ADAPTIVE FISHING
If you never pictured yourself fishing, reconsider.
Outcast Anglers are those who don’t match the archetype, who want to find belonging in community, and deepen their ties to the water.
Confluence Collective programming is committed to ensuring access to the water for every body. Explore our existing community program offerings with this in mind, and continue reading for adaptive-specific program details below.
ACCESS IN COMMUNITY
Flexible programming built around individual empowerment
Confluence Collective works with the Maine-based Adaptive Outdoor Education Center for a community-based approach to improving access to the water for every body. Recognizing the infrastructure and culture of fishing access has typically been built with ableist perspective, together we are approaching improvements through the needs of our community locally.
Beyond an ongoing calendar of programming hosted at the completely accessible Brunswick and Carrabassett Valley centers, we are working to connect anglers to opportunities beyond local waters: expanding access to waters and riverbank buddies across the country.
Every body belongs on the water.
Explore accessible facilities + expanded outdoor programming at AOEC
Request a Maine Guide referral for anglers with mobility restrictions
Learn how to fly fish through our 6 week Horizons Fly Fishing Program with AOEC
ADAPTIVE OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER
connect with community and get on the water with our adaptive programming partners
ACCESS BY BOAT
Improving infrastructure
Confluence Collective has worked with adaptive fishing lodge + custom fishing gear experts at Camp Bullwheel in Ennis, MT to build adaptive boats to better support anglers with mobility impairments. These inflatable canoe-style rafts are more stable than canoes, which are the cultural norm for accessing water in the northeast.
As part of greater cultural community shift away from ableist norms, we work alongside occupational therapist and cognitive disability specialists at AOEC to prepare more guides, fishing professionals, and community members with the tools + approaches to better support all anglers.
Our boats are available to support community programming throughout the region. While truly inclusive riverbank access requires many improvements to ensure safe and comfortable fishing for anglers with mobility impairments, these boats open up access to rivers + stillwater while advocacy and municipal access projects continue.
Get in touch to connect with adaptive fishing specialists and explore how we can support accessible programming on local waters: us@confluencecollective.org
GET INVOLVED: get to know Confluence and adaptive fishing partners or request training
FIND ACCESSIBLE WATER: accessibility reviews with partners at Treeline Review or join our writing team
COLLABORATE: request support to improve access in your local community
