Hi! I’m Nick – a disabled angler from Cornwall, UK. I’ve been passionate about angling since I was 5 years old and that’s over 50 years now! I became a wheelchair user about 8 years ago and suffered from bouts of depression because I thought my whole life was over… not uncommon, believe me. I wasn’t allowed to stay like that though (my wife saw to that!) and I started doing all the things I’d always done, just from a different perspective. I got seriously pissed off hearing people tell me that I couldn’t do things I wanted to do just because I’m in a wheelchair – so I do them anyway, if I can! I’m a man on a mission….
I started this blog because I got fed up of looking for info. on fishing for disabled anglers on the great WWW and really irritated at the lack of resources. So I decided to do something about it: I have built a website called “Reels on Wheels” as a resource for people like me who want to fish and can’t find suitable venues; I’m planning to visit as many fisheries to around the country to see where I can fish and what the fishing’s like;
These are my short-term goals! I’ll go anywhere I’m invited and fish any water in the world as long as I can get there!! For the future, I’d like to think I can (sit-)ski a black run before I die, water-ski again and maybe fish in the world Marlin championships in the USA if I can find a sponsor.
I dream about sailing round the world with my family and blogging the whole experience – maybe not the Vendee Globe, but you get the picture, right?!
I love your site, and I’m sure you probably get sick of hearing it but you really are a credit to both yourself and the sport.
It makes a nice change to see someone with plenty of ambition instead of the usual ‘can’t be bothered attitude’ that is all too common in todays society.
Check out my website, there is definately a good mark with what I would consider to be good wheelchair access at Mullion Cove, its detailed on the site just incase you’ve not been there before.
I recently fished a nice mark on the Hayle estuary with good access, a spot called Dynamite Quay. Keep an eye on the site, I hope to be adding it to the list of marks soon.
Cheers
Johnny
Cheers Johnny,
Thanks for the positive feedback – it means a lot to me! I’ll keep an eye on the site – it looks great, by the way – and I hope we can get to meet when I’m down that way… I’d love to get some more sea fishing under my belt (and the wife loves to catch her own food, too!)
Nick
You say there is a lack of information/resources for information for disabled anglers have you tried The British Disabled Angling Association – http://www.bdaa.co.uk
Their website has a stack of information from accessible fisheries to fishing equipment for anglers with a disability.
Pete – thanks for your comment, but I have had very little luck with that particular website… it takes you all round the houses and didn’t answer the questions I had at the time. Maybe it’s changed recently? Will have to take another look, won’t I?
I have plenty of equipment that I can manage at present, but I’ll be sure to pass that on on my forum
Nick
Wheres the buddy list all I see is you going fishing with your mates.
Hi Sandy,
The list of Buddies is on the Reels on Wheels Forum… and the mates are new Buddies who I have met (barring one) since I started this venture… there are Buddies wanted and Buddies available sections on the Forum.
Once we have more Buddies, there will be a ‘list’ for people who don’t have the internet at home aswell.
Please bear in mind that I only started my Road Trip on May 9th! I’ve only got a Buddy Bus, not a Buddy Jet!!
Hope that helps.
Nick
–
http://www.reels-on-wheels.org/forum
Hi Nick
The Buddy System sounds a good idea but are the Buddies vetted or having a CRB/Police check done on them??
Rob
Hi Rob,
We talked about this to some legal people and they advised us that because we are acting like an introducion agency we didnt have to do the CRB checks…However if we have a younger person contact us then the situation changes and they would only meet with a Buddy who had been checked and of course their parents or guardians would be contacted.
Again when we are holding an event the helpers will have been CRB checked.
I am the one out on the road and I have undergone a course and CRB check, I hold a current certificate to that effect and at this time I am the only person dealing with the general public.
I understand your concerns, you have a valid point and this subject has been covered in our documents for the Charities commission and in our governing document.
Nick
Hi Nick, great site.
Any chance of a link to ableize under your ‘Disability’ section on the right here in exchange for your listing currently in http://www.ableize.com/society-and-culture/Blogs-Disability-Related/
Our new system now dumps non-reciprocals listings after six mnths so i’d thought i’d drop you a line. Heading above would be great. Please drop me a reply so i can enter this url and lock your listing bud.
Sorry for the dealy – I’ve added you to the ‘Disability’ ection and the Blogroll too!
Rosie
I just found your site and think it is great. Hats off to you and your never surrender outlook. I will be adding a link to your site on mine and will check back regularly.
Tight line and screaming drag to you
Callan
Callan,
Thanks for the vote of confidence mate!! We do what we can to encourage all anglers to join in and have some fun! We love this sport and have met some wonderful people since we started out last year.
Thanks for the link and I’ll reciprocate with pleasure!
Rosie (the Wife!)
Hello my over the pond friends. Nick and Rosie
I hope that this post finds you both well.
Just found your blog…WELL DONE!!
IM IMPRESSED>>>>
I put a story on my blog today and wanted you to check it out…
http:://womenfishing.wordpress.com
Let me know what you think
Terri
Hi Nick,
Just browsed through your website and thought I would let you know that I am opening a fishery in France this year which will cater for disabled and able bodied people.
I have been in touch with Terry Moseley at the BDAA, who has been extremely helpful, and who will be visiting the fishery in about April time this year. If he approves all the work I have undertaken I should be very pleased if you could be one of the first to fish the lake.
I am updating my website on a regular basis so that as and when work has been completed everyone knows, although I am hoping to have the fishery open to the public by May.
Regards
Paul Hawkins
hi
i have just started my own blog for my website “fishing in scottish waters”.could you please add my blog to your your blogroll.i would be most gratefull if you could also give me some feedback about my blog.my blog can be viewed at http://fishingscotland.blogspot.com
p.s i will also return the favour and add your site “which i think is great”to my blogroll
many thanks
john richards
http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=5539
wecome to join us next year!
Great story. VERY inspiring! I hope you don’t mind if I give you a plug on my blog and add you to my blogroll!
Hi Nick,
Great site, i love what your doing here, i wanted to email you but could not find your email address. I was wondering if you could b kind enough to add a link to your sidebar please.
Email me back if you can help me out
best regards wayne
Hi Nick-
I like your site and your attitude. I work with Polaroid Sunglasses here in the UK. I have about four pairs of sunglasses that I’ve earmarked for you. We’d love to know what you think of them, and we’d love to see some photos of people getting the most out of them.
Laura
Hi,
Love the site.. Keep up with the good work.. It’s great to see fishing stories of such nature on the net.
Keep your fishing tackle and think of it as way of life.
It was great finding your blog! I haven’t read enough about anglers with diabilities. My brother was born w/o a left hand but he’s still a better fly tier and fly caster than I am.
Hi,
Have only just got into fishing at the ripe old age of 30 but love reading about fishing and about peoples experiences – yours is extremely humbling. I recently caught my pb down at a lake in oxford, a beautiful 20lb common carp. What type of fishing are you into? I will be coming back and hoping you manage to set sail on your round the globe trip! Also very please for you that you managed to fix some sponsorship from Fishtec.
Kind regards,
Phil