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How we do it... One of the great things about fishing is that you can do it everywhere there is a body of water! There are a few things that we have found to be very useful when fishing in a chair. When fishing for bottom fish, we have found that no special hardware is needed in order to have a enjoyable time. When targeting larger game fish, i.e. tuna, yellowtail, and dorado, you will want to use some equipment that will help you fight the albacore that is taking line and the ocean kind of looks like the inside of a washing machine. First, wheelie bars end up being a very nice addition to your arsenal. At some point we have all had them, but we may or may not use them on a daily basis. One thing that we have found is that while fishing, the wheelie bars allow you to fight the fish instead of worrying about whether or not you will fall over backwards (as you can see if you look at the photos of Bill and Mario fishing together). Secondly, there are standard fishing harnesses on the market that when used in conjunction with a wheelchair and the wheelie bars, allow you to stop struggling with your abs and back (or lack there of) when trying to reel that monster yellowtail. The harness enables you to lean forward, while keeping your balance and using all of your major muscles all at the same time. You get to use your arms for reeling and pulling on the rod, and your back and stomach can help with balance and putting a hurt on that fish. Initially, we thought that a permanent mount on the deck of the boat would be helpful to minimize the sliding around that happens when your tires get wet and the brakes don't hold. But by not using a mount, we found that you can move around the corners of the deck which helps you fight the fish in multiple locations to make use that the engine or other fixed objects will cut the line of the prize marlin that you have been fighting for an hour. Even quads can get out there and be very independent while fishing by using special braces that are available on the internet or even ones that are homemade (like our buddy Denny R. of the Padres). There are a number of sites that are shown below that will show different methods of fishing for quads. Depending on the boat that you are going fishing on, you might need a little bit of assistance getting on the boat. Usually a little bit of help by your fishing buddy, will be greatly appreciated. You will find the best way for yourself to do this, but this is how we end up doing it. Bill will transfer on to the side of the boat and hold on to the railing. Whoever is fishing with him will grab the wheelchair and toss it over the rail and position it wherever it is needed. Bill will pull his legs over the rail and transfer back into the wheelchair. Hopefully this gives you a good idea of how easy it all can be if you take a little time to make sure that you have everything that you need. Don't be nervous about the first time getting out there. It will always get better every time you go, and if you do fall, it will only hurt for a moment...
LinksCalifornia: jigstop.com Jig Stop Tours; Dana Point They offer wheelchair accessible fishing/diving trips in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
hmlanding.com H & M Landing; San Diego They offer wheelchair accessible trips and assistance from the crew
Other States: sportsfishingkeywest.com Relentless Fishing Charters; Bight, Key West, Florida This is the fishing charter that Bill and Jim used when fishing in Key West, Florida
sportsmansresource.com Fishing on Wheels; Ontario, Canada Fishing method for Quadriplegics
cfhnb.org Fishing Has No Boundaries®; Wood Dale, Illinois nonprofit organization dedicated to opening up the great outdoors through the world of fishing to people with disabilities
handicapable.net handiCAPABLE Guide Service, Inc.; Gilbertsville, Kentucky howellstackle.com Howell's Tackle, Co.; Emerald Isle, North Carolina
This site was last updated 03/25/08 |
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