by Nick Rowe


Reels on Wheels is dedicated to all anglers with a passion for angling.

The idea was born from an initial chat with Frank Warwick about the frustrations faced by disabled anglers who don't appear in articles, news or television programmes about fishing... and it grew, after talking to Matt Hayes, whose advice was invaluable.

Without encouragement and support many people with mobility issues give up their outdoor hobbies and activities - and this mustn't be allowed to happen. Angling is the most wonderful recreational pursuit and has been one of my greatest passions for over 50 years now!

I'm on a mission to: 1.. Enable less-able/disabled anglers to get back into angling if they've been unable to, for whatever reason. This is where the "Buddy System" comes into its own.... finding able-bodied anglers who would like some company (or just to help a fellow-angler out), to link up with less mobile anglers who struggle to get to a venue or need a little help getting their tackle to their swim - you can see where I'm going with this, can't you?


2.. Fish as many waters - lakes, rivers, reservoirs - as I can throughout England, initially, in an effort to see how many venues there are which have some sort of access for the disabled or less able angler. I'm only too happy to offer advice and encouragement to fishery owners/managers about inexpensive ways of making their waters more user-friendly and accessible.

3.. Create a comprehensive internet-based guide for the whole country, of fisheries, buddies, etc., for all anglers in the UK. Lots of site addresses - coarse, game or sea fishing: I'd like to cover all aspects of fishing. I invite every fishery in the land to register on the website and describe their fishery themselves - free of charge. You'll be able to show your fishery to advantage and describe it like it is! You may even e-mail me photos to include with the description.

4.. Keep updating my Blog so you can join me for a day's fishing when I start this Road Trip!! It's a way for you to let me know where to fish too, especially if you want some publicity for your favourite lake/river. Please help me to make this the most comprehensive UK resource for passionate anglers. If you're passionate about angling, let's hear from you - join the Reels on Wheels Forum (and Road Trip!)

5.. The primary aim is to complete the Reels on Wheels Buddy Bus Road Trip around the UK by the end of this year and to find as many buddies as possible. The secondary aim is to attract enough funding from sponsors who believe in the Buddy System and bringing anglers back to the sport, to create a base here in the South West where families, teens, adults, able- and less able/disabled people can fish safely and be offered tuition (if they need it).


I know my goals are ambitious and achieving them will take time and a certain amount of funding. I'm also in the process of arranging to fish the Marlin World Cup in 2008 and when I do, I shall be the first disabled angler to participate in this prestigious event.
I started my Road Trip in Devon and Cornwall as these are my home counties, but if I can find enough financial support, I shall continue onto the rest of the country and the UK.

If you feel you can offer any support or would like to discuss any of the above, please contact me. info@reels-on-wheels.org


Nick's goal is to create a thriving, nationwide community of buddies and be able to provide them with transport, if it's needed, to help others less able to get back out and fish as often as they can. Ideally, a fleet of large cars and/or minibuses, funded by Reels on Wheels, would enable lots more people to rediscover their passion for angling and form lasting friendships. This will change their quality of life for many people.
Ultimately, Nick's goal is to publicise and promote the Buddy System and his passion for angling, globally. He will go wherever he's wanted/invited, speak to groups of children, youths, adults, families, anglers, fishery owners/managers, environmental groups, corporations, disability groups, government agencies, etc .. whoever wants to hear about it.

Latest news from Nick...
I have completed Devon and Cornwall in as much as I have been to the places that I was invited to visit.
After appearing on ITV local news and BBC Spotlight we have had many calls and have got new members on the forum who have offered to take somebody fishing..and of course we have had people on there who need some help to get back on the river/lake.
At this moment in time we are seeking patrons who can give us some of their time...we have Billy Knott who is a great man and loves what I am doing. We are also in the process of sorting out the papers to become a registered charity and for those who have been there know what a nightmare that is.
I will be back on the road from the end of this month and we are working on the trip now so I will know where I am going in the next couple of weeks.


