Jack up the wheelchair

People with a disability like quadriplegia find using a standard fishing rod difficult due to weak or no grip, poor balance, muscle fatigue and so on. Hauling a big fish from 80 feet below is quite a task. So my ingenious brother Gavin converted my power wheelchair into a power fishing rod!

Determined to get me deep sea fishing again he kicked a block of wood under my wheelchair and bolted a hand line onto extended wheel studs. All I had to do was use the forward control to lower my bait to the reef below wait for the rod tip to bend then hit reverse and winch even the hugest fish aboard.

Replace wheel studs with longer bolts

As an avid fisherman before quadriplegia I was keen to get back on the water. Six of us hired the reef fishing charter boat Down Under II (not wheelchair friendly) for a full day 4am-3pm from the Noosa Boardwalk. Having quadriplegia my buddies simply lift me aboard then my power wheelchair and throw me back in it.

Gavin replaced three of the four rear wheel hub bolts on my Quickie P200 powerchair with longer high tensile steel bolts. Having these bolts pre-fitted as you see them here is best. Just be careful not to hit anything bending the bolts. Or do a “Sparticus” and take some poor guys ankle out, sorry about the wall Dad and your ankle Gav.

Bolt handline onto backing nuts

Once at the reef we take the side door off the boat and raise my wheelchair rear wheels off the deck with a wooden block. Then lash me to the railing each side with my toes hanging overboard. Pre-drilled holes in a nine inch hand line fishing reel makes it quick and easy to bolt the reel onto backing nuts flush with the wheel. If you aren’t able to replace your hub bolts you could take the wheel right off. Or use a spare rim with no tyre as the reel. Just remember, there’s typically not much room on these boats and less time messing around means more time fishing, so test your setup thoroughly before the day of your fishing charter.

Attaching custom fishing rod holder to wheelchair frame

Our rod holder is an aluminum tube fixed to a block of wood, you could use poly pipe etc. Making the most of holes already in the wheelchair frame it’s bolted on prior to boarding. You’ll want the rod to sit at 45 degrees or higher so it clears the boat rail. A big fish could snap your rod if it’s resting hard on the rail. It’s important to line the rod and reel up vertically so the fishing line will feed back onto the reel when winding in.

People are amazed to see me fishing this way. “It’s disability fishing on steroids.” I’m very fortunate to have my brother Gavin who always finds a way to put the ability in disability for me and thanks to my Nephew James for these photos.

Fishing reel inline with rod holder

The sun rose as we crossed the Noosa River bar into a calm sea. Heaven must be a sight if it’s better than here on earth. We were all speechless with the dim glow of the sun’s first rays illuminating our smiling faces. A two hour cruise to 14 Mile Reef off Double Island Point, about 65ft deep saw me catch the second largest fish, a 4.5kg Maori Cod. I pulled him up so quickly the poor snodger had the bends. My catch was beaten only by “Lucky Fingers” my father who landed his Granddaddy at around 11kg.

With many thanks to my brother Gavin, disability fishing has a new meaning. I remember lying in hospital thinking of all the things I would never do again. Now I know with determination, hope and help from friends you will find “where there’s a wheel there’s a way.” I saw on the news Down Under II was sold and while being taken to the new owners struck a sandbar and sank in Moreton Bay. There are many other fishing charters in Noosa.

Wheelchair tied to railing

The longer and wider the boat the more stable in rough conditions. Down Under II was a 28 foot catamaran, a decent size taking a maxium of 8 fishermen plus the skipper but it was still quite bouncy in my power wheelchair. The smoothest ride is usually as close to the rear of the boat as you can get. Some of the guys were giving the skipper heaps because he served up cold chicken, ham, salad and fruit for lunch “Girl food.” Haha, Didn’t bother me, I had plenty of beer and wasn’t there for lunch.

Where: Noosa River Boardwalk, Tewantin, QLD. Australia.
Cost: Full day trip 8 (max) people $1200.00 or $150.00 per person.
Rating: ***** Nice day but not enough fish caught for the price.