Handicapped fishing?

[DarkSkies]

Hot Wheels fishing team is a bunch of handicapped guys with dreams to go fishing. However, instead of only having dreams, they get it done. :thumbsup:

I ran into Wayne S maneuvering around the gym in his wheelchair, and he got to talking. He told me he just joined the Hot Wheels for fishing group that day. I went to their table, thought it was a positive theme, and decided to do a little story on it.

As I understand it, it was started by Chris C, who is handicapped and gets around in a wheelchair. He doesn't let that get him down though. He's a fishin maniac, and decided early on in his life not to let a thing like a wheelchair interfere with his fishing.

He started soliciting contributions to take other handicapped people fishing. He's friends with Kevin Bogan of Point Pleasant, who suggested Chris kick it up a notch, get legal, and try to make it into a big thing where they reach out to as many people as possible. I'm not sure, but Mark from Alex's B&T in Point Pleasant may be involved helping them as well.

"From one small stone, mountains can be moved."




Chris with Mark of Alex's B&T in the background.

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Wayne S, who just joined Sunday, and was my initial introduction to the group.

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Chris going fishing and getting written up in the Fisherman and the Asbury Park Press

"Hot Wheels offers Accessible Angling" the APP article written in the Hook Line and Sinker column.
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In this pic he shows a longfin tuna he got. :clapping::clapping:
Feb 4, 2010 edition of the Fisherman. "Hot Wheels Fishing Rolls into town"

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[DarkSkies]

some shots of Chris and Wayne

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www.hotwheelsfishing.com (http://www.hotwheelsfishing.com)

[clamchucker]

Excellent reporting on this one Dark. Exceptional job on Hot wheels fishing as well.:clapping::clapping::clapping:

[DarkSkies]

Chris from Hot Wheels fishing did a short interview.

9660500


www.hotwheelsfishing.com (http://www.hotwheelsfishing.com)

If I missed anyone hope to catch up with ya at the next show. Nice meeting all of ya's. :HappyWave:

[plugcrazy]

Thought you guys would like this story

Lake Hiawatha man pursues fishing passion despite his ailments, reliance on a walker




http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/9677813-large.jpg Enlarge (http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/06/mr0522walker_goldberg_m13zip_9.html) Jerry McCrea/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/jmccrea/photos.html)Jack Riegel of Lake Hiawatha uses a customized walker while fishing for trout in the Rockaway River in Boonton Township. Lake Hiawatha fisherman pursues fishing passion despite ailments (http://photos.nj.com/4504/gallery/lake_hiawatha_fisherman_pursues_fishing_passion_de spite_ailments/index.html) gallery (12 photos)

http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/9677814-thumb_square.jpg (http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/06/mr0522walker_goldberg_m13zip_10.html)
http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/9677815-thumb_square.jpg (http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/06/mr0522walker_goldberg_m13zip_11.html)
http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/9677812-thumb_square.jpg (http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/06/mr0522walker_goldberg_m13zip_8.html)
http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/9677809-thumb_square.jpg (http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/06/mr0522walker_goldberg_m13zip_5.html)
http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/9677810-thumb_square.jpg (http://photos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/06/mr0522walker_goldberg_m13zip_6.html)








PARSIPPANY (http://www.nj.com/parsippany-troy-hills/) — Jack Riegel said he often sits at the edge of his bed, afraid to go to sleep. The pain that will wake him every hour or so intensifies when he lies down.
He is in pain most of the day, too.
"These are a list of my ailments," said the 74-year-old retired landscaper, presenting for inspection a neatly penned list on yellow lined paper. Five hip replacements, one shoulder replacement, a rotator cuff replaced, a triple bypass, emphysema, fibromyalgia and a host of other afflictions too long for print.
But in the water, he is content — physically and mentally. For Riegel, fishing is a passion that has outlasted most of his body. To continue the sport he loves, though, he has had to adapt.
Riegel rigged his standard hospital-supply walker to allow him to shuffle into the water and fish. The walker accommodates his rods, net and live bait, and it offers a comfortable place from which to sit — pain free.
"This is time that is well-spent," Riegel said. "Nothing else matters."
The Lake Hiawatha resident is placid even when the river is not. At the Rockaway River in Boonton late last month, the swift current and deep waters brought on by three days of spring showers kept the fish at bay. But that doesn’t really matter.
"Since I don’t have any other job to do today, fishing is my job," he said. "This completely clears your head."
Wearing olive green fishing boots, blue pants, a camouflage jacket and matching baseball cap that covers what is left of his snow-white hair, he wades in only a couple feet and sits.

http://brightcove01.brightcove.com/3/260701700001/260701700001_982589868001_Jack.jpg?pubId=260701700 001 (javascript:void(0))

Lake Hiawatha man continues to fish despite a multitude of health concerns (http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2011/06/lake_hiawatha_man_continues_to.html)Jack Riegel loves to fish. But with a list of ailments including lung disease, diabetes and fiber myalgia, you might think he would be confined to a hospital bed or wheel chair. Although he is in pain most of the day, Riegel does not let that stop him from enjoying the thing he is most passionate about. In the river, all he thinks about is fishing. To help himself get to his fishing spots and remain comfortable and safe, this retired Marine and landscaper rigged his walker so that he can wade into the water. The walker accommodates his fishing rods, net and other gear. (Video by Andre Malok / The Star-Ledger) Watch video (javascript:void(0))


"If I wasn’t able to get into the water, I’d be limited," he said.
Riegel reaches to his left and pulls out a rod holstered to one of the walker’s sides. He reaches for live minnow from a bucket attached near the wheels. Slowly, deliberately, he baits the hook with his left hand. He pulls his right hand behind his shoulder and flicks his wrist, sending the line out into the water — just as he has done for the last 60-something years. The only difference is he can’t move around if he doesn’t like his spot.