Nick Rowe - http://www.reels-on-wheels.org
Blog http://disabledangler.wordpress.com

Recently whilst looking through a few fishing sites, the following topic made me sit up and take notice:-

Disabled Angers Kill Fish !!
This topic was about the following comment made on the BBC Ouch website-

1. Fishability
If you are of a mind to disable or kill some fish, you will be delighted to hear that your own disability may work in your favour when obtaining the necessary documents. From 2007, those of you who are in receipt of DLA are entitled to a half price angling licence.
More information from the British Disabled Angling Association
This was one comment that I found very offensive, and it seems I wasn't on my own either, as numerous emails of complaint were sent to the BBC about it, with one being sent by Terry Moseley, President of the BDAA, who has kindly allowed me to print a copy of it :-


Dear Editor,
As the President of the British Disabled Angling Association, i felt it was my duty to inform you of the comments recently made by the BBC on their website bbc.co.uk concerning disabled angling.
Within the description on a link to the BDAA the article link suggested that disabled anglers "Disabled & Killed fish, if you were inclined to do the same you now have a consession to enable you to do this", the comments were found to be very offence implying that disabled people or the sport of angling condones such actions.
I have officially complained to the BBC in a statement below, these sorts of comments damage our sport and its image, to taget disabled people and their activities is beyond contempt :
"As president of the British Disabled Angling Association charity, in an official capacity I strongly object to the description link to our web site, describing that our members "disable or kill fish" this remark is in very bad taste and obviously one that has sparked complaints from people who have viewed the text within your link to our charity we site. We do not disable or kill fish and would expect the BBC to ensure that comments they make concerning charities, organisations & activities were independent and not suggestive in a bias nature. The comments do not describe our activities or our work as a charity, we are disgusted in the suggestion that we would condone such activities. I have copied the remarks below for your response.
Yours TO Moseley President BDAA www.bdaa.co.uk
"1. Fishability If you are of a mind to disable or kill some fish, you will be delighted to hear that your own disability may work in your favour when obtaining the necessary documents. From 2007, those of you who are in receipt of DLA are entitled to a half price angling licence. More information from the British Disabled Angling Association "
Yours
Terry Moseley
President BDAA"


Terry got the following reply
Dear Mr Moseley,
Thank you for your email pointing out to us the possible offence that our article 'Save money, seek out disability concessions' may have caused to members of your organisation. The Ouch website is a site for younger disabled people. We regularly use humour, and dark humour at that, to make important points and to increase understanding and appreciation of disabled people. It comes from a good place.
The text we used was not written to deliberately cause offence. It was written, in house style, to point out what the writer felt was something of an irony: as she saw it, disabled people hurting fish perhaps in similar manner, laterally speaking, to how they were injured, or became disabled, themselves. All writers on the Ouch website are disabled too. I should point out, and we felt this a bit of 'in' humour on a disability theme.
Regular readers of the site, we are sure, would have seen this as a piece of often demonstrated throwaway humour from our online magazine - it was not meant as a political point nor do we believe readers within the context of the Ouch website will have taken it as such. Had this been reported as hard fact on a News site, the situation may be different. Ouch is known for it's slightly offbeat humour which you will see if you do a quick trawl around bbc.co.uk/ouch
We received several emails as well as your complaint. We have altered the text on the page, in house style, to reflect what your members told us angling was to them.
We hope that this alteration directly responds to your concerns and that we have changed the dark tone to something more fun and indicative.
Thank you.
Damon Rose, editor Ouch

After this reply the text was amended to:-

1. Fishability
If you are of a mind to hook some fish out of water, hold them for a bit, take a photo, and then throw them back, you will be delighted to hear that your own disability may work in your favour when obtaining the necessary documents. From 2007, those of you who are in receipt of DLA are entitled to a half price angling licence.

This in my eyes is still unacceptable.

I urge ANYONE reading this article to send a letter of complaint to the BBC, as it is not only showing our great sport in a VERY bad light, it is a ridiculous and biased comment which may affect the future of angling. Why? Because if youngsters (or anyone thinking of taking up fishing) read the comment on the BBC site, then they may decide angling isn't for them, even before they have tried our great sport! If you do wish to complain to the BBC, then go to-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/

It would seem that the BBC are trying to make light of their derogatory comment, but I for one won't be making light of my letter of complaint, I hope that you will also let them know how you feel about it!!

Ian the Disherman