Giving the disabled a real sporting chance

Nov 6 2007 by Moc Morgan, Western Mail

THERE are times when we really should count our blessings instead of taking them for granted.

A few years ago, as I was taking photographs of some young sea anglers on the rocky shore at Aberystwyth, I stepped back, fell and damaged three discs in my back. Ever since I have realised what having a backache really means as the pain one experiences seems to permeate through one’s whole body. However, I am fortunate in that there are spells when the pain is not as severe and fishing becomes a pleasure again.

I have met many anglers who unfortunately have major physical disabilities. Many of these are keen and enthusiastic anglers who really appreciate the provision on many of our lakes and reservoirs of specially-designed “wheely boats” for use by disabled people.

They are larger than normal boats, especially the latest model, with ample room to manoeuvre. I have used them myself on more than one occasion and found them to be exceptionally effective and comfortable. What is good about the wheely boat is that a wheelchair bound angler can get on to them unaided. Most users of wheely boats are amazed at their stability and they do cope really well in stormy conditions.

The vast variety of fishing tackle on sale these days is amazing, but there are many, including disabled anglers, who are not fully aware that there are items of tackle on sale to suit every individual’s particular requirements.

I had cause to discuss this issue with a disabled angler not so long ago. He was thinking of giving up fishing because of his back pain.

I asked to see his fishing rod and was surprised to see that it was a very strong and comparatively heavy rod, number 8 and so was the line. That was a heavy load to be casting with for a long time.

I suggested he try out my rod and line – the rod being a No 4 with a number four line. I did not have to say anything – as he realised that my tackle reduced his physical effort by nearly 40%.

A few months later he told me that he had changed his rod and line to lighter ones and the back pain had eased considerably. He needed no convincing that the difference in effort between using the two rods for six hours was equivalent to moving more than a ton.

I have also found that a number of young anglers and women anglers in particular tend to use quite heavy rods and this can certainly spoil their enjoyment of fishing.

At the beginning of last summer, I visited Teglan fishery in Ciliau Aeron, near Aberaeron. This is a coarse fishery designed especially for disabled fishers. One look at the access roads and one could appreciate why it won the Platinum Award, the only fishery in the UK to win this award, for a fishery with perfect access for disabled anglers.

I had a younger brother who was severely disabled. He was deaf and dumb and also suffered from grave physical disabilities. His left side was semi-paralysed and he had no control over the movement of his left arm and leg.

Although he had great difficulty with communication, we knew he was interested in fishing, but he could not hold a rod and was not mobile enough to get near to a river bank.

I often looked back with sorrow on those days and wonder how he must have felt when he saw me going down the river to fish. I remember one evening returning home with a basketful of really nice trout and being praised by the family for making such a fine catch. The following morning I found that my fishing rod had been mysteriously broken during the night. Nothing was said – but we knew what had happened.

Back in those days there were no facilities for disabled anglers and it was not easy to know how to help people with disabilities.

The incident with my brother has remained in my memory ever since. It is difficult to understand the problems disabled people have in coping with their handicaps and especially in communicating.

This month workshops are to be held in Wales for those of us who would like to learn more about helping disabled anglers.

There are two workshops planned for South Wales.

The first is at the Commodore Hotel, Cwmbran, next Tuesday, and the second at the Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen, the next day. Both start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm.

Anyone who would like to attend should contact Ben Wilson (Sustainable Fisheries programme manager Wales) on 01792 325616 or email ben.wilson@environment-agency.gov.uk

Disabled anglers are part of the fishing fraternity and it is important they are able to experience the joy fishing can provide.