Nationally-competitive fisherman defies odds
2/16/2007 4:40 PM
By: Veronica Castelo news8austin.com
Fishermen from around the world continued their quest for the largest fish at Lake Travis Friday.
Four hundred of fishing's best are in town for the FLW Wal-Mart Fishing Tournament.
Cold temperatures and low water levels have presented some challenges for anglers, but fisherman Mark Goines said that's nothing compared to what fellow angler Clay Dyer has overcome.
"He's my hero. That guy's unbelievable. It's just unbelievable, the
talent that the guy has and that he's able to do what he does. It's unbelievable" Goines said.
Clay Dyer is from Alabama. He's been fishing since he was five and competing in tournaments since he was 15. Friday he demonstrated his method for fishing.
"I use my lips and my teeth to tie my knots on my fishing lures.
I actually use my bottom lip to control the line whenever I'm
throwing the reels," Dyer said.
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Disabled fisherman
Cold temperatures have presented some challenges for anglers this weekend, but one fisherman has overcome much greater odds.
 
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Dyer has perfected this method of fishing. He was born without legs and only a partial arm.
"It's one of those unexplainable freak things," he said.
Dyer said his successes today have a lot to do with how he was brought up.
"All through my life growing up, my friends, the whole community
around me and my family, none of them ever approached me and said, 'You can't do this or you can't do that,'" Dyer said.
As a result, Dyer's always felt confident to pursue his dreams.
"I always wanted to compete at something at the national level and I knew at fishing I could do that," he said.
Without any special equipment or privileges, Dyer holds his own; however, he admits he sometimes loses fish others with arms and fingers could probably get. He doesn't let it get to him.
"There are days that aren't the greatest days in the world but you can choose to give up, lay down, and quit, or you can choose to put your nose to the grindstone and get after it," Dyer said.
