Hi folks

I thought I would bring this topic up as I think it's not covered often . And I think it could be of interest . Is there any disabled anglers on here/or do you know of any that find venues difficult to access ? Or is there a limitation of where you/they can go fishing ? what is your overall veiws opinions and do you think conditions / fascilities could improve ? or are you/they happy with certain arrangements venues have ? what difficulties do you/they face ?

mark

H', Mark. I don't think enough is done, generally, to help disabled anglers access water. When I was involved with running our local club, Penrith AA, I beat my brains out for a while trying to find a way of getting one of our disabled anglers on to our water. Fly fishing on rivers, which was what our club did, as we had only one still water fishery while I served on the committee, is essentially a sport for the mobile. Likewise, fly fishing from the bank for wild brown trout is more productive if the angler moves his feet regularly. So, I got nowhere; but just a couple of years ago I did a write-up, in my column in our local newspaper, on some of the still waters in the county, and a little further afield, that were fishable, in part at least, from a wheelchair.
I also had a pop at a bunch of selfish and mean inhabitants in the Loweswater area, who had registered an objection to a few casting positions that had been built around the perimeter of the lake. They were produced with the help of a couple of the National Park rangers, if my memory serves me correctly; and the same guys were made to take them apart. what really got up my bracket was the fact that the biggest objectors appeared to be
'outsiders', people who could afford country homes for summer holidays, not
your genuine Cumbrian stock.
Not much support was forthcoming, and I am disappointed on both your behalf and that of any disabled lads who may see your post, as I am the first to respond.
I believe 'Jackie' Charlton gets involved with helping organised days for those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Good for him!!.
Cheers. Terry C

I've hesitated to reply to this post up till now as I'm only partially disabled, having been ill now for some eight years and now just returning to fly fishing after this long lay off. Before becoming ill I'd fished from the age of ten onwards, for forty years, and that period included, as well as fly fishing, just about every form of the sport from deep sea fishing to various coarse methods, so I have extensive experience in this great sport of ours.

My main love has always been fly fishing though and just a week or so ago, now that my health is improving, I had my first outing for those eight years, fishing Blakewell, a water that I knew before I became ill. Now, fisheries like Blakewell are perfectly set up for people like me and those with greater disabilities. Access is easy, there are fishing pegs with safe bank side access, seats for those who cannot stand for long and wheelchair access.

I couldn't ask for better facilities but, of course, the type of fishing is limited to stock fish in a very artificial environment. This is more than adequate for some and I loved it and I won't here go into the much belaboured argument about small waters but here in Devon we have some superb natural and near natural venues which are just wonderful to fish and it tends to be these that are off limits, in the main, to the disabled angler.

The water authorities have really helped on some of the many reservoirs, to assist access and of course there is the terrific charity, The Wheelyboat Trust, http://www.wheelyboats.org/ that has provided boats in places all over the country and down here in places like Siblyback and Wistlandpound, brilliant stuff! So things are improving and these places I intend to have a crack at. Rivers of course in the main are going to be out of bounds to many disabled as not many wheelchairs float or cope well with the kind of access our wonderful rivers have.

Often though, it's the small things that people like me need help with so if any of you guys want to help the situation and, lets face it, we can all become disabled, never think " It won't happen to me", just give a thought to any angler you know who could do with a bit of help, either in getting around or in just reaching a water to start fishing. The next time that you also spend a small fortune on the latest great bit of kit to catch even more fish, think of sending a pound to the Wheelyboat trust too, it will make a great difference to the lives of anglers like me who absolutely love the sport but need just a little help at times.

Think how you'd feel if you had to give the sport up if it happened to you and you'll realise how I've been feeling for eight years, that first cast at Blakewell last week, might just as well have been a cast made in heaven! Oh and I bagged up too, I've still got it.

