Fly fishing in Wyoming is healing for these Martinez VA veterans

WALNUT CREEK, CALIF. – On a late September day, it was fly fishing and a storm that brought veterans from Martinez, Calif., together with strangers in Dubois, Wyo.

Veterans in the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing-Martinez, CA program made a nearly 1,000-mile trip to fish waters near Yellowstone National Park. The PHWFF-Martinez veterans included Jose Arana, Luke Bachan, Shawn Coe, Martin Coulson, Bill Hopkins, Felix Oseguera, Michael Viramontes and David Lipscomb. They were joined by Randall Steiger, a veteran from a Wyoming PHWFF chapter joined the group to help out.

A recent storm, however, had washed out the places guides planned to take the group. They instead ended up travelling almost 100 miles to fish on the Wind River. Near Togwotee Pass and the northern edge of the Wind River Range, the Wind River slips out of the spectacular Absaroka mountains northwest of Dubois and offers small-stream fishing for brookies, rainbows, cutthroat, and brown trout.

But when a couple of local fly fishermen discovered that this group of special vets was fishing nearby, they lent two of the vets their own fly rods and ensured that they caught fish.

This is one of the most important aspects of fly fishing as it relates to PHWFF – this is a sport often

This is one of the most important parts of PHWFF – fly fishing as a path aiding in the physical and emotional rehabilitation of military service personnel. It’s a bonus that this sport is often comprised of friends who haven’t yet met, one that offers inclusiveness centered on a common appreciation of fly fishing and all that it entails.

“Wyoming was amazing,” said one PHWFF-Martinez vet. The other eight members of the group agreed it was one of the best fishing trips of their lives.

“I don't think you could find a more beautiful place to find peace. I know I sure felt a sense of calm and peace, and you couldn't get the smile of my face. And I know others felt the same way too. I know this trip really helped me reset for the rest of the year,” said another veteran.

This trip was the outcome of donations and grants, which provided the funding, and the work of volunteers, many from the Diablo Valley Fly Fishermen club, who spent many hours to ensure the readiness of the vets for a trip such as this.

These veterans and volunteers meet weekly throughout the year to practice casting, tie flies and generally share the company of those with whom they share the uncommon bond built in service to their county. But trips like this one are where much of the healing happens.

A lot of very nice trout were caught – brown, rainbows, cutthroats, cutbows and whitefish – and the catching improved each day as the weather improved to finally become spectacular. But more important than catching beautiful fish was the fact that this trip substantiated the mission of PHWFF by actually showing veterans being healed on the water.

A lot of very nice trout were caught – brown, rainbows, cutthroats, cutbows and whitefish – and the catching improved each day as the weather improved to finally become spectacular. But more important than catching beautiful fish was the fact that this trip substantiated the mission of PHWFF by actually showing veterans being healed on the water.

BZ to all! (Navy signal for “Well Done.”)

About the PHWFF-Martinez, CA Program

The PHWFF-Martinez group meets Thursdays every week in the early afternoon, usually at the Center for Integrated Brain Health and Wellness, Building 23 at the Martinez VA Outpatient Clinic, 150 Muir Road, Martinez. If you would like to learn more about the PHWFF-Martinez program as a participant, volunteer or supporter, contact David Lipscomb at davidlipscomb@comcast.net, or visit the DVFF website.