Romans 3:3-5

March, 2007

I am often asked how I persevere through the difficulties and frustrations that I face as I try to overcome my disabilities to achieve my dreams and how I always seem to be in such a good mood. I think the secret is that in those trying times I try to remember and focus on the knowledge that enduring suffering produces perseverance, and that perseverance produces character, and that character produces hope, and that hope doesn't disappoint. I guess it is probably because I have had to endure and overcome so much that my hope overflows and as a result I am generally happy. This knowledge along with my faith helps me stay positive. The next time you find yourself in a trying situation, give this a try and see if it helps. Remember, if I can you can.

February was really busy. Clay started the month in Atlanta, Georgia where he participated in the Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Fisherama and Turkeyrama. On February 3rd, Clay traveled to the Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, just outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a speaking engagement. Monroe, Louisiana was the next stop for Clay on February 6th for a photo shoot for the cover of his biography that will be available soon. On February 7th, Clay traveled to Texas to begin practicing for the first FLW Tour stop on Lake Travis. Clay interrupted his practice long enough to fly to Bismarck, North Dakota for a speaking engagement at the Bismarck Tribune’s Sport Show on February 11th and spoke at the New Song Church in Bismarck on February 12th. Clay then traveled back to Austin, Texas to continue his preparations for the FLW tournament February 15-18. Following the tournament, Clay returned to Alabama and on February 22nd took Brian fishing. Brian was Team Dyer’s 2006 winner of a "day of fishing with Clay" through the qnawithclay promotion. Clay’s next stop was Birmingham for the BassMaster Classic February 23 – 25 where he spent quite a bit of time signing autographs. On Saturday Clay traveled to Atlanta to speak at another wild game dinner and then returned to Birmingham for the remainder of the Classic. After the Classic, Clay traveled to Tennessee to have his new Ranger boat wrapped in the logo of his primary sponsor Bassfan before returning home for a couple of days before beginning March’s speaking engagements.

March is turning out to be as busy for Clay as February. Clay’s first speaking engagement is March 1 where he will speak at a wild game dinner at the First Baptist Church of Lithia Springs, Georgia. Next he will speak at a wild game feast on March 3rd at the Hillcrest Baptist Church just outside of Birmingham On March 9th Clay will speak at a hunting and fishing exposition at the Rock Family Worship Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Clay’s next engagement will be on March 10th at another wild game dinner at the Freedom Baptist Church, in Laurel, Mississippi. Clay will then speak at a Men’s Retreat the morning of on March 17th at the Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Alabama. Clay will leave Talladega and immediately fly to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to speak that afternoon

at the second annual "wild game fest" at the Diamond W Arena near Alvarado, Texas. After a few days at home Clay will do some practice fishing before traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee for a FLW tournament.

I always feel so blessed to be able to live my dream and be a professional tournament angler. At our first stop on the FLW Tour in Austin, I had the honor of meeting a young man from the C.A.S.T. organization at the fun zone on Saturday. This young man had no fingers, hands or arms. After being around him for a few minutes, you did not even notice that fact. It was simply incredible to see the sheer determination, willpower, strength and happiness he displayed. While spending time with him, I took him to the "trout pond" which FLW has for kids at our tournaments. When we got there, he took his shoes off and used his feet to hold the rod and proceeded to catch three nice trout in about ten minutes (more bass than I caught in one full competition day!!). Also, he had just gone through a surgical procedure to repair some vertebra in his neck and was in a body brace. The brace did not seem to slow him down a bit. After seeing his determination, I hope when the brace is removed, he will be able to do anything he wants to do. He deserves it.

Thanks to all for your prayers and support. I have had the opportunity to be better off in the tournament standing than I am, but I will keep chiseling and chewing away until I get there! I have been having some very intense migraine headaches during the past few weeks that really affect my ability to speak and concentrate. I would appreciate it if you would remember me in your prayers and also remember those who are battling terminal illnesses.

Please help us support Clay’s sponsors who are instrumental in helping Clay "live his dream" and to follow Clay as he starts his 2007 tournament trail by visiting Clay’s website and the websites of his sponsors and checking out his blog that is updated weekly. Clay will also be contributing to SMG’s "On tour notes and blog." You can follow Clay’s thoughts and progress every day of each tournament this year by checking on this link.

As you know, Clay is the National Spokesperson for C.A.S.T. for kids. The C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation was formed in 1991 to join volunteers who love to fish with disabled and disadvantaged children for a day of fishing in the outdoors. C.A.S.T. for kids furthers its mission by increasing awareness of disabled and disadvantaged children in our communities and teaching appreciation for natural resources.

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