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Preserving Turneffe Atoll: Safeguarding Against High-End Development in Belize

Nelson Oxley
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Preserving Turneffe Atoll: Safeguarding Against High-End Development in Belize

Situated 28 miles east of Belize City, Turneffe Atoll stands as a captivating coral reef formation, spanning 30 miles in length and 10 miles in width. The atoll boasts a fringe reef enveloping three expansive lagoons, numerous coves, and hundreds of mangrove islands, earning its reputation as a premier habitat for bonefish, tarpon, and permit in the hemisphere. However, the atoll is confronted by various threats that loom, each capable of permanently transforming its distinct ecosystem.

Turneffe Atoll, photo courtesy of Shawn Buckley.

Entrepreneur Sir Karim Hakimi has made a bold move to embark on development activities on the Atoll, stirring controversy by shaping beach areas and allocating space for construction. In response, advocate Craig Hayes, the founder of Turneffe Atoll Trust (TAT), has taken the lead in spearheading efforts to safeguard this precious ecosystem and curtail excessive development.

Hayes, a longstanding champion of the Atoll, has consistently championed a green mentality. He established the Turneffe Flats Resort on the eastern side of Turneffe Atoll over 40 years ago and has remained dedicated to environmental preservation. The resort employs eco-friendly solutions such as double-processed sewage for odorless irrigation, solar technology to power the entire lodge, and the innovative practice of collecting condensation from air conditioners for reuse.

Be sure to check out the full article from Brian Irwin over at Fly Fisherman Magazine by clicking HERE. Check out the Turneffe Atoll Trust (TAT). 

Check out the articles below:

Fly Fishing Belize – The Complete Guide

Lodge Spotlight: Blue Bonefish Lodge

Tomorrow: Exploring The Great Rivers of the West with Western Rivers Conservancy

Nelson Oxley
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Tomorrow: Exploring The Great Rivers of the West with Western Rivers Conservancy

On November 15th at the historic Presidio Officers’ Club in San Francisco, the Western Rivers Conservancy is putting on their third event. Join Hosts Sue Doroff, President and Co-founder of the Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC), and Tom Rosenbauer, distinguished author and host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide Podcast for an evening full of fun. This event, the culmination of WRC’s “Exploring the Great Rivers of the West” series, promises a lively exploration of the intricacies of preserving our precious waterways.

The discussion will delve into the core philosophy of WRC encapsulated in the motto, “Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it,” providing an opportunity to celebrate Sue Doroff’s remarkable contributions to river conservation across the American West. The evening, held in front of a live audience and live-streamed on WRC’s website, ensures a nationwide viewership for this significant discourse.

As Sue Doroff, who co-founded WRC and has led the organization for over a decade, prepares to step down as President in 2024 after 35 years of acquiring and conserving river lands throughout the American West, her unique perspective on land conservation becomes a focal point of this event. For those passionate about preserving our natural treasures, this evening is a must-attend.

Tom Rosenbauer, an industry veteran with 44 years at the Orvis Company, brings his wealth of experience to the conversation. Renowned for his influential books, articles, fly designs, and fly-fishing teachings, Rosenbauer has made an indelible mark on enthusiasts worldwide. As the host of Orvis’ Fly Fishing Guide Podcast, he has engaged with numerous experts in fly fishing, river conservation, and environmental sustainability, including Sue Doroff. Currently serving as Orvis’ Chief Marketing Enthusiast, Rosenbauer’s insights add another layer of depth to this enlightening dialogue.

The conversation between Doroff and Rosenbauer will delve into WRC’s cutting-edge strategies for restoring water flow to benefit rivers, fish, and wildlife. They will also discuss the organization’s approaches to conservation finance and highlight some of the projects WRC has undertaken. Notable projects include the creation of the 73-square-mile Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest on the Klamath River, conservation efforts along Oregon’s John Day River, and ongoing initiatives to return significant flows of cold water to Montana’s Wise and Big Hole rivers.

Tickets for the in-person gathering are available for purchase, and online registration for the livestream is open to all. Tickets and registration can be accessed by clicking HERE. Registrants will automatically be entered into a drawing to win prizes.

Check out the articles below:

We’re Hitting The Road: Join Us For The Southeastern Fly Shop Tour!

