View Full Version : Anyone fish?
I have been an avid fisherman my whole life. I prefer the ocean. Last week I caught a 20 lb. striped bass. What an experience. I think the fish knew I was disabled. I would be interested in hearing from anyone with a similar passion. Are there any particular gadgets that you use that make things easier? I am very blessed to have access to fishing the ocean since my best friend and I own a boat. It's a beautiful thing.
Scorpion
11-06-2001, 05:17 PM
I love fishing but the last time I went was 1990 before my accident on Lake Erie in the summer. (mmm, walleye are good eatin')
~Rus
"Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo
tigger74
11-06-2001, 06:20 PM
MY GRANDPA BUILT AND OWNED THE BOAT DOCK NEAR OUR HOME FOR 30 YEARS. I WAS RASIED ON THE LAKE! MY DAD AND I FISH ALL THE TIME BEFORE I WAS HURT. WHEN I WAS IN REHAB MY GRANDPA SAID WE WOULD GET A PONTOON TO FISH OFF. WE HAD ONE BUILT WITH WIDER DOORS SO I COULD GET ON IT IN MY WHEEL CHAIR. IT WORKS GREAT! I ALSO BOUGHT A STRONG ARM FISHING ROD HOLDER FROM http://www.accesstr.com/fishing5.cfm IT WORKS GREAT TOO! I'VE CAUGHT SOME BIG CRAPPIE AND BASS WITH IT.
Annabanana
11-06-2001, 07:09 PM
Several years back our local spinal injuries association lobbied the local council badly for a accessible fishing pier. It took some time but it was eventually built.
If you'd like to take a peek, there are a couple of pics in the below link that were taken at the opening. The other pics are taken of a group house for people with sci, and a few other bits and pieces.
http://users.mackay.net.au/~mdsia/Mdsia_Pics.html
monkeygirl
11-08-2001, 12:44 AM
I love to fish too, except I have a hell of a time tring to cast, I suck actually, any tricks? I also wonder if anyone has fly-fished in a belly boat, it looks like a blast. I guess now though I couldn't do the belly-boat cause I could't tell where my legs were going. I'd just have to do it from a boat. The thing is though, if I can't cast worth shit what's the use, unless it will just come with more practice. I'm t6 complete so it's a balance problem, if I let a good one go I feel like I'd do a nose-dive, ya know what I mean! Tricks to cast anyone? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif
Monkeygirl, I am not sure if you could use these splints and reels for fly fishing, but most of the movement should be from your shoulder, (not your wrist) so the splints should work:
http://www.accesstr.com/
You might want to look into an automatic retrieve reel, or alternatively fly fishing with a spinning rig. Not as nice as a fly reel, but better than not being out there at all.
Wouldn't recommend a float tube unless you can paddle with your legs (definately not on moving water!), but you certainly could go on a boat or fish from shore.
NEVER!!!!
MonkeyGirl, I live in Arizona now but I still go back to Minnesota each summer for Bass, Northern, Walleye, etc. My in-laws customized their pontoon with a side gate and put a plywood ramp on the dock so I can roll onto it. I'm a T4 but do not seem to have a problem casting. I use an open reel. If you still cannot cast try trolling. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
If you live near a fishing lake that has boats for rent you may want to check with the rental company to see if they have any wheelchair-accessible boats for hire.
"And so it begins."
monkeygirl
11-14-2001, 11:28 PM
Oh I'll never give it up either, I can always troll, but I can't always use a boat, one day we'll get one. Gee all we really want is a car-top, that's about all we can afford. It would be nice to be able to just pull up to any old lake or river or even the ocean and drop a line, you know what I mean. There's water everywhere here! When I cast, or shall I say try to cast from my chair on land, I can only get it to go about 15ft, into rocks and weeds. Well I guess if you can do it , I just need alot more practice. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif
4-6 foot waves in the ocean today. Can't fish, so I'll talk about it. I am looking to purchase a 12'to 15'runabout for fishing the lagoons where I live. Any ideas about special equipment or modifications. Would a trolling motor work better than an outboard, since speed would never be an issue? How about fish finders? I can get down to the dock with no problem, but the tides often make it difficult to get to and from the boat from the dock. Any suggestions? Are there boat seats that can be raised and lowered to make transfers easier? I'd enjoy hearing from any boating veterans out there.
I fished avidly pre-injury but have always found other things to do post-injury. The small lake where I live is stocked with bass and allows fishing. It's also stocked with carp to keep the water clean. I remember some tussles with little bass that I thought were a sturgeon and big carp that I thought were still a goldfish. So, I'm a little intrigued as to whether I can land either one by myself.
I laugh every time I read your statement that you think the fish knew you were disabled. Twenty pounds is a big fish. What type of hand function do you have and what equipment were you using? I have some time lately so I might give it a go.
