I was headed for a fishing assignment, writing an article for Georgia Outdoor News magazine. When I arrived at the boat ramp, the guide my editor had arranged for this story, Ernie Broughton, had not yet arrived. As I always do, I tried to picture him from the telephone conversations we had previously. I usually guess wrong, and this time was no exception.
When he drove up to my vehicle and I walked over to greet him, he extended his left arm and said, "Did they tell you I only had one arm?" Trying to keep my composure, I told him no, but that it would not matter. I pictured myself trying to write, take notes, and get my pictures while helping him.
A short run in his boat took us to an area he had caught fish in the day before, and where I was in for both the shock and treat of my life when we began fishing.
Before I could offer to help him with anything, he had a rod in his hand and had made his first cast. I probably looked awfully stupid as I stood there and watched this man work. It was simply awesome.
Sitting on a bow mounted seat, Ernie ran a foot controlled trolling motor and worked a lure back to the boat. Before I could even cast the first time, he had made two casts and retrieves.
He would cast the lure and then place the rod handle between his knees. Using his knees to move the rod, he reeled with his right hand. He had as much rod control and flexibility with his knees as I had with both arms!
When a fish struck, Ernie would grab the rod from between his knees, set the hook, and then put the rod back between his knees. He could fight even the biggest fish with his knees and his one arm, and he could do it as well as anyone with two arms.
Ernie lost his left arm in an electrical accident some 50 years ago. It was taken off at the shoulder. He has fished for over 30 of those years, and has done better than most of us. He was a tournament fisherman for a number of years, doing quite well. He is also a scratch golfer, and no doubt would beat me badly at that game!
He beat me badly on this trip. He caught probably three fish to my one, and I never lifted a finger to help him. He broke off several lines and had to re-tie, and I never lifted a finger to help him. He caught a number of fish and removed each one to be released, and I never lifted a finger to help him.
This story is not just about Ernie, but it is about all of the physically impaired people in the world who have chosen not to be left behind. Each in his own way has chosen to participate where people told them they did not belong. And this is where I was humbled by Ernie.
Ernie said that he wasn't disabled, he was simply an amputee. He just had to try harder than those around him to find a way to get it done.
There are a number of organizations that cater to the physically challenged fishermen. Many of them are freshwater oriented, but they will also help out in saltwater. They are there to help people do what Ernie did, and that is to find a way, regardless of the hurdles. More and more charter boats are now wheelchair accessible, and captains will do all they can to make the day a fun one. Some boats even take Wounded Warriors at no charge.
The next time you see a physically challenged angler, remember Ernie. I know I do. I won't ever look upon these folks the way I did in the past.