Montana PBS Explores Southwest MT Rivers – Trout Decline

Broder Tips: The Complete Lifecycle of a Midge

Chris Solfelt
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Broder Tips: The Complete Lifecycle of a Midge

Go into any fly shop in the country and ask them “What are they hitting on?” There is a pretty solid chance fly shop employees and guides are going to say, “midges.”

Understanding Midge Larvae

Understanding Midge Pupae

Understanding Adult Midges

The non-biting cousin to mosquitos, midges, are one of the most prevalent food sources on streams across North America. They are small, abundant, and available year-round. As we progress through fall into the colder months midges will be a large portion of the trout diet as they are one of the only constant food sources that they have available to them. As such, it is critical to understand each stage of the lifecycle to help you catch more fish as temps decrease. When temperatures start to decrease, air temperature and water temperature combined, you will start to notice the productive fishing times we normally target fish throughout the summer months change once we reach late fall and early winter.

During the fall months the activity starts to shift from early morning to mid-morning, then to midday in the heart of winter. So as fall moves on, and the temps drop think about changing your strategy from fishing mornings and evenings to the warmer parts of the day.

For the purposes of fly fishing there are three important stages of the midge lifecycle; Larvae, Pupae, and adult.

Midge Larvae

Midge Larvae, photo by Isabella Stocker.

The first stage is the Larvae. This is the stage many trout fishers think of when you say “midge,” it’s a tiny worm like bug that comes in a variety of colors, from tannish to red. These bugs are fished sub-surface from middle to lower water column. They come out of the muck bottom where they hatch from eggs and are washed down the river where they become trout food. There are so many different types of midges, the only thing you really need to pay attention to are the size and color of what is going on in your home water.

Practical Midge Larvae Fishing Tips:

  1. A net seine can be an effective way to filter the water to effectively choose the best midge larva based on color and size.
  2. Start with midge larva in the mornings, you can switch or add an emerger as the temps warm. Try a couple of different sizes and colors to help narrow it down. Here is an example of one variation.

Midge Pupae

Midge Pupae, photo by Jan Hamrsky.

From there they move to the Pupae phase where they will emerge and head to the surface. Typically, a midge pupa will develop a little air bubble they use to move from the bottom to the surface. As such the emerger patterns of midges will often have a clear bead head to imitate that bubble. Trout really key in on this phase because there is movement involved; moving up the water column towards the surface makes for high visibility and easily accessed food.

Practical Midge Pupae Fishing Tips:

  1. You may see fish rising and think they are eating adult midges, but there is a decent chance they are taking emergers or (pupae) that are sitting in the surface film, or just below the surface. Try a CDC midge or another pattern that is meant to sit just under the water’s surface.
  2. Try pairing an emerger pattern with a larva to cover both stages. If you notice trout keying on one or the other, change your rig to focus on that stage. Please note some states have a one hook rule, so be sure to check your local state rules before setting up a double-nymph rig.

Adult Midges

Adult midge, photo by Marc Kummel.

The final stage, the adult version of the midge is what closely resembles a mosquito and is often black in color. Midges frequently undergo hatching at various times throughout the day, and even in the fall and winter you will find some good dry fly activity with midges. Midges, even in their adult stage, are often still extremely small, seldom larger than a 16, and more often 20 to 22s depending on your water.

Practical Adult Midge Fishing Tips:

  1. They will often be found in clusters of multiple midges together. You can use this to your advantage using and use a cluster pattern like a Griffith’s Gnat. This presents a larger meal for a trout and may just be worth their time for a rise.
  2. Because they are so small and dark in color, they can be pretty hard to see on the water. There are a couple of things you can do to improve the visibility. 1) Pair it with a larger fly (size 16 or 18) with your midge behind it. 2) Use a midge with a high-vis material on the top (like a Sprout Midge).
  3. If you find your fly is still too big, but you’re down to your smallest pattern, try trimming some hackle, leaving just enough so it still floats. Often a very low profile, low sitting fly is what they are looking for when keying on adult midges.

In many rivers, midges are the most important part of a trout’s diet throughout the year. As such if you want to be successful year-round, its one of the bugs you need to have the most confidence in identifying and fishing.

If you want to learn more about the midge lifecycle head over to Broder Fly Fishing and download this handy “Simplified Midge Lifecycle Chart” to help you learn more. Article written by Chris Solfelt, be sure to follow @broderflyfishing on Instagram. 

