First Ft Lee WTU Field Trip

Oct 14,2008

The Oct 14,2008 Ft Lee WTU first field trip well received. FFV hosted a great day of fly fishing at Rose Farm River private water, owned and managed by Doug Dear, President of Project Healing Waters. The river is in Madison County. This was the first day fishing event with the Warriors from the Warrior Transition Unit..

There were seven Warriors many of them had never been fly fishing .We separated the Warriors into two groups : those who had fly fished and those who had not. A few more experienced Warriors were able to start fishing on the river. The others began some basic fly fishing instructions.

Rose Farm well suited for getting new fly fishing Warriors into casting . There is a very nice farm pond with great access and open casting. It’s also full of bass and brim. This allows a beginner to get a feeling about the skills required in enjoying this sport.

It did not take long before the new students started to hook up with fish and get “hooked “so to speak.

After a very nice deli lunch, set up by FFV members Steve Lewis and Bill Pearsall, all the Warriors were paired up with FFV guides for the assault on the big trout in the Rose.

Each Warrior was equipped with FFV/PHW loaner waders, vest, and fly rods. The guides provided the flies as well as instruction on fishing skills needed to catch a trout. All Warriors were able to hook and land a trout in moving water.

This first all day fly fishing trip would not have been possible without the wonderful willingness of the following FFV member who gave up their time and expense to take part in the event:

Mike Hatfield, Mike Herron, Mark Sargent, Dan Genest , Alan Hoover, Thom Wheeler, Steve Lewis, Bill Pearsall, George Pearson, and Vin Lacovara.

In 2009 we have a lot of day trips planned as this is what Project Healing Waters is all about.

Phil Johnson
Program Coordinator