But that doesn’t really matter.
"Sometimes, the fish bite, sometimes they don’t," he said. "That’s what keeps me coming back."

The loss of mobility, he said, is only a loss if you let it be.
The spot he chose is one he has come to for decades. It is a quiet post tucked behind the Ultra Punch & Dye Corp. on Main Street. Riegel drives there in his Nissan Frontier, which is filled with fishing gear and "other goodies" to help him through the day. There are hand-carved walking sticks and an oxygen machine to assist his breathing if he over-exerts himself.

"This gives him something to do, a reason to get out of bed," said Joe Hogh, who owns Punch & Dye and graduated Boonton High School with Riegel in 1954. "And if he feels a little woozy, he goes to his oxygen machine and gets a whiff and goes back out again."
Riegel fishes three times a week during stocking season, he said. With the rod in hand, he said he doesn’t think about much — because nothing really matters.

http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/9676341-large.jpgJerry McCrea/The Star-LedgerRiegel's walker that allows him to still fish despite his ailments.

"Just being able to do it," he said, "not in a wheelchair, or bedridden. Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself, I think about how much worse off other people are."
Despite his years of experience, Riegel is still refining his technique, still learning, still looking for new ways to catch trout.
"You can’t ever become complacent," he said. "You don’t think, you’ll rot."
And that’s all that really matters.



Published: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, 12:00 PM Updated: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, 12:29 PM

(http://connect.nj.com/user/dgoldberg/index.html)By Dan Goldberg/The Star-Ledger (http://connect.nj.com/user/dgoldberg/index.html)

[storminsteve]

Awswome thread! Dark didnt you have that guy who fishes from the surf in a chair last year? I think his name was Grandpa Joe or Grandpa Angelo or something like that.

[stormchaser]

He even has a minnow bucket, way cool. Here is a similar story about handicapped kids going kayaking.

http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-04-10/news/29407685_1_disabled-kids-boogie-board-doheny-state-beach
Disabled kids catch a wave at Doheny

April 10, 2011|By Photos and text by CINDY YAMANAKA
DANA POINT – The Best Day Foundation, which offers physically and developmentally challenged children a chance to try surfing, hosted the second day of a two-day session Sunday at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point.
"It combines my love of surfing and children," said Brooks Lambert, co-founder (http://www.bestdayfoundation.org/).
"Three years ago, a non-verbal boy with autism didn't want to boogie board, wear a wet suit or even go near the water," he recalled. "After trying it, he yelled, "Boogie board, boogie board, boogie board.'
"His mom cried because it was the first time he ever spoke."

[basshunter]

Just found this, awesome thread!

[speedy]

very cool bro thanks ...

[DarkSkies]

Thanks for posting that Plugcrazy and Stormchaser, that was very uplifting.


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Yes, Steve, his name is Papa Angelo.

A thread where I tell his story:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?5236-NJ-shore-Memories-and-Old-time-fishermen-from-the-past.../page3&highlight=papa+angelo

I talked to him this afternoon, in fact.
He has some health issues going on and says he has no interest in fishing right now. That made me sad. Hopefully things will get better for him and he may take up fishing again.

[clamchucker]

These are the kinds of stories I like to read. Thank you.

[CharlieTuna]

I agree, good positive stories that a handicap in not necessarily an obstacle to having a good time. Thanks for sharing.

[stripercrazy]

Reading it shows us that we should not complain about our minor problems. Look at all these guys have to deal with and they manage to get out fishing. :clapping: for them.

[plugginpete]

Hey check this out a montauk capt took a guy out and he caught fish with only one arm. Report is very inspiring way to go!



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Here's a good photo from yesterday andre and 3 friends during rough

weather were parachuting bass. Took home a bunch of blues and 4 quality bass on a 1/2 day morning trip.

this guy was missing a hand and made a bionic hand that he could grab the rod and jig up bass and blues.

very cool thing to see.

Some people never give up!

captain-art.com (http://captain-art.com/)
631 668 1305

[bababooey]

Thought this was nice.
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[bababooey]

The guy went out on rockfish charters with capt Rich Colombo.

[captnemo]

Great job for the angler. Love the positivity.

[basshunter]

That was awesome thanks for the share. Found something about Clay Dyer, a pro on the FW circuit. Truly inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T-1HcxafdA

[CharlieTuna]

I just got laid off and have to find a new job. Was feeling a little sorry for myself until I saw this video. Thanks for sharing. it says a lot about overcoming obstacles.

[cowherder]

Sorry to hear that CT. Yes these posts are inspiring. Makes you not want to complain about the little things. It could always be worse. Thank you for the share BH.

[lostatsea]

Wow, thanks for posting. Truly inspiring.

[hookset]

Xd. Very positive. Kudos to these guys going out and getting it done despite the odds.

[seamonkey]

Love threads like this! Thanks for sharing.

[buckethead]

Liked the pic and the message. I may not be that old, but close. Would like to think if I had to use a walker I would still get out there.