Project Healing Waters at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Facility

Project Healing Waters was founded by the Federation of Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited. The purpose is to serve our military personnel who have been wounded, injured, or disabled. PHW introduces fly fishing and fly tying to our wounded Vets to support them during their physical and emotional recovery.

The project began in Washington, DC and then expanded nationwide offering its services and programs to active military personnel and veterans at hospitals throughout the country. MN has its very own active Project Healing Waters sponsored by the local chapter of Trout Unlimited (TCTU) and fishing clubs, tying clubs and individuals who volunteer their time. Consider volunteering for the Vet’s who fought for our freedom.

• Add fishin' with a vet to your already busy schedule!


• Make your TU contribution of time and energy to a vet!


• Locate that old single-action reel in your collection (a vet needs it)!


• Share some of your fur and feather collection in a session with a vet!


• Figure out how to cast with one arm... perhaps sitting!


• Imagine a woolly bugger made with one vet's hand and one of yours!
  

For more information contact TCTU or stay tuned for updates on upcoming events/outings.

Casting for Recovery comes to the MN/WI

Casting for Recovery is a national non-profit support and educational program for breast cancer survivors. The organization was founded in 1996 by a breast surgeon/angler who realized the casting movement could help heal the wounds from breast cancer surgery. In 2008 37 retreats were offered in 27 states. Survivors are invited to a retreat for fly fishing activities tailored to promote physical, emotional and spiritual healing. The sport of Fly Fishing is an effective tool used to create gentle exercise while the counseling curriculum benefits women at any stage of treatment of recovery. It’s now time for the Midwest! July 17-19, Hartford has sponsored a WI retreat at Knapp Creek in Frederic, WI.

Any woman who has experienced breast cancer can attend a retreat providing she received clearance from her physician. Each retreat has a limit of 14 participants to ensure personal attention is provided for each survivor. The staff includes medical professionals, a nurse, psychotherapist, physical therapist and fly fishing instructors. Instruction will be taught on fly casting, knot-tying, catch-and-release fishing, entomology and basics on gear. Then it’s time for the river for time of relaxation with nature and a fly rod!

Ways you can get involved!Participate – sign up to be a participant via info@castingforrecovery.org Donate – equipment for participants to take home, gifts for participants, cash, etc - please contact Kim Rasmussen at kim.rasmussen@hartfordlife.com or Sarah at sarahsanford@yahoo.com

Be Prepared

This past summer I learned a lesson on how prepared I am in the outdoors. Basically… I’m not! I headed up north to fish a river I had been on once. However, it was with someone who was very familiar with the area. This time I was headed up north with a friend who had never been fly fishing. Ignoring the warning about fishing this spot without someone familiar with the area, I was determined to have a successful evening fishing one of my favorite hatches. It turned out to be an embarrassing disaster. Fishing ended at 11:00pm… we were back at my car at 3:00am… I am sure you can guess what happened in between. Luckily my cell phone had service (this is the only river I have fished with cell phone service) and we were able to contact help! Yes, the police came in with spotlights in the air for us to locate them and find our way out! Again…. Embarrassing! It was a lesson needed to show me how really unprepared I am. I never thought much about getting lost on a river or what I would need.

Never leave the car without:

• A Compass

• Water

• Emergency Food

• Some type of First Aid Kit

• Head Light or Flashlight

• A Pocket Knife

• Signaling Device (Whistle, Flare, Mirror)

• Candle

• Insect Repellent
  

• Waterproof Matches
  

Always let someone know where you are going

Pay close attention to your surroundings and landmarks from the moment you leave the car

Stay calm if you get lost. Panic is your worst threat!

Sometimes it’s good to stay put if it is after nightfall

Always be sure to look at a map of the area. Pay attention to where bridges may cross the river and if other tributaries flow in

Travel with a companion (I can’t imagine if I was alone)

Be prepared for weather conditions (rain, snow, etc)

Understand the symptoms of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration

When someone says "Don't go"... LISTEN

Back again!

After a long absence FlyFishingGals is up and running again. Sadly early this summer someone abused the photo section of our site and posted our photos on various discussion boards. The photo section will remain closed for the time being.

Question of the Day

For those of you who are excited about the Walleye Opener!

Walleyes hunt at low light levels because:

[A] Fewer boats are out
[B] They can see better than their prey
[C] They use mainly their sense of smell and their lateral line to locate forage

Check back later for the answer...

Gordon MacQuarrie

Nearly a year ago I was introduced to the “Old Duck Hunters’ Association”, a group of fictional stories written by Gordon MacQuarrie. Your imagination is quickly captured as you read about the President of the “ODHA” and his days spent on the Brule fishing or duck hunting on Richards Lakes. MacQuarrie has a way of writing a story that keeps you tuned for the punch at the end. Whether you’re waiting to find out if Minnie (the mallard hen) will find her way back to Bill or who will catch the largest trout of the day, MacQuarrie will always leave his readers with a grin. Zack Taylor compiled Gordon MacQuarrie’s stories in a book called “More Stories of the Old Duck Hunters”. If you’ve never read the short stories I highly recommend checking them out. Not only will you be entertained… but you’ll read about those flies and stop to think “hmm… should I try it?”

Quote of the Day!

The farther you travel to fish, the worse the fishing will be. However, it will improve immediately after you leave to return home. Thus the old saying: "The fishing is always better the day before you get there and the day after you leave".
-Max Schulman