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g Waters Sponsors

Steve Lewis 2010 Winner of the TFO Sponsored Regional Volunteer of the Year for the Virginias Region PHWFF

Steve Lewis, a member of Fly Fishers of Virginia has been volunteering at McGuire VA Center, Ft Lee WTU and Ft Eustis WTU. Steve has been involved in the program for more than four years.

Steve is thee go to person when it comes to handling all phases of providing great, low cost lunches we offer the Warriors, Veterans, and volunteers during the day long events. We never have to worry Steve handles the planning, delivery, set up and clean up for each event. We take it for granted the lunch will be there because Steve has it under control

In addition Steve has only missed a few sessions in the last four years. He is a capable fly tier and casting instructor who enjoys working with our Warriors and Veterans.

Steve was one of the key FFV members who “pushed” us to take on the challenge of running the FT
Eustis WTU program over a year ago.

His easy go manner works well in developing long relationships with our Warriors and Veterans.

When you meet Steve you will really feel he is a really nice guy and a great asset to PHWFF.

A certificate and TFO fly rod was presented to Steve during the planned fly tying session at Hunter
McGuire VA Hospital January 19,2011 by Phil Johnson, Regional Coordinator The Virginias Region.

Dominion Hot Ditch Report - December, 2010

The morning dawned cold, with temperatures in the teens, but with a bright blue sky and a few puffs of white clouds high above. And while the mercury never did get higher than thirty degrees, the water was warm and the fish were biting down at the Hot Ditch. The Hot Ditch is located at Dominion Power’s Chesapeake Station on the Elizabeth River. Water is used to cool equipment at the power plant and then discharged down a long canal back into the river. When the days are cold the fish move up the canal to enjoy the warmer water temperatures.

This day twelve warriors from the Fort Eustis, VA, Warrior Transition Unit and McGuire Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Richmond, VA, arrived to catch those fish. All of the guides, biologists, supporters, and soldiers arrived a little before 9 a.m. and piled into the Dominion building set aside for the occasion. This was the third large PHWFF event that Dominion Power has hosted this year. Dominion also hosted a similar fishing event on the York River and a two-day fishing event at Back Creek.

Everybody got into the coffee and doughnuts provided while going over the safety rules and getting a quick lesson from the biologists that raced up and down the ditch throughout the day to land and tag the fish. They also got a chance to grab hand-warmers, various flies, and a Hot Ditch t-shirt that had been made by Dominion for the occasion.

Throughout the morning it took some long casts fighting the wind to get the clousers out into the current and slow, steady stripping to induce a take. But the sea trout were definitely biting, along with a few red drum. The hottest color seemed to be the orange / brown clouser, but chartreuse / white was taken heavily, and some chartreuse / pink, and red / white. The soldiers kept fighting ice out of the guides as it built up, but the fishing was steady until lunchtime when everybody retired to the Dominion building for a barbecue luncheon.

After lunch everybody was right back out at the water wetting their lines. Later in the afternoon the wind died down a little bit, allowing for some easier casting. At three p.m. the cold and the necessity to drive home finally forced everyone off of the water. But it was with happy faces and that the soldiers, guides, biologists, and all of the help from Dominion departed.

PHW Back Creek Trip - October, 2010

     Storm clouds were tumbling over the crest of the Allegheny Mountains along the Virginia
border and the distant rumble of thunder signaled that it was time to be getting off of Back
Creek, located in Bath County.

     Sgt. Mark Rivera from the Fort Eustis Warriors in Transition Unit, however, wanted to squeeze in one more rainbow trout before calling it a day. He had already caught and released a boat load of fish and it was clear he had been bitten by the fly fishing bug as surely as the bows he had landed earlier had chomped a Kreelex streamer.How could anyone refuse him? “Okay,” I said. “You get two shots and then we are out of here.” A newbie to fly fishing, Mark’s exuberance carried over to his casting. He tended to pound the water with way too many false casts. “Mark, these fish are spooky in this shallow water if you flail away at them
they are going to be gone. Make one false cast in the air and let it drop just upstream of this boulder with the big undercut.” He stripped line off the reel, made not one but two false casts and placed the nymph and indicator perfectly into the seam that would carry them by the undercut. The indicator darted to the left, Mark set the hook and the fight was on. A few moments later, he plucked the fish from the net and released it back into the water. A big grin plastered across his face, he looked up at me and said: “One more!” Before I could respond a bolt to lightning ended the discussion. “Nope,” I said. “Time to get out of here.” We climbed up out of the creek bed and started the walk back to the car. Mark is recovering from back injuries suffered while he was on active duty. His treatment and the physical therapy have been on-going for months. “You know, Dan,” Mark said. “I caught a lot of fish today, but that wasn’t the best part. The best was that I did not worry about anything or think about anything but fishing.” Mark’s comment is testimony to the value of Project Healing Waters for active duty military personnel and veterans recovering from wounds and injuries.

