Flounder Fishing Seaside area for disabled

[MartinH523]

I have watched some videos on YouTube where they are fishing where the Nestucca drains into the ocean, but have no idea where or how to get to it.
I can see house's and/or buildings across the water from where they are fishing, but I have no idea how to get there.
I'm 64 and have disabilities.
I was run over by a truck and it took 14 surgeries and a few years in a wheelchair to where I am at now.
I refused to live the rest of my life in a wheelchair because of my passion for fishing and crabbing.
I am finally walking with a cane for stability, but I'm up.
I may not be able to get very far and I may have to put up with a lot of pain, but I want to find places like on those videos, that I can get access to, for fishing flounder.
Anyone know how to find those areas?
They look flat and grassy, hope easy access?

 

[plumbertom]

I have watched some videos on YouTube where they are fishing where the Nestucca drains into the ocean, but have no idea where or how to get to it.
I can see house's and/or buildings across the water from where they are fishing, but I have no idea how to get there.
I'm 64 and have disabilities.
I was run over by a truck and it took 14 surgeries and a few years in a wheelchair to where I am at now.
I refused to live the rest of my life in a wheelchair because of my passion for fishing and crabbing.
I am finally walking with a cane for stability, but I'm up.
I may not be able to get very far and I may have to put up with a lot of pain, but I want to find places like on those videos, that I can get access to, for fishing flounder.
Anyone know how to find those areas?
They look flat and grassy, hope easy access?

Good luck with that.
Having similar limited mobility issues myself, my experience has been that very few fishing areas are accessible unless you can walk for goodly distances.
Even the areas that are accessible are usually limited, and some even require the disabled to pay extra for access.
There is an ablist faction in Oregon that stands firmly against any attempt to make access for those mobility challenged available, and too many elected officials would prefer to keep it that way.

 

[Chromatose]

If you can swing it, buy a small boat.

 

[plumbertom]

If you can swing it, buy a small boat.

I own a small boat.
That doesn't change the situation for shore fishing.
Even with the small boat, for those of us with physical limitations, taking the boat out alone can be a prohibitive amount of work. Not to mention the expense of fuel for the tow vehicle as well as the boat.

 

[Snopro]

some even require the disabled to pay extra for access.

I'm surprised the ADA allows it to happen. I'm sorry you're having trouble finding spots to fish.

 

[plumbertom]

I'm surprised the ADA allows it to happen. I'm sorry you're having trouble finding spots to fish.

What the ADA says is that a "reasonable" accommodation must be made.
But it doesn't say what "reasonable" is supposed to consist of.
One such example I've posed about before and have been trying to change for a few years is the ADA access at Alton Baker Park Canoe Canal.
They charge $10 (in the past, I haven't bought one this year, so it could be more) for a disabled access permit.
That allows you to park a vehicle along the canal for about 150 to 200 yards east of Day Island Rd. just after it crosses the canal. This leaves the majority of the canal, including the pond area, inaccessible to those who are unable to walk great distances, even though there are vehicle roads and areas that can be used for parking.
But in talking to Parks about it, there appears to be a group that insists that allowing a few people (in all the time I've fished there, I've never seen more than four vehicles with permits, and most times it's the same two or three once or twice a week) who fish the park with access permits would disrupt their use of the park.

 

[Chromatose]

I own a small boat.
That doesn't change the situation for shore fishing.
Even with the small boat, for those of us with physical limitations, taking the boat out alone can be a prohibitive amount of work. Not to mention the expense of fuel for the tow vehicle as well as the boat.

Since you quoted me Plumbertom
I made comment because every person I have met with disability has their own requirements. Martin commented about Fishing/Crabbing and my take about being able to go from point A to B and being able to walk, got me to think maybe a small boat. I completely understand that your particular situation that going alone on a boat is a no go. You have made this clear numerous times throughout your tenure here at the forum. It almost seems that Boat fishing for you is going by the way side. That saddens me. As does the lack of access for those who have disability's, on both sides of the US. I know nothing about Martin as he is new here. With that said, I went with what little information there is. I have Fishing Buddy`s that have special requirements and I have made adjustments to accommodate them. I did not make Owning a small boat comment lightly.
Good Luck to you Martin

 

[MartinH523]

I really appreciate all the replies.
If I have to, I do have forearm crutches I can use to be able to go farther than a couple hundred feet.
I will just put my gear in a backpack that also allows me to carry my light weight chair and my fishing pole.
I just will have to stop and sit down to rest and recover along the way.
Not a big deal.
Besides, I have my pain meds and my nerve pain blocker meds.
I will make it no matter what I have to do.
My Social security may not be able to get me a boat, but nothing will stop me from being able to fish.
I was just mainly trying to find these places to fish for flounder.
Again, Thanks everyone for the input.
Tight lines and happy fishing!

