Spring Update 2010

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With winter and the planning/talking portion of the year now over, focus is now on getting fishers with vision loss out on the water.  Hands-on fishing sessions with novice blind fishers have been arranged, blind fishing tournaments organized, and Further refinements to talking electronics and sea trials of new innovations, such as the new Minn Kota I-Pilot, are underway.  But perhaps one of the more exciting, grass-roots, projects in the works this year is a new initiative called “Blind Fishing Buddies”. 

The idea for Blind Fishing Buddies came about after hearing from numerous enthusiastic non-sighted fishers expressing a common concern, how to find sighted fishers open to having a non-sighted person as a fishing companion for the day.  These folks have the skill, gear and desire, they’re just missing a seat in a boat. 

This year there will be a pilot test of the initiative; matching local sighted and non-sighted fishers for a day on the water – timing and location of their choosing.  If all goes well, the hope is to role the “match-making” service out to other communities in 2011. 

Some of the advantages in having a non-sighted fisher as a companion on your boat include: 

  • We’ll never criticize your boat handling skill
  • You don’t have to worry about us wondering off and getting lost
  • You can claim that your fish are all hogs

In all seriousness though, while I personally enjoy the thrill of venturing out alone on the water in my own portable light-weight electric-powered fishing boat, access by others to the types of technologies I’m experimenting with is limited, and let’s face it, fishing along side a good buddy can make a day on the water that much more enjoyable.  Also, while fishers with vision loss are often referred to as, “fishing machines”, given our heightened dependence on the sense of touch, getting around on land or water can still pose a challenge. 

2010 activities to open up the sport of fishing to the over 14 million Americans and Canadians with vision loss have already included:

  • 13 days (112 hours) exhibiting the Blind Fishing Boat at shows
  • 8 key-note presentations
  • Publication of how-to articles on baitcasting, tackle organizing, introducing newly blinded Vets to fishing, etc.
  • 5 “Feel the Bite” how-to fishing articles published in mainstream fishing mags
  • Coverage in 3 newspapers and one TV news channel
  • Feature spread in Outdoor Canada magazine
  • 14 new reports posted on www.blindfishingboat.com

Competitive fishing events for 2010 include:

  • Blind Anglers International Tournament
  • Ottawa Valley South Bass Master” tournament series
  • Carp Zone 2nd Edition
  • Ottawa River Walleye League circuit”
  • Renegade Pro/Am and B1 annual Bass derbies
  • North Carolina Visually Impaired Fishing Tournament

Additional confirmed outreach commitments for 2010 include:

  • 3-days of hands-on fishing instruction for visually impaired campers at the CNIB’s Lake Joseph Centre
  • Coverage in “Canadian Fly Fisher” magazine
  • Workshop presentation on “Achieving Success” at the Wayne Gretzky Score Camp for Youth with vision loss
  • 1-hour feature on A-Channel TV
  • Day on the water with military vets with disabilities
  • Speaking at and competing in an international blind sailing regatta on San Francisco Bay
  • Coverage in the June issue of Readers Digest (Canada)

Don’t forget to check out www.blindfishingboat.com for the latest news and answers to all your questions concerning fishing with vision loss.

Anchors up,

Lawrence Euteneier
Captain
Blind Fishing Boat .Com

Disclaimer

The “Blind Fishing Boat” is a not-for-profit initiative to open up the sport of fishing to the over 14 million Americans and Canadians living with vision loss.  If you are interested in receiving periodic Up-Dates, please send an email to (info@blindfishingboat.com).