~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/wavey.gif ~
Since I'm a T11 para, hand strength is not a problem. Balance is. We were using spinning rods with surface poppers. Just cast and retrieve; the fish do the rest. The biggest challenge in catching a big striped bass is keeping your line away from the boat. The big ones tend to dive straight down. This is a lot easier if you can stand. I lost another big one when she broke my line on the back of the boat. We had planned to do the same thing today, but like I said, too snotty. Fishing, the outdoors, being in the middle of something greater than yourself, appreciating God's handiwork, and sometime a fresh fish dinner. Despite being a grandfather it makes me laugh like a little kid. I still can't sleep the night before going out. I hope you get to give it a try.
birdeJ
11-18-2001, 10:34 AM
try these links for fishing: http://www.strongarmfishing.com/ http://www.geocities.com/scosmo451/ http://residents.bowhunting.net/DisabledHunters/
[This message was edited by birdeJ on November 18, 2001 at 12:45 PM.]
surfdano@msn.com
11-21-2001, 12:50 AM
Originally posted by Free:
I have been an avid fisherman my whole life. I prefer the ocean. Last week I caught a 20 lb. striped bass. What an experience. I think the fish knew I was disabled. I would be interested in hearing from anyone with a similar passion. Are there any particular gadgets that you use that make things easier? I am very blessed to have access to fishing the ocean since my best friend and I own a boat. It's a beautiful thing.
Scorpion
11-21-2001, 02:43 PM
Fishing, the outdoors, being in the middle of something greater than yourself, appreciating God's handiwork, and sometime a fresh fish dinner. Despite being a grandfather it makes me laugh like a little kid. I still can't sleep the night before going out.
I remember being a kid in Louisville, Kentucky and getting up before sunrise to go fishing with my Dad & brothers, wearing flannel shirts, sticking the poles & tackle in the station wagon, and driving to someplace we'd never been to. I can still feel the squirm of the worm as I baited the hook, still smell the air, still feel that tug of a bite as I watch the bobber dip below the surface.
The last time I fished with my Grandfather on Lake Erie, we only caught 3 fish. This was unusual, because he knew where the fish were in Lake Erie, and we'd always caught more than our limit. But commercial fishing had depleted the walleye in the lake. He apologized for the lack of fish, but I was happy fishing all day with my Grandpa, eating baloney sandwiches and drinking root beer, listening to his stories. We ate those three fish that evening, fried up in a tastey beer, egg & Bisquick batter. For me, fishing was never about catching a bunch of fish, but being out in nature, away from civilization, and enjoying the company of family or friends while spending hours by, or on, the water.
~Rus
"Because you're not promised tomorrow." ~ Stuck Mojo
I loved building a fire at night and throwing my line out. Used to catch a lot of eels at night, which could cost you your tackle, but it was worth it. Hanging with buds, drinking beer sometimes and talking about everything.
~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/wavey.gif ~
Happy Thanksgiving. I'm glad to see so many of you enjoy or have enjoyed fishing. As we all know, there is much more to it than putting fish in the box. Under the right circumstances it is totally doable for paras, and with some additional accommodation, doable for quads with some arm function. Like any new experience for us, it takes great motivation and courage to try. There are obvious obstacles like transferring on and off the boat, keeping your balance in rough seas or boat wakes, seating, and bathroom issues. Still its worth it, if you're with the right people, since that is the greatest benefit. Tight lines.
jefftwalker80
04-05-2004, 03:04 PM
Anyone here hitting the canyons in the Atlantic. C'mon summer.
Brad_D
04-05-2004, 06:11 PM
Originally posted by Jeff Walker:
Anyone here hitting the canyons in the Atlantic. C'mon summer.
Jeff,
We used to fish out of Long Beach Island, NJ years ago on our boat. Lots of nice tuna and white marlin in the summer. That 65-80 mile run was soooo long. Down here in Florida now it's like 6-10 miles. http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif
http://homepage.mac.com/bradd/PhotoAlbum19.html
Brad really has some Nice fish there!!!!!!! Take a look
T-12 incomplete 10-3-02
metronycguy
04-05-2004, 08:49 PM
brad ,,,they grow those ling big down there!
nice pics... probably warm today too http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/tongue.gif
jefftwalker80
04-06-2004, 07:55 AM
Hey brad have you ever fished the Ocean City white marlin open. Is that a buddy davis.
Brad_D
04-06-2004, 03:36 PM
No, Just the one out of LBI. Yes it's a '89 Buddy Davis.
http://www.finalbreak.com/
The boat is going in the next few weeks. Hopefully I'll have some Striper pics to post soon.
... http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif...
jefftwalker80
04-07-2004, 06:23 PM
I'll have to dig up some pre sci of me fishing the Susqahanah (i think thats right) River at night. We caught and released 30 and 40 pounders all night durring the spring run down the Chesapeak. We would go out about waist high very tricky but well worth it. Indian river Inlet is known for big rock fish at night on aan outgoing tide. If you fall inn there your in deep shit. I can tell lots of crazy stories about nights on that jetty. JLB Wildwood, NJ near the coast station is also known for nice seatrout and big strippers.