Fisherman Helps Children With Disabilities Cast for Joy Angler J.P. Sell's Fishing Therapy

A little girl in a pink wheelchair sat on a dock and watched as J.P. Sell tossed a piece of bread into the water. 

When a bass darted up and inhaled it, her face broke into a big smile. The two started talking about fishing, and Courtney asked what it was like to catch a fish like that. 

Born with cerebral palsy, she never had experienced the fun of reeling in a bass like other kids had. 

“Have you ever taken someone like me fishing?” Courtney boldly asked. 

Sell answered, “No, but we can make it happen.” 

Shortly after, he arranged for everything to make Courtney’s day special. He borrowed an automatic fishing machine that she could use to launch a cast with the push of a button, and an electric reel to bring the fish in. 

Once the two set out on Table Rock Lake, Sell and the little angler pulled up to a bridge pillar and Courtney launched a cast. Moments later, the rod jerked and Sell instructed her on how to engage the electric reel. 

The equipment worked like a charm and Courtney watched as Sell netted her first fish, a 3-pound spotted bass. The boat, full of helpers, erupted in celebration. 

“I don’t know who was more excited, Courtney or J.P.,” said Ben Bonner, Courtney’s dad, who was along for the ride. “It was just an amazing experience. 

“J.P.’s huge heart made it all possible. He deserves more than I could ever repay him.” 

Many years have passed since that memorable day when Sell started his mission to help children with disabilities enjoy the healing therapy of fishing. 

Courtney is now 21 and is a confident young lady. She has learned to do many things that doctors once doubted she would ever achieve. 

And Sell? He has gone on to become a champion for kids who have physical and mental disabilities. 

Buoyed by the emotional rewards of making a difference in Courtney’s life, he set out to do the same thing for others. 

He organized large events under his Fish Tales umbrella, holding fishing events in which children with disabilities are paired with guides, pro anglers and others for a day of fun on the lake. 

Those days are often soaked in tears — tears of happiness. And Sell is among those shedding tears. 

“We have hundreds of touching stories of where fishing has made a difference for these children,” said Sell, 52, who lives in Rogersville, Missouri. “Our doctors do amazing things, but it’s still practicing medicine. 

“Parents are told all the time about what their children won’t be able to do. But we help those kids and their parents to think outside the box. 

“Fishing is the only sport that doesn’t discriminate. Any child can enjoy the outdoors.” 

J.P. Sell, angler and founder of Fish Tales

“A lot of these kids who can’t move their arms think they’ll never be able to catch a fish. But they can. We have the equipment to help them. 

“We even have kids fishing with their feet. If they can move any part of their body, we have the equipment to help them fish.” 

It’s all about fitting in. Kids with disabilities often feel left out when they are unable to participate in activities that able-bodied children take for granted. 

“A lot of these kids go through depression,” Sell said. “People think: ‘They’re just kids. What kind of problems could they have?’ 

“But they have to deal with peer pressure, bullying, being made fun of, all kinds of things. I truly believe that getting them outdoors can change their lives.” 

Debbie Weathermon of Aurora, Missouri, has seen the magic fishing can create. Her son, Jansen, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. 

Jansen would go along on family fishing trips but he could never participate because of his disability. 

Sell changed that when he took the boy fishing with his adaptive fishing device. Weathermon still tears up when she watches the video of Jansen catching his first fish. 

“He was screaming, he was so excited,” she said. 

Jansen, now 16, has participated in programs led by Sell for almost 10 years. He even shot a buck deer with Sell at his side with the help of an adaptive rifle. 

Weathermon and her husband Jesse say that Sell has played a major part in their son’s life. 

“Just the way he enables kids to do things they have never done is amazing,” she said. “And it’s not just kids. He does a lot of programs for veterans, too.” 

Vannetta Groeteke is one of the many anglers who regularly volunteers to help Sell with his programs. In fact, it’s a family mission. Vannetta’s husband Gary, and their two sons, Ryan and Brett, also help. 

“I’ve taken kids out who were blind, deaf or paralyzed and you can see how special this is for them,” she said. “Just to feel the wind on their face during the boat ride, it’s something they’ve never felt before.” 

Groeteke met Sell when they fished against each other in bass tournaments on Table Rock Lake. She saw how hard he worked to put on the kids’ events, and she wanted to help. 

Not only does Groeteke take some of the disabled kids fishing, but she also wrote a book, “Thanks, Grandpa, for Taking Me Fishing,” and donates all the sales to Sell’s programs. 

Sell is overwhelmed by all the help he gets. Today, he is disabled himself. He suffered lung damage when he almost asphyxiated in a work accident years ago. 

“I shouldn’t even be here,” he said. “I almost died.” 

But in his typical style, he downplays his own problems and focuses on the kids. 

He is in and out of hospitals and medical facilities for treatments during harsh times, but he continues to plan his kids’ events. 

“Fishing is the only sport that doesn’t discriminate,” Sell said. “Any child can enjoy the outdoors. 

“I fish for time. When that fish is on, time stops. When that child pushes the button on that electric reel, he or she has zero disabilities, zero ailments, zero problems. 

“I think that is a message from God.” 

Flatland contributor Brent Frazee is a Kansas City based outdoors writer.