Post by BOF on Sept 22, 2006 23:15:19 GMT
Until you are restricted in your mobility you usually don't give much of a thought to some of the smaller problems that beset you when fishing.
Ok access is the main problem. But until my heart attack, I had taken for granted my ability to play a big fish, and land it.
Last week I had the good fortune to catch a fit 18lb+ Linear, but playing it swiftly became a race between who would tire out the quickest, the fish or me.
On this occasion it was the fish.
However weighing it proved it was a very close run thing.
If it hadn't been for the help of another disabled angler, (ta Derek), I am not sure I could have got it done so quickly.
So we come to the reason for this post. Years ago I developed a duff shoulder, and had to weigh everything one handed for a while.
Easy when it was a Chub, of a few pounds.
Not so good, when it was a big fish.
So I started to think on what I could do.
In the end it was easy, all I needed was an extending Storm rod pole, a 3/8ths BSF bolt, and a webbing strap, in addition to my scales, and weigh sling.
Now my Avon scales have the strap through the handle, which is permanently bolted into place.
Screw the bolt into the top of the pole like this:-
Then the pole takes most of the weight of the fish + scales + sling, with one hand being used only to steady the pole, and make sure the fish is right off the ground when the reading is taken.
BOF
Ok access is the main problem. But until my heart attack, I had taken for granted my ability to play a big fish, and land it.
Last week I had the good fortune to catch a fit 18lb+ Linear, but playing it swiftly became a race between who would tire out the quickest, the fish or me.
On this occasion it was the fish.
However weighing it proved it was a very close run thing.
If it hadn't been for the help of another disabled angler, (ta Derek), I am not sure I could have got it done so quickly.
So we come to the reason for this post. Years ago I developed a duff shoulder, and had to weigh everything one handed for a while.
Easy when it was a Chub, of a few pounds.
Not so good, when it was a big fish.
So I started to think on what I could do.
In the end it was easy, all I needed was an extending Storm rod pole, a 3/8ths BSF bolt, and a webbing strap, in addition to my scales, and weigh sling.
Now my Avon scales have the strap through the handle, which is permanently bolted into place.
Screw the bolt into the top of the pole like this:-
Then the pole takes most of the weight of the fish + scales + sling, with one hand being used only to steady the pole, and make sure the fish is right off the ground when the reading is taken.
BOF
BOF, not a bad idea, i think you should put this on the main tackle tips thread ,as it would be handy for any one small in stature for example, or on their own with a big fish, 
thats true, , i can always get jnr to hold the scales for me ;D
18/7/07