Fayetteville, North Carolina — Conway Bowman, the man whose name has become synonymous with “extreme” fly fishing will join the Fayetteville Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing program for their annual Marabou Madness Event on March 4th, 2017 at the Pechmann Fishing Education Center. The day prior to Marabou Madness, Bowman will visit Fort Bragg’s Warrior Transition Battalion to meet soldiers assigned to unit and to speak about his extreme angling adventures.

Marabou Madness is the fourth such event scheduled by the Fayetteville Project Healing Waters program and is expected to serve more than 100 disabled veterans from programs across North Carolina and South Carolina. It also serves as a fundraiser to help provide equipment for the program’s many activities. Veterans will have the opportunity to fish in the Pechmann Center’s stocked ponds and to participate in fly-tying classes, raffles, and contests.

Fly-fishing has long been recognized for its therapeutic value in lessening the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress, and Traumatic Brain Injuries. Tasks associated with fly-fishing help improve fine motor-skills, hand-eye coordination, balance, range of motion, concentration, and self-esteem, according to psychologist, Dr. Tamar P. Martin-Franklin. Bowman’s visit in intended to encourage these injured soldiers to participate in the Project Healing Waters program and to pursue fly-fishing with tales of exciting challenges in the pursuit of giant redfish and mako sharks.

Bowman is the owner/operator of Bowman Bluewater, Southern California’s premier saltwater fly guide service and principal owner of the Ragged Edge Fly Fishing School. He currently holds an International Gamefish Association world record for redfish on the fly.  Bowman has been seen on a number of outdoor shows to include appearances as the host of The Outfitters by Ford Trucks and Fly Fishing the World on the Sportsman Channel. He has also chronicled his exploits in numerous books and magazines and recently authored the book, Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing 101.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing was founded in 2005 by retired Navy Captain, Ed Nicholson and the Fayetteville program is one of over 200 operational programs in the United States and Germany. These programs provide injured service members and disabled veterans with instruction in fly-fishing, fly-tying, and rod building. Participants may also have the opportunity to take part in fishing outings, both locally and across the country, with all at no charge to the veteran.  Fayetteville Project Healing Waters program lead, Tom Carpenter says, “The Fayetteville program currently serves more than 100 disabled veterans and seeks to further help our community through partnerships with the Warrior Transition Command, VA Hospital, medical facilities, civic and veteran’s organizations.”

For more information, contact Tom Carpenter at tom.carpenter@projecthealingwaters.org or phone # 910-494-2757.