Check out the articles below:

Broder Tips: Trout By Seasons

Midge Fly Fishing – Tips to Catch Trout All Day

Behind the Cause: Costa’s Marlin Fly Project Taps into Conservation, Community Science, and Epic Fishing

Will Poston
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Behind the Cause: Costa’s Marlin Fly Project Taps into Conservation, Community Science, and Epic Fishing

If you have spent any time on social media in the last few years, you have likely stumbled across some insane fly-fishing content from Mag Bay. Chances are that clip involved a marlin slashing through a bait ball or chasing down a fly. Magdalena Bay has built quite the reputation in recent years as a world-class angling destination home to incredible numbers of striped marlin for portions of the year. Knowing this, Costa initiated the Marlin Fly Project to learn more about this incredible fishery to protect these fish and local communities for the long term.

Late in 2022, dozens of Costa Pros and scientists traveled to Los Locos, Mag Bay to deploy 15 satellite tags into fly-caught marlin. Well, the Costa crew successfully deployed all the tags in just two days (no small feat, as fish oftentimes fail to cooperate when science is on the line) and made history with the first recorded billfish research campaign using exclusively fly fishing tackle.

“The epic fishing tales coming out of Magdalena “Mag” Bay alone attracted us to the region in 2021, but what we found there was an authentic community, rich with culture, built alongside an untamed ecosystem,” said Jed Larkin, Brand Director for Costa Sunglasses. “That trip sparked a trailblazing idea – what if we brought our global community of scientists, partners and pros together with the local community of San Carlos to research and protect this special resource? And that’s how Marlin Fly was born. Rooted in both community and conservation, this project is everything we stand for as a brand.”

We recently sat down with Costa’s Conservation and Community Manager, Joe Gugino, to learn more about this awesome project–follow along for more on the Marlin Fly Project and some great stories!

Flylords: Before we get into the genesis and impact of this project…I’ve got to ask you first what everyone is thinking: “Marlin on the fly?! How epic and borderline insane is this idea?”

Joe: Yeah. Marlin on the fly. It is as insane as it sounds. You see all the epic photos and videos and you know it is going to be awesome, but I promise, it is even better than you think. I’ve heard stories of people doing this sort of thing around Mag Bay, but it seems like the boys of Los Locos have really put it on the map. It’s something everyone should experience in person.

The fishery itself is incredible, and one that’s appreciated by so many, from divers and sportfishers to those crazy enough, like us, to pursue it on the fly…and from a panga! The visuals are amazing, but it’s the full experience. You run miles and miles (hours) on a panga out of Mag Bay and into the open ocean looking for the swirling vortex of frigates. Once you find them, you’ll start seeing the marlin slash through the water. Throw your fly in, get tight, and watch the acrobatics while line is just peeling off your reel…the whole thing is insane. And it doesn’t feel any more real once you get the marlin boatside. Your adrenaline is pumping and you’re just there reviving it and admiring its beauty before safely releasing it back…yeah, you gotta do it.

Flylords: Now that we’ve got that out of the way, tell us a little bit about how the Marlin Fly Project came to be.

Joe: If you’re a fly angler who’s spent any amount of time on social media, chances are you have seen the awesome photos and ridiculous videos of the scene in Mag Bay. Naturally, we were drawn to it and wanted to experience it for ourselves. We didn’t want to exploit the resource or use the opportunity to just create epic content. We wanted to do something bigger, but we weren’t quite sure what that looked like. So our initial goal was to go down and see what might even be possible, because at Costa we’re always looking for ways to involve community and conservation in everything we do. 

Our first thought was maybe we could put on a Costa Marlin Fly Tournament to help call attention to the area, and have the proceeds benefit a conservation partner. Capt. Cody Rubner and I worked on the idea and brought Costa Pros Capt. Brandon Cyr and Capt. Nick Labadie, who are familiar with fishing tournaments, down with us. And thanks to the recommendation from the Los Locos team, we also brought photographer Nick Price to document the experience and help us promote our plan that would come out of this mission.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nick Price (@nickpricephotography)

From the outside, it seemed like the pangas were a cool set-up to possibly have teams of two anglers, competing in a multi-day format.  We thought it would be awesome to pair up Costa pros with unique connections (either similar fisheries or regions) to come down and compete and help bring awareness to the area, while connecting it all to a cause. It wasn’t completely formulated in our heads, but that’s why we went…

As expected, we fell in love with the fishery. But even more so, we fell in love with the town and the community surrounding Mag Bay. In the days and weeks that followed, we all sort of knew that a tournament wasn’t the answer here…it was going to be some sort of conservation mission, and the community piece fit right in line with that.  

