nice is that I have great gear.   No cool gear will make you a better fisher, but it can make life easier especially when it comes to your stoma.  I find that there are a few companies that I get my gear from and most major corporations are really good companies for getting my stuff.  Each has helped me learn new things and plan the things I would need for being on the water and possibly in the water.  Most have some great customer service, so if you have any questions on things give them a call and they will generally point you in the right direction.  

The fact that I now have a stoma has not really changed my fishing routine at all. If anything I try to make excuses to get out more.  Sometimes I like the fact that I don't have to take a pause when the fishing is good for mother nature and it really is a benefit.  Bass fishing tournaments are also awesome because I can fish longer and harder because I have a stoma! So there really are some benefits to it. 

Being safe is key to me and to my mental health.  I also like to keep everything waterproof and safe just in case fish, weather, or a boating accident ends up getting things wet.  So I like to carry a pelican case or a waterproof case and also line my things inside with a ziplock bag.  This is a double layer that also keeps me safe and anxiety-free by not having to worry about my gear getting ruined by water. So stay safe, enjoy the outdoors, and get out and use good gear to make life a little easier.