wow what a post !!!!

i to am also handicapped and do use the handicapped piers.  i just wish i could find more to fish from.

maybe this would be a good thread to post any tips

My first post disappeared and I couldn't edit it so I'm doing it again. I got my foot crushed in June and met this fellow at the hospital that was in for hip replacement surgery. The subject of fishing came up and he gave me permission to fish his pond. When I called he also gave me permission to bring my neighbor to assist. I found I could prop myself up on my crutches and cast. He was also kind enough to let us drive around the pond for easy access. I had 3 largemouths landed within 15 minutes; but he wasn't having any luck. We moved to another location where he started catching chubby 14 inchers 1 right after the other. I caught a couple 20 + inchers that made his look like minnows and had a few more hooked that I was unable to land. Too bad it took an accident; but that was the best bass fishing day of my life! My neighbor was a great help taking the fish off the hook and everything.

I am in a chair, so fishing places are pretty limitted. I also find that some of the places they place piers for handicap is far from the best spots. They still have those reserved for the masses.

I really don't understand that mentality since the people without disabilities fish beside us in the piers as well..I hav eye to catch anything of any size from the disabled areas but do well in other places at the same lake/pond. or parks..

 

 

(NAFC LM-7-14-09) (NAFC TLM-9-20-09)

I am not but maybe mental. I was out ice fishing a half of a mile out 6" of snow on the ice. In Omaha Ne on lake zorinsky. I turned around to see a guy in a chair wheeling himself out on the ice though the snow to open holes. My heart went out to him. that's a real fisherman so my problems are very small I took a long distense pic it didn't turn out. I should've walk over to met him but he left soon after. i wish i would have I think he would have made a great fishing partner i haven't seen him out there since but would like to met him.

I am also disabled, i am unable to walk or stand for more than a minute or so, i love to fish but need help from others to carry my gear and i have to have a chair in a stable spot to sit. I thank God i am still alive & able to fish. I use to take things for granted, i didn't realize it back then as i do now.Please don't make the same mistake i did, love your family and friends and thank Almighty God for what you have and what you are still able to do, remember there is always someone worse off than you are,GodBless !

I am not disabled but i do feel for you folks and my total heart goes out to you. i do have a disbled father that is 73 yrs old, i do take him fishing wheel chair and all i have mounteda pole holder on his chair and he can sit an fish from there i do have to throw it out for him, his disablity came from strokes and many of them he only has use of his right hand so the holder not only holds the pole but he can sit and reel also but the funny part was when i first took him fishing he was all worryied bout a fish pulling him and wheelchair into the lake LOLOLOLOLOLOL well i told him if he got one that big id chain his chair to the pickup LOLOLOLOLOL i am just thrilled to even have him alive id do anything for him but i wont take him out in the boat, as if something happend he wouldnt be able to swim but all that are disabled KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND KEEP FISHING BILL Life member since 09-01-09

Hi Bill,i was moved by your post, your dad is very fortunate to have a son like you ! May God Bless you both my brother and happy fishing.

God Bless you all for living everyday to its fullest. I am by no means disabled but i look up to you folks and wish you all the best of luck for having the courage to get out on the water and not let your disablities hold you back or get you down from doing something you love!

God Bless and Tight Lines!

Life Member.

Isn't that the truth ? it seem's that they put the handicap piers in the absolute worse places ! I am disabled also & when i find a place that with help i can fish ,it seems like the person that designed it ( didn't have a clue about disabled people or their need's ! )  I was also guilty of the same ignourance before my accident . I would love to go to a lake or pond that was designed by a disabled person that would cover our need's. But thank God i am able to fish and with a little help i can enjoy the sport i love so much !

Fifteen or so years ago I fished a lake near where I used to live that had a fishing deck that was handicapped accessible. It was placed where it was for access to the parking area, but the park district did its best to make sure that there was a fish attractor within casting distance.  There was exactly one handicapped gent who fished the deck. Dick had lost the use of his legs to polio when he was young but refused to let it slow him down and fished with the regular bunch almost every saturday. One week Dick stopped showing up, and the saturday regulars started wondering. A few days later our worst fears were confirmed, Dick had passed away after a brief bout with pneumonia. His daughter found my phone number in his wallet and called me. I was able to pass the word, and most of the regulars made his wake. None of us knew that he felt that his saturday mornings as "one of the guys" meant much to him until we heard his daughter thank us for letting him forget his disability and just be a part of the group. This is the first time I have shared this story, and I appologise for being long winded but remember this when you see a challenged person out fishing. Give them a spot on the pier, but just treat them like anyone else after that, it is usually appreciated! Tom

I have a boat and can still run a trolling motor and boat all hand controlled old champion. But after my motocross accident really made
me think of being wheel chair bound and I was for a long time but can walk just not very well. Well since then I've made a super good freind who was born with no spine and is wheel chair bound forever but he found from me bringing him out he really loves to fish. He's one of the most positive people you could meet. Anyway long story short take the time to ask someone to
go fish and you'll be shocked about how easy the passion for fishing grows and the new freinds you'll meet! I will always have a backseat open on my boat for someone with passion to fish not disabled or handicapped just two words not in my vocabulary anymore . Phil Lincoln Ne

I was going through my old issues of infisherman the other day and came accross a short article about a gentleman who had no arms but he did not let that stop him from fishing. He became very skilled at baiting his hook and casting with his feet, he would even unhook his fish with his feet. Now thats what you call dedication and patience.
Brian