     Mark was one of 12 wounded warriors to participate in a Project Healing Waters event hosted by Dominion Oct. 13-14 at the Back Creek Special Regulation trout waters. For all of the warriors and the volunteer guides, it was two days, of fun, fishing, bonding and memories in the making.

     Fly Fishers of Virginia took the lead in providing volunteers to help the soldiers and veterans.
Steve Lewis, Ken Eastwood, Bill Pearsall, Mike Hatfield, Dan Genest and Alan Hoover represented FFV at the event. Club vice president Phil Johnson coordinated the event for PHW and FFV. Board member Mark Sargent served as the official photographer.

     Dominion, which manages the Back Creek trout stream in partnership with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, stocked the one-mile section of creek with more than 1,500 large rainbow trout for the warriors to catch. Dominion also provided catered breakfast, lunch and dinner for the hungry anglers and their guides. A grant from the Gilford Foundation in Richmond covered the cost of lodging for the soldiers and their guides and provided each of the warriors with a complete fly fishing outfit that
included, waders, fly rod and reel, vest and flies. Phil Johnson said, “From the fishing, to the food, to the weather and most important to the camaraderie and bonds that were forged, this may have been one of the best FFV/PHW events we have ever held. I want to thank all of the club members who participated for making it a success.”

PHWFF Holds the Kick Off meeting at Ft Eustis, VA - Warrior Transition Unit

On November 10, 2009 the first session of fly tying and fly casting was held in the conference room of the WTU. Seven Volunteer instructors from Fly Fishers of Virginia introduced the skill of fly tying and casting to six Warriors. For many it was the first time they had ever been involved with this aspect of fishing.

At first there was the usual apprehension “Can’t do that”. Well by the end of the session all had tied two or more flies and started on developing their skills in casting a fly line. All were pleased with the progress they had made in such a short time

During the tying session the conference room had a steady stream of Warriors wanting to find out more about the Project Healing Waters program.

Supporting FFV will be Ford’s Colony Fly Fishing Club (FCFFC) as well as Sgt Dennis White, who is stationed at Ft Eustis. With the cooperation of all parties the plan is to hold two day time sessions per month run by FFV and a third evening session headed up by Sgt White and members of the FCFFC. More will be added if there is the need.

In the future , plans will be developed for fly fishing day trips within the state of Virginia, both salt and freshwater. However, one of the highlights of Ft Eustis is the post is on the banks of the James River and there are three fishing pond on post. This will give the Warriors ample opportunity to gain to fly fishing skills.

This is three locations FFV has started up PHWFF programs in the State of Virginia. Currently they work with McGuire VA Center and up until last June worked with the WTU at Ft Lee Virginia. That unit has been folded in to the Ft Eustis unit

Phil Johnson

Program Leader

FFV / PHWFF

Flip Pallot with the PHW -January, 2010

Some of the PHW warriors were able to attend our 2009 Annual Banquet

Here is a thank you note from a PHW participant:

Project Healing Waters

I’m a pretty normal guy by most people’s standards. At least I appear that way when out in public. Some days I walk with a limp, always with pain, but it’s the emotional scars that people don’t understand.

I had the pleasure of attending a Project Healing Waters (PHW) fishing excursion to “Escatawba Farms” just outside of Covington, VA. I got to meet some fellow service members and veterans who were all there for different reasons, mostly for the therapy that comes from being on the water. The water was chilly, 40 degrees Fahrenheit on the first day but the water eased the strain on my back and slowly the pain melted away in my legs and back. I was under the excellent tutelage of some very generous guides who had given their time freely to come out and show us how to “fly-fish” but more importantly, they let us in on the secret of the serenity that comes from being on the water.

I had never fly-fished in my life. I had always wondered what the big deal was. After landing about 15 Rainbow Trout in the two day trip, I know what the deal is. There are few pleasures in life, like the feel of a strong Rainbow on your line, as you play it hard to get it in the net, then release him back to the water, to give someone else the thrill another day.

There is something about slowly wading into a hole, and having a trout sit in the hole with you, as he looks for food, and you look for a bite. It shows me that I can get along just fine if I put my mind at ease. The only thing better than fly-fishing to me, is being able to do along side my brothers and sisters in arms. We may all come from different backgrounds and places, but the water and the fish have the ability to help us see ourselves as normal.

Thank you Project Healing Waters, and thanks to my three guides, Mark, Mike and Dan. Regretfully I can’t remember there last names, the pills do a job on my memory, but I will forever remember the lessons on fishing, and the lesson they gave in giving back to the Veteran community. Thank you again.

A 'thank you' note from the McGuire VA hospital

Click here for information about the McGuire VA hospital.

Madison County,