Not sure where to start, we began to have conversations with our partners at the Billfish Foundation and the International Game Fish Association to see if having data on this striped marlin population would be valuable. We were happy to learn at that point that any science we could get would be crucial, as little to none is really known about this species in this area of the world. 

And that’s when it clicked for us – what if we helped ensure the health and future of this Mag Bay fishery? We would go down and catch these fish, just like the Los Locos team, and deploy satellite tags to help fill some crucial data gaps. Given the Los Locos operation, it was important for us to catch fish on the fly, just like they do, as part of the study to help them prove they aren’t putting any more stress on the fish than the sportfish boats do.

Flylords: Let’s talk science. You guys went down to Mag Bay to study this population of striped marlin. What are you hoping to learn, how did you embark on this mission, and how can you leverage this science to protect this incredible resource?

Joe: We wanted to find the best opportunity to learn as much as we could about them. We wanted to get satellite tags to have the most information possible, but satellite tags aren’t cheap. 

Costa was able to purchase eight tags from IGFA & TBF, which we thought would be at least a solid number to start with. Next thing we know Peter from the Billfish Foundation, who has truly believed in the project from the get go, offers to donate an additional seven tags to bring us to a total of 15 satellite tags for the expedition!

The first goal was to deploy all 15 tags, and after that an additional amount of spaghetti tags as well. The satellite tags, if successfully deployed and working for the duration of their battery life, will give us valuable information on post-release survivability, where the striped marlin swim, what depth, and what the water temperatures are. With a variety of tags from three months to almost a year, we will be able to get a large set of data to analyze and start to get a picture of the movements of this striped marlin population.

We aren’t entirely sure what will come out of this science, but the ultimate goal is to start to get a baseline on this fish, to be able to set up and protect these species down the road. Similar to Costa’s Project Permit with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, the goal of this project is to be multi-year to continue to add to the science achieved from this first mission.

Flylords: This project was no small feat, can you tell us more about the partnerships/team that made this possible?

Joe: This project was a big lift from start to finish and required the utmost amount of coordination and planning from a year out, to during the trip, and bringing the story to life after the trip.

In addition to all seven science and community partners we brought along the trip, plus the whole team at Los Locos and the San Carlos Community, we had over 40 people as part of the mission and even more supporting that. The core Marlin Fly Project team consisted of Cody Rubner, Hannah Trotter and myself.

Before we went down, and after successfully securing the tags, we had to figure out a way to transport all the tags and tagging equipment into Mexico. That was all in addition to coordinating 20 people’s flights, from around the country into Baja, transporting everyone 5+ hours north from Cabo to San Carlos, lodging, fishing gear, and scheduling. 

Cody was the main force behind all the logistics and communication between the scientists. He was instrumental in making sure this project came to life and that every little thing was taken care of, to make sure that we had what we needed on site and that everyone was set up for success. 

As probably suspected, we had an insane two days of travel for the entire team. But once everyone was actually in San Carlos, the next big task was to find the fish, catch the fish, and get the tags in the fish. The amount of coordination it took to make sure every boat was set up with the right combination of anglers, scientists and our content team to be set up for success while scattered across the ocean on pangas was no easy feat. The main goal was to get the tags in, but we also knew we had to capture as much of it on film as possible if this thing actually worked out and we were going to share the story.  

Good news: We got all fifteen satellite tags deployed in just TWO days of fishing!

Before leaving San Carlos, we celebrated the mission with our whole team and more people from the town at Mar Y Arena, the lodge we were all staying at. The Travel Creel team put out an awesome spread, and we all ate and danced together.

After coming back from the trip, the hard work continued. Cody, Hannah and I worked closely with Perrin and Wiley to put the film together to accurately share the fish-stoke as well as tell the story. Hannah helped take the lead with all of our internal and partner comms to make sure we were aligned with a launch strategy, and eventually executed all external comms.

This trip was a full team effort, but would not have happened or been brought to life the way it was without Cody and Hannah!

Flylords: Costa is definitely one of the industry’s leading voices for conservation–where does that come from and how does conservation fold into business plans and principles for a large company in this industry, like Costa?

Joe: Costa lives and breathes our ethos to Explore, Perform, and Protect. We seek adventure on and off the water, create products that perform in those environments, and protect those watery worlds we experience and love. It has been something at the forefront of the brand for a long time, and something our team has continued to be proud to build upon and champion forward.

