People with disabilities are no longer limited as to where they can go because of restrictive building construction and design, thanks to new regulations that allow for things like elevators, wheelchair ramps and even things like Braille on elevator buttons. And fortunately there are all sorts of gadgets and helpers to make sure that disabled people can enjoy the same pastimes and entertainments as everyone else, too. Handicapped fishing reels are one of those gadgets, designed to help physically challenged anglers enjoy the sport of fishing. These are typically electric reels that allow people with limited hand strength to be able to reel in a fish.
They’re ideal for one-armed fishermen because the push-button operation allows the angler to snap the rod and play with the fish, without having to put the pole down to crank it in. There are other devices like pole holders and even harnesses that can be worn that let anglers crank a manual reel if they wish.
Electric reels designed for deep water fishing are an option for those who simply need some help, because they can be manually turned and then switched over to electric reeling when it gets too hard. But reels designed especially for disabled fishing are best because they weigh far less than heavy-duty deep-sea reels designed for big fish that must be pulled from great depths like Marlin or swordfish.
Some devices that are worn like harnesses have a holder for the pole and allow the angler to use body movements like bending at the waist to play with the fish and snap the hook, while using only one hand to reel it in. And some are designed specifically for people in wheelchairs who also have limited hand and arm strength and mobility. For someone who’s had a stroke and has the solid use of just one hand, for people who have weak hands and for the elderly, a push-button electric reel is the best choice to allow them to be able to have a full fishing experience without strain or frustration.