 

[plumbertom]

Since you quoted me Plumbertom
I made comment because every person I have met with disability has their own requirements. Martin commented about Fishing/Crabbing and my take about being able to go from point A to B and being able to walk, got me to think maybe a small boat. I completely understand that your particular situation that going alone on a boat is a no go. You have made this clear numerous times throughout your tenure here at the forum. It almost seems that Boat fishing for you is going by the way side. That saddens me. As does the lack of access for those who have disability's, on both sides of the US. I know nothing about Martin as he is new here. With that said, I went with what little information there is. I have Fishing Buddy`s that have special requirements and I have made adjustments to accommodate them. I did not make Owning a small boat comment lightly.
Good Luck to you Martin

And I didn't take you as making light.
I just expanded on the idea of having a small boat not being the solution to the access problem.

 

[kemfish]

I'd be curious about the potenital flounder fishing. Can you link to the video?

I would suspect they either came from Bob Straub park to the north which looks like a long sand walk, or the Winema Beach access to the south, but I am not familiar with the area at all. Just more interested in catching a couple flounder.

Neither looks great if you can't move over soft sand or rocks for a good distance.

 

[frankf]

I have watched some videos on YouTube where they are fishing where the Nestucca drains into the ocean, but have no idea where or how to get to it.
I can see house's and/or buildings across the water from where they are fishing, but I have no idea how to get there.
I'm 64 and have disabilities.
I was run over by a truck and it took 14 surgeries and a few years in a wheelchair to where I am at now.
I refused to live the rest of my life in a wheelchair because of my passion for fishing and crabbing.
I am finally walking with a cane for stability, but I'm up.
I may not be able to get very far and I may have to put up with a lot of pain, but I want to find places like on those videos, that I can get access to, for fishing flounder.
Anyone know how to find those areas?
They look flat and grassy, hope easy access?

I am in a similar situation. Can't access most of the places that I used to fish. Not sure what the solution is as most fishing places are not set up for folks that can't handle rough terrain. Flyfishing is out of the question. Guess it time to find those small lakes with paved trails and fishing platforms. I aimt quiting yet.

 

[Davpot]

I am in a similar situation. Can't access most of the places that I used to fish. Not sure what the solution is as most fishing places are not set up for folks that can't handle rough terrain. Flyfishing is out of the question. Guess it time to find those small lakes with paved trails and fishing platforms. I aimt quiting yet.

Hello Frank! IF you like to use flies, you Could just put a Bubble on your spin rig and attach a leadered fly! Its much easuer than Swishing a fly rod around! OFFW has a website with handicapped fishing locations! Hope this will help!

 

[frankf]

Hello Frank! IF you like to use flies, you Could just put a Bubble on your spin rig and attach a leadered fly! Its much easuer than Swishing a fly rod around! OFFW has a website with handicapped fishing locations! Hope this will help!

Good idea!. What is the OFFW site you mention? I'll be tthere are enough of us with limited ability that we should set up some kind of group page where we can help each other out with tips on places to go, get togethers to help each other, guys with boats that can't do it alone anymore.
I'm in Grand Ronde. The pond in Sheridan had paved access around the shore and 3 fishing platforms. The stocking schedule shows that there have been a few dumps of trout there so far this year. I'm gonna give it a try. Good smoker meat.

 

[Davpot]

Good idea!. What is the OFFW site you mention? I'll be tthere are enough of us with limited ability that we should set up some kind of group page where we can help each other out with tips on places to go, get togethers to help each other, guys with boats that can't do it alone anymore.
I'm in Grand Ronde. The pond in Sheridan had paved access around the shore and 3 fishing platforms. The stocking schedule shows that there have been a few dumps of trout there so far this year. I'm gonna give it a try. Good smoker meat.

Hello Frank! That site is MyODFW.com. I found it under "Fishing". Vernonia lake is a great place to check out. 5$ paring fee. Paved access. Several docks! Steelhead available. Do check out that ODFW site!
Davep