Community and conservation go hand in hand for us here at Costa and are woven throughout everything we do. It is internalized by our Costa teammates, and brought to life in our community by our pros and at events, messaging, and in-store activations.

We’re stoked to debut our second edition Protect Report in the next few weeks, which highlights those commitments as a brand, and specifically how Community X Conservation come to life in all that we do; with the Marlin Fly Project being the ultimate culmination of it all coming together.

Flylords: Joe, While we’ve got you, any good stories you just have to get out there from this trip?

Joe: As expected with the unbelievable crew we had, the week was full of unforgettable stories and memories. The vibes were amazing the entire trip and everyone has been incredibly proud of and passionate about our mission.

The piece of the trip that stands out to me is the moment between day-1 and day-2 of fishing. That first day we had done everything we could to gather the best fly anglers we knew, multiple boats, and a plan to get the tags in and capture that content. 

We all started off with high hopes and the excitement to find our first bait balls and come tight to marlin and get our tags in. We knew the whole time, we had the pressure of deploying 15 tags; so our goal on the first day was to get at least a couple out. But after spending the entire first day looking for fish…we saw no birds, no bait balls, no slashing marlin, and our hopes were dwindling. 

In the last hour of the day, we got word from local divers coming off the water that they had been on a bait ball. Two of our boats were nearby and rushed to the scene. As the bait balls go down, the fish get less and less active on them, especially when there had been divers in the water which had made them cautious before we got there. We took tons of casts, came tight only twice, and landed only one fish. 

We were pumped to get our first tag in, but the fact that we only had two more days to get 14 more tags in was definitely on everyone’s mind. 

That evening the Los Locos team was on the phone talking to as many of their contacts as possible to come up with the game plan. Typically the Los Locos team can head 5-10 miles out of the Bay and be on the fish, but we weren’t even finding them 30-40 miles south of the Bay. From the reports coming in, we would have to run even further south. To be honest, the reports weren’t great, and it was a huge risk, but the team was encouraged by the life we found late in the day, and the hope was that even though we would have to run longer, we could potentially get right on the fish and maximize our chances.

Not gonna lie, that second morning, nerves were a little tighter. We were still hopeful, but the long run was on all our minds…would it be worth it? 

The water was a little choppy, and a little chill in the air as all the boats motored out of the ramp and we caravaned down Bay to where we hoped the fish would be.

And thank god, it was worth it!  We were on fish immediately. Hungry, willing fish that were actively eating flies and staying up on bait balls. Every single boat was on their own active bait ball, or more than one baitball, and in that second day we were able to deploy the rest of our 14 satellite tags in a span of 4 hours!

It was incredible. And everyone got to witness those fish and how they eat first hand, just as we had hoped. It allowed the third day of fishing to be a little more lax and let everyone on the team get their shot at fish, which resulted in deploying some additional spaghetti tags as well.

There ya have it: the backstory of Costa’s Marlin Fly Project. Thanks for sitting down with us Joe, and keep up the awesome work! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the full video. Also, if you are interested about chasing marlin (or a bunch of awesome species), check out Los Locos.

photos courtesy of Costa and Nick Price

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Final Opportunity to Advocate for Precautionary Management and Efficiently Recover LA Redfish–Email the Governor Today!

Flylords
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Final Opportunity to Advocate for Precautionary Management and Efficiently Recover LA Redfish–Email the Governor Today!

Despite strong support for redfish conservation in Louisiana, the State Legislature shot down a precautionary regulation package to aid in the recovery of this fishery. Now, the Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, has 10 days until November 19th, to enact a conservation-minded recovery plan fro redfish with one veto. Alternatively, he can do nothing which would remand action back to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, which would be unfortunate. For more info, be sure to check out the American Saltwater Guides Association, which has been working with the local guiding community to advocate for conservation and get this world-class fishery back on track.

Louisiana was set to approve a historic change in redfish regulation last week. The Notice of Intent would have changed regs from the three decade old 5 fish at 16-27″ to 3 fish at 18-24″ with no over slot retention or guide limits. This represented a 55% reduction which was projected to recover the fishery in just 13 years compared to nearly 30 year recovery period with less conservation-minded options.

If you care about this incredible fishery and ensuring it can fight back and be managed for the long-term, email the Governor today!

