Thoughts of a disabled angler…

[TF_geepsterParticipant]

Nick Rowe of Reels on Wheels sent me this and asked me to post it… for feedback…

“I have been fishing now for 54 yrs and love the sport and no matter what happens to me I will always find a way to fish.

I am a wheelchair user so it can be frustrating at times but I never give up trying to do something. I will always find a way and with the support of my wife and daughter, the word “Can’tâ€

[TF_Gary]

I think that this has got to be a massive growth area over the next few years and people that invest in disabled anglers (improving access, specialist equipment, etc) will reap the benefits of their enfranchisement going forward. The population as a whole is getting older and we are living longer, so it is almost inevitable that more people will fall into this category in the future.

Having said that, I think it is probably asking a lot to walk into a tackle shop and expect them to have thought through which product might be best for each of the plethora of different restrictions that people face. All that we can ask and expect is that tackle shops take due care and attention in helping all anglers get the product that is right for them, factoring in capabilities, type of fishing, budget, etc.

I am pleased to say that my club (Tin Mill Dam AC) made a significant investment in its waters, putting in disabled pegs, good paths, gentle ramps from the car park, etc. Not only does this benefit current anglers (including the young, old, people with trollies, etc) as well as wheelchair users etc, but it will also benefit us all as we get older and inevitably become less mobile.

Incidentally (genuine question), is the term ‘disabled angler’ offensive? I have not previously thought of it as such, particularly as Terry Moseley’s organisation is called the “British Disabled Angling Association”.

[disabledanglerParticipant]

Hi Gary,
No the term disabled angler isnt offensive …I use it as my forum name and my blog title…
The bit about disabled angler and an angler was me being funny…
Its a fact that when out in the street people will say oh look at that disabled guy..I love his chair…
When I am fishing I am just another angler as far as I am concerned…so what I said is just my sick sense of humour…lol

Your comments about the shops not being able to tell us if something is suitable is correct it would almost be impossable, my point is though it would be nice if tackle companies gave us the oppotunity to recommend stuff after having tried it out, this would help others to decide if it was right for them.

[TF_blissParticipant]

As a wheelchair user I am nearly always impressed by the staff in tackle shops, they are generally helpful and interested in how things can be adapted etc.

In particular a (sadly now closed) shop owner once got me a skee tex boot as I have only one leg and had no need of a pair from their rep so I only paid half price! Fantastic service in my book.

When I fish matches the other anglers and/or fishery staff are more than helpful helping you get to your peg with everything but the preverbial…

I stumbled back into fishing after giving all my gear away as a lad because I thought I wouldn’t be able to fish any more due to my disability after seeing an accessible peg on a lake in Bedford.

WCA on here is a source of knowledge and fishes the big events too (he is also a magazine star!!!).

A lot of the big stars in angling are very generous with their time to act as patrons to the various diabled groups out there.

Disability affects everyone diffently and the diverse nature means no solution will suit everyone but with a bit of common sense most problems can be made minor ones in my experience.

[TF_Gary]

Apologies, didn’t pick up the humour through the medium of internet forum!!

Forums like this one are a great way of sharing knowledge about products that are suitable for disabled anglers and I am sure a lot of the companies are monitoring sites like this for feedback. As such, post away and see what response you receive – it may just surprise you.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

Its like women anglers you dont see enough of them in magazines Id like to see more women anglers preferably in Bikinis !

[TF_D.W.]

Those that actually know me, will know that I have recently been coming to terms with being wheelchair bound due to long term spinal problems deteriorating rapidly.

As a carp angler, I have been looking at ways of making my sessions easier for me rather than having to rely on others to do things such as erect the bivvy, net fish for me (not an easy task lifting a mid-double & bigger fish out of the water in the size of nets etc that we use whilst in a wheel chair), etc. The main problem that does concern me is getting out of the bivvy & to the rods in a time that is not going to potentially put the fish at risk. Obviously at night it is not going to be an easy task – especially if it has been raining etc, to get out of the bedchair and to the rods without putting myself at risk of doing more damage to myself by slipping over if I use my walking stick for the few paces to the rods, or getting out of the bedchair & into my wheelchair safely. The obvious answer is to fish with an able bodied person all the time, but due to the way I like to fish, I do like to have time to myself when angling rather than just have a “social”. The other issue is that the venues I want to fish have very limited, if any at all, disabled access due to the nature of the waters (they are not commercial or day ticket waters per say), and the fishery owners wish to keep them as natural as possible (as I would myself personally).
As Nick Rowe has mentioned in his original letter to GP, getting the gear from the car to the swim is also a problem. Yes there are powered barrows that operate on a 3 wheel axis so there is no weight to carry as such, but for a disabled person, getting one of these in & out of a car (unless you had a van or people carrier with ramps), would be almost impossible due to the weight of the product (especially the batteries).
Putting a bivvy up in calm weather conditions isn’t much of a problem, but if there is anything more than a stiff breeze, it is a nightmare (believe me I have tried it!) to put a bivvy up unaided if the person is not very mobile out of their wheelchair, as they cannot get round to peg it down to secure it quick enough before the wind turns it into a kite.
One thing for sure is that I am not going to give up doing what I enjoy as at the end of the day, I am still the same person I was before being in a chair, just not able to move as well.

[TF_Kevin W]

Top man Darren. Stick with it mate.

[denisekdaaParticipant]

Geepster (moderator) wrote:

Nick Rowe of Reels on Wheels sent me this and asked me to post it… for feedback…

“I have been fishing now for 54 yrs and love the sport and no matter what happens to me I will always find a way to fish.

I am a wheelchair user so it can be frustrating at times but I never give up trying to do something. I will always find a way and with the support of my wife and daughter, the word “Can’tâ€

[TF_AdzTParticipant]

Hi all, this is a really interesteing post. My mate and i have recently set up a sports coaching company specially designed at coaching sports for those with a disability. We are currently coaching in special schools in sussex and looking to expand in different sports. I’m currently trying to meet the ADB to discuss how our company can benefit angling in sussex.

I would be more than happy to meet people who are involved with agencies within angling for people with a disability to discuss how we can help in any way.

Looking at next summer to run an event where children can come and have a days fishing with coaches or experienced anglers etc

[Author]

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