Hi all I just had an old fishing pal visit me. His son had a motorbike accident about 8 mths ago and now has a paralyzed arm. He’s missing his fishing can anyone think of any resources that can help him, we are now of to buy an automatic reel so he can at least wind in. As for casting I’m stumped any ideas chaps.

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Warning Retiree knows it all and has plenty of time to tell you about it.

Vivarelli a semi-auto
http://www.flyshop-online.co.uk/acat...Fly_Reels.html

Don't know about casting/retrieving.....

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Plusnet/Madasafish > Liars to the internet community

I would have thought if you contact the SDFFA, they'd be able to give you best advice on what the options are.

Used to know a chap who had a paralysed arm and didn't seem to affect his enjoyment of the sport.

Would cast trapping the line with his trigger finger. Retrieve either by sticking the rod under his paralysed arm or to to big strips between his legs.

He had an automatic reel that would take in the slack when a fish took.

Hi SteamEngine

Not being funny....but that ones a doddle.

You probably have the idea,by your own experience, that hauling is the only way

He needs some lessons in roll,snap,spey and short line/haul technique. this can then be applied to rivers and lakes...... drift boat fishing will get him covering more ground on a lake.
I,m currently working with a disabled client in fly/course technique so know it can be done......don't despair where there's is a will there's a way.

If you need me to explain more.....then say so! But this should get you thinking along the right lines

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Two things to have in life - A good bed and a good pair of boots -and if you aren't in one you should be in t'other

Hi SteamEngine, I lost the whole of my right arm in a bike crash many years ago, I use a prosthetic arm to hold the rod, strike and control the retrieve, although the casting problem was obviously the same as your pals son, tell him not to despair, I can now cast a 7wt over 90ft and a 5wt over 80 (In experimenting I've found overlining a fast rod helps), I use my middle finger to control and extend the line and drift to extend the stroke, plus the usual straight line path, late rotation, tracking etc, and I found most important of all a positive stop. I spent a lot of time practicing on grass and got a lot of advice from members of this and the Sexyloops Forum. If you would like to ask any questions you are more than welcome to PM me.

Cheers Craig

Gentlemen, I salute you, both those who are handicapped and those who help them with their sport. I tried very hard some years ago to help a lad who was partially blind. I worked with him until he could cast a nice line, but he could never have sorted out a tangle and couldn't see if his cast was ok on the water. Even tried to fit him up with bubble-float and two flies. Sadly, he was never able to fish without a lot of help, and I was married with a growing family.
I still have the utmost admiration and respect for Gordon Cowan. He never complained about his eyesight, never moaned about the fishing. What a role model!! He married the lass who was helping him rehabilitate. She deserved a medal, too!! All the best, TerryC

as per downstreams post, i use one of these just because i think its rather good, your pinkie does the line retrieval that the line hand normally does.

Thanks for all the replys chaps.We got Tommy an automatic reel today and have enroled him for some casting lessons localy ,he will have a read over this thread and see what he thinks.One armed fishing is somthing I had never thought about before.I have suggested that he joins the forum so some of you may get at pm from him.
Thanks.

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Warning Retiree knows it all and has plenty of time to tell you about it.

Tight lines to Tommy.

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