Here are ASGA’s suggestions:

All emails should be directed to (governorjohnbeledwards@la.gov). Please send a respectful and encouraging email expressing your support for this NOI and your desire to see Louisiana Redfish back on track in the fastest timeline possible!

SUBJECT: “Veto Oversight Committee & Support Rapid Redfish Recovery”

BODY: “I support the redfish NOI with a reduction of 55% to get the adult population of redfish back to acceptable levels within a reasonable timeline.”

Cover picture courtesy of Greg Dini

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How to Tie: The Mini – Death Grip

Greg Stohrer
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How to Tie: The Mini – Death Grip

In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Gunnar Brammer ties a simple yet effective streamer pattern that will surely produce trout this winter, the Mini – Death Grip.

Learn About This Fly:

Difficulty: Intermediate

Gunnar Brammer is a name that every tyer should know and follow closely. Following the path of legends like Bob Popovics and Blane Chocklett, his patterns are undoubtedly effective and incredibly unique. Follow him for innovative flies and tips on improving your skills behind the vise. The Mini – Death Grip is a Brammer streamer pattern that adopts several tying techniques that will make you a better tyer and result in more fish in hand.

Tying this fly is not necessarily difficult unless you also make the composite brush for the body, which I highly recommend. This allows you to pick the exact materials and length to best imitate the intended bait, often leading to more eats. Take a look at how to create the composite brush through the link in the description and have fun with it to make it your own. The Mini – Death Grip has all the makings of a solid streamer pattern, wrapped into a bite sized snack for hungry trout this winter.

With its lightweight design, this fly is best fished with a sink tip or full sink lines. Bring a streamer setup to your next outing on the river and fish those slow, deeper runs. If areas look fishy but are not producing, try a different technique to show them another food item. The Mini – Death Grip is the perfect way to present a different meal to trout this winter and make the colder months much more exciting on the water.

Ingredients:

Now you know how to tie the Mini – Death Grip!

Video and ingredients courtesy of Gunnar Brammer.

Why I Donated $10,000 to Project Healing Waters

Kayla Lockhart
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Why I Donated $10,000 to Project Healing Waters

A few months back I had the incredible opportunity to be on the series, Wildly Wyoming – a week long competition where three teams competed to win $10,000 to donate, on behalf of the Bronco Wild Fund to a non-profit project of their choice.

My Name is Kayla Lockhart, I am an ambassador for Ford Bronco, Eddie Bauer, Farbank, Yakima Racks and Leatherman Tools. Born and raised in Minnesota and moved out west 8 years ago, where my fly-fishing journey took off.

From the moment I began fly-fishing, it has positively impacted my life. I have struggled with anxiety, depression and trauma and I leaned into healing on the water through fly-fishing. Fly-fishing was the catalyst for the navigation to give me a sense of peace and understanding to my own mental health journey.

Through a lot of long days and tough challenges, I won the Wildy Wyoming competition on behalf of Ford Bronco. I chose to donate the $10,000 to Project Healing Waters, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation through the healing elements of fly-fishing of injured and disabled military service personnel and Veterans.

Reflecting on the therapeutic benefits of fly-fishing, my Grandpa Russell Lockhart, a proud veteran plagued by frequent night terrors from the Korean War, found solace in the outdoors. Engaging in activities like hunting and fishing provided him with a positive outlet for healing.

This is why I choose Project Healing Waters as the recipient of the $10,000. Through this donation they will be able to further their mission in helping our disabled and injured Veterans.

To learn more about Project Healing Waters and how you can help in supporting their mission visit, Project Healing Waters. 

Happy Veterans Day, and thank you for your service. – Kayla Lockhart

Check out the articles below:

Nonprofit of the Month: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Project Healing Waters: All Women Trip of a Lifetime

Nonprofit of the Month: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Flylords
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Nonprofit of the Month: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

We caught up with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PWHFF) to better understand how they use fly fishing and related activities to help thousands of U.S. military veterans and active personnel. PHWFF relies on 4,000+ volunteers and tax deductible donations to carry out their commendable and important work. If you’re looking for a non-profit to support this Veterans Day, read on for more on PHWFF and find out how you can help or get involved.

Flylords: Can you give us a brief overview of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing?

PHWFF:Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings.

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Maryland. PHWFF is dependent on tax-deductible, charitable donations and the help of numerous volunteers to meet the educational, equipment, transportation, and related needs of its participants.