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Duirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite

Nature is by and large to be found out-of-doors, a location where, it cannot be argued, there are never enough comfortable chairs. Franz Lebowitz

Marky this is a subject im glad to see and something I take seriously,being a strong believer that flyfishing is for everyone no matter age, sex or disabilities.
Im also proud to say that we received in Nov 08 a certificate from Visit Scotland for Access for people with disabilities, which is something we worked hard towards along with placing platforms for disabled and laybys for them to park easily to get to the platforms,toilets etc.
This is by no means a promotional post and rather to be looked at that ANY fishery can and should improve facilities for disabled even if it is only in a small way.We are certainly not big millionaires far from it.But we felt it important to do.
The point which is often overlooked by most ,is this.We may be fit and healthy now but overnight things can change and I am talking from personal experience here and the thought of "it will never happen to me" is fine but untrue.
Well done to you Artistmike keep it up.The points you stated are very true.I will relate an image which for me should tipafy what fly fishing is about.
2 anglers who fish each and every week,1 is aged 70 and the other aged 84 one is fitter than the other and are both characters.The fitter of the two carries his friends bag to where he wants to fish due to his health and anglers who are about will help him release fish.They are always happy and cheerful and its a pleasure to see them and have a good laugh with them.Other anglers will often help them aswell.This is only one instance of many.Im not saying it doesnt happen anywhere else as I hope it does and the more the better for me and for the sport of flyfishing.IT is for everyone

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Kevin

If anyone is affected by, or wants to know more abut issues surrounding Disability and Angling there is a very good organisation that has lots of helpful info:

http://www.bdaa.co.uk/

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Around the steel no tortur'd worm shall twine,
No blood of living insect stain my line;
Let me, less cruel, cast feather'd hook,
With pliant rod athwart the pebbled brook,
Silent along the mazy margin stray,
And with fur-wrought fly delude the prey

Well done Morayflyfisher, it's exactly that attitude that makes the difference to whether people like myself can fish or just have to sit at home and read about others doing it in the angling press. I shall make a point of visiting you when I make my much looked forward fishing excursion to Scotland!

Well done for mentioning the BDAA too Codenamemilo and it's also worth mentioning of course http://www.disabled-flyfish.co.uk/.

As I said though it's often just that little bit of help at odd times that makes things possible, so keep your eyes open chaps, you may well be able to make all the difference.

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Duirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite

Nature is by and large to be found out-of-doors, a location where, it cannot be argued, there are never enough comfortable chairs. Franz Lebowitz

i have six disabled children and a wife waiting for a new heart , belive me its a nightmare trying to get them to the waters edge there are not many waters that can accomidate them , dearnford lake [whitchurch] being one fishery with excellent fishing for disabled anglers they have purchased a wheelie boat where you can take the wheelchair stright on to the boat with proper walkways to the boats , i have allways found them to be most helpfull in the past,they also have proper fishing platforms for the disabled , on another note, i took my familly to anglers paradise devon at great cost having sorted all my requiermaents out , ie ground floor accomadation etc,iwas told that there was easy accsess to all the lakes after complaining for three days i was told to go into town and hire mobility scooters for them i eventually shamed him into dropping my children of at the pools on the back of a trailer which to be honest was very embarrasing we gave up after four days and came home and this from a world famous fishery the total cost for the holliday including transport for the wekk was in accses of £3000.00 i was totaly destroyed then and still am now i did ring up and complain and was told by ziggy[the boss]that i never made my requirements clear when booking ,ziggy you should hold your head in shame sir

To be honest I thought this thread would remain dormant , im so glad to read other peoples views and experiences .

TC , I understand what you mean , My local river is of no use to a disabled angler for that very reason as there is no access [ and the same story with many rivers] Stillwaters are the only real option and that can be adapted much easier to suit peoples needs . I personally would like to see more done to a couple of local fisheries but I think it would be all down to how many disabled anglers would use the facilities and most of all the cost . To me even if it benifited one angler alone that would be enough but most of the time it doesnt work that way . . . .

Artistmike, Im glad you did reply ! and that your gradually on the way to recovery hopefully . The Wheelyboat Trust do great work ! And its a great idea that someone came up with . what would you say that could have helped you / could help you more if anything ?

MF, thats great about the Visit Scotland for Access for people with disabilities cert . Also I havent got a disability as such but I do appreciate what your saying about things can change at any given time.

I have an interest in all things to do with disability and illness and how things can be improved to help others, so listening to other peoples experience and veiws opens my mind to what can and cant be done .

ACCESS ALL AREAS

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www.paypalsucks.com

is that supposed to be funny