More Project Healing Waters awesomeness...

Had to share this from my Facebook wall, via High Ground...

Veterans giving back."Here is the fruition of my labor of love. The drift boat that I purchased with my flyfishing club specifically to take vets, primarily mobility impaired down my river which is rated the best fly fishing river in the country." Eric Ortegren, Battle Company, 173rd ABN.
 

Thanks for such great service.

Project Healing Waters second annual 2 fly tournament

 

Dispatches from the Potomac covered the sixth annual two fly tournament for Project Healing Waters. This is such a phenomenal group, and I hope my local chapter calls me or emails me back. Soon.

The author, Ed, did a I fantastic job describing the touching wins that happened all day long. His pictures tell a better story still.

Read the post here.

Graduate? Don't mind if I do. Or am.

What a crazy month! As I organize the mass of experiences I have gone through or will be going through in the near future, 'graduate' is the perfect word. It applies right now in four different ways. Fly fishing is mentioned in two out of the four, although flies have something directly to do with 3 out of the 4.

1. College

First, college.

Yes, ostrich, grammar does matter. A big thanks to Jenna Johnson for sharing this really funny tumblr feed. Just click the ostrich to see them all!

I will become a graduate next Saturday. From college. That's right, folks... it's been 9 years.  B.A. in Foreign Language - Spanish Emphasis from UNO, next Saturday. Woohoo! 

2. Fish species caught on a fly

 I went out with a good friend this morning, Brett Carruthers (featured below), who introduced me to Bennington Lake here in Omaha. He introduced me to the pond on the West side of 180th on that map.

His weapon was a spinning rig alternating between a jig and a large spinner. Hooked into a big one right at the beginning: I'm a witness! It got off like 6 feet from him, so we'll call it a quick release.

How did I graduate in species? Well, I landed a nice, chunky little largemouth first thing on an olive weighted Woolly, switched to a white Wal-Mart popper and caught something new.

Chalk the Black Crappie up on the list of fish caught on a fly.

Then I caught this beautiful little guy. Caught a few of them, actually, but this was the biggest. The beautiful purple coloration is really starting to pop in these guys.

I was very grateful for the action this morning, and to enjoy it alongside a good buddy.

  

3. Awareness of how fishing can help those who hurt 

I absolutely have to give a quick bump to my post about Project Healing Waters, as well as include more organizations that help those who hurt through fly fishing.

Project Healing Waters

(Also, Wounded Warrior Project, a site unrelated to fishing that allows you to contribute to the care and recovery of wounded soldiers in general.)

Casting for Recovery

4. Employment

On Monday, April 30th, I begin new employment as a Business Account Manager for Terminix.

Terminix. Flies. Get it? Okay, maybe it was a long shot, but hey.

Gotta love graduation.



Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Thanks to my new Outdoor Blogger Network friend, Mel, for posting about this organization.

As an appreciative United States citizen, my hat goes off to every man and woman who fights for their country, and especially those that sacrifice their lives or limbs in the line of duty.

To quote the introduction on their website:

"Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings."

Website: Project Healing Waters

Like them on Facebook to support.

Once again, thank you to all servicemen and women, from the bottom of my heart, and may fly fishing help you through whatever pain you face.