Flylords: How did PHWFF start?

PHWFF: PHWFF was founded by retired U.S. Navy Captain Ed Nicholson. During his own stay in Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in 2005, he was presented with a close look at the wounded returning from the conflict in Iraq (and later Afghanistan). This was the genesis for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF). His desire to offer fly fishing to recovering injured and wounded service members wanting to join him on outings soon (with the help of a great many others) blossomed into PHWFF that now encompasses not only the recovering warriors of Walter Reed, but other disabled veterans in-need, at over 200 locations nationwide.

Flylords: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is centered around helping those who sacrifice everything for our country. What are some of the ways Project Healing Waters finds success in helping disabled veterans?

PHWFF: Our programs provide basic fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying and rod building classes, along with clinics for participants ranging from beginners who have never fished before, to those with prior fly fishing and tying experience who are adapting their skills to their new abilities. All fly fishing and tying equipment is provided to the participants at no cost. Fishing trips, both one day and multi-day, are also provided free of charge to participants.

Among the countless testimonials that we have received over the years, the most frequent six words that we hear are: “Project Healing Waters saved my life.” PHWFF programs offer long-term solutions – not a temporary fix.

“This Journey has been a transformative one for me, especially dealing with my PTSD as a disabled veteran… the victories in each catch are my own forms of therapy… It is a respite from my typical solitary existence and a welcome diversion that offers not just a physical activity, but an engaging and rewarding mental exercise.”

– Mikael madsen, u.s. army veteran

Flylords: Do you have any inspiring success stories that come to mind that you wouldn’t mind sharing?

PHWFF: Of our 4,000+ volunteers, approximately 20% of them are former participants in our program. Each individual’s healing journey is different, and PHWFF is there each step of the way.  These individuals felt a strong desire to give back and share something that their fellow veterans may benefit from. It is truly powerful and inspiring.

We are blessed to have so many inspiring success stories that it is difficult to narrow them down, but here are a few: Elvind Forseth, Ed Veaudry, Nico Gill, Josh Williams, Ann Marie O’Malley.

Flylords: Cold you describe the value and benefit of outdoor recreation for veterans with disabilities?

PHWFF: At the root of our cause is the belief that the sport of fly fishing holds many therapeutic benefits — encompassing the physical, mental, and emotional.  Fly fishing usually happens in beautiful places — places where nature can soothe and nurture, and most importantly instill hope.  As John Buchan once remarked, “The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”  In addition to the natural methods of relaxation and restoration offered by fly-fishing, the sport also requires dexterity, keen eye-hand coordination, and intense concentration—challenging for even able-bodied anglers, much less those adjusting and adapting to their new abilities.  But through these challenges come opportunities to learn, adapt, and evolve through this fun, challenging sport — offering a rehabilitative outlet outside the traditional physical therapy room.  Fly fishing restores hope and offers many the chance to both physically and emotionally rehabilitate and recover.

Through our program and application of the sport of fly fishing, PHWFF has become recognized as an innovative leader and model in the field of therapeutic outdoor recreation for the disabled, through its successful application of the sport of fly fishing as a rehabilitation tool.

Flylords: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing has programs in every state, right? Just how big has PHWFF become?

PHWFF: Since our founding in 2005 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, PHWFF has expanded nationwide establishing over 200 highly successful programs in Department of Defense hospitals, Warrior Transition Units, and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and clinics.

Flylords: PHWFF’s sponsors represent a large and diverse collection of companies that believe in your vision. How important are your corporate sponsors?

PHWFF: Our corporate sponsors have helped our organization further its mission and dedication to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service members and disabled veterans through fly fishing, education and associated activities. Our corporate sponsors have not only provided financial support for our national programs, but as a result of our engagement, we gain exposure to new audiences which creates opportunity for a new base of potential donors and volunteers. Our corporate sponsors are vital to creating sustainable programs that meet the needs of our veteran program participants. Our partnerships with Fly Fishers International, Trout Unlimited, the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service, Nature Conservancy, and more have been crucial in our efforts to provide our unique brand of healing at no cost to our Nation’s disabled veterans. Their support is helping save lives.

Flylords: Similarly, how important are your volunteers?

PHWFF: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing is the product of volunteers who have embraced our cause and ensured its success over the past 14 years.  It is the volunteers who have contributed their time, hard work and talents to the PHWFF Programs across the country. Their work and dedication has positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of disabled military service personnel and disabled veterans across our Nation.

Flylords: Given how essential both financial donations and volunteer hours are for PHWFF accomplishing its goals, how can people make donations  or volunteer for a local PHWFF program?

Donations can be made at: www.projecthealingwaters.org/donate

To become a volunteer please visit: www.projecthealingwaters.org/volunteer

If you’re a veteran with disability and are interested in joining us, please visit: www.projecthealingwaters.org/disabled-military-veterans

You can find a program near you by visiting www.projecthealingwaters.org/programs

Photos curtesy of PHWFF.

Check out some other Flylords’ nonprofit spotlights:

https://theflylords.com/2019/04/24/nonprofit-of-the-month-indifly/

Project Healing Waters: All Women Trip of a Lifetime

Cameron Cushman
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Project Healing Waters: All Women Trip of a Lifetime

What follows is the cinematographer’s point of view and recap of the week-long trip to Freedom Ranch in Wise River Montana for the all women’s 2nd annual trip. A little background on your host for this post, Cameron served six years in the Army as an Infantryman with his time being spent between Fort Wainwright Alaska, Afghanistan, and Fort Hood before he medically retired in 2016.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff. On Tuesday, July 25th, the group of eight participating women would all fly into the Bozeman International Airport. Their trip leader and PHW’s very own Kiley Poole would meet them at the airport with Freedom Ranch host Montana Reynolds (I know.. I know, what a perfect name for a Montana trip!) in the PHW van before departing to grab some quick bbq and hit the road.

The ladies arrived at Freedom Ranch and were greeted by Craig, a Veteran and local lodge owner, for some casting instructions. With some basic instruction and a bit of casting into the wind, the ladies were off to dinner, which was provided the entire week by the good people at the Wise River Club just down the street. After a great dinner, most of the ladies headed inside to unpack their belongings and get some rest before the main festivities began.

Wednesday marked the first official fishing day with a focus on wade fishing in the Big Hole River, under the guidance of local guide Cooper and host Montana. The ladies would wake up around 6:00-6:30 am with a catered breakfast from 7-8. After a good breakfast, the ladies would head to the other side of the wall and gear up for the day. Fly rods, sling packs, waders, boots, and the whole ordeal were in each individual’s locker, ready to go. Cooper, a young twenty two year old trout guide, would show up at 9 to escort the van and the ladies to an easily accessible and wadeable section of the Big Hole.

Once we arrived at the river, the ladies rigged up their gear, tied on some hopper dropper rigs, and waded into the cool waters of the Big Hole River. This morning, the river would give us an incredible show. We witnessed one of the biggest trico hatches that I had ever seen personally. Some of the footage that we captured of the hatch is truly mesmerizing. With the large hatch going on and trout being trout, the ladies had a tough morning. One small brown was hooked, but outside of that, it was just a great therapeutic time on the water. Around noon, the ladies would make their way to shore and eat a great packed salad that was made for the team. After lunch, it was time to head to a new location. So everyone packed up and headed downstream to the canyon section of the river.

We arrived back around 5, giving the ladies enough time to clean up and relax before our 6pm dinner. The group gathered around the dinner table, told stories of their service, laughed about things that happened during their wade experiences, and lived in the moment. After dinner was finished, most of the group called it a night, while some hung around the ranch to experience the beauty that it had to offer.

Thursday and Friday were the BIG days! Two days of float trips. The eight ladies would team up in pairs of twos and wait for their guides to arrive after a hearty breakfast at the ranch. The ladies waited outside of the ranch’s “fly shop” for the first few guides to arrive with their rafts in tow. These days were fun for me as I spent most of my time driving up and down the river hoping to cross paths with some of the girls as they floated by some of the overlook and public access points.

With the ladies on the river and me in pursuit of the other groups, I was driving up and down the road in hopes of spotting some of the group hooked up on fish. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be so lucky, but let’s be honest, that would be some incredible odds if I did. Actually, I take that back.. I did photograph one of the ladies hooked up on a fish, however, she’s so far away you’ve gotta really zoom in to see what’s happening. So, while I was roaming the streets, the ladies were hooking up to trout left and right. Fish after fish were being caught by the ladies. They were catching Browns, Rainbows, Cutthroat, the infamous Grayling (interesting fact for you: the Big Hole is the only remaining river that has a native population of Grayling in the lower 48), Brook Trout, and of course, they had to catch a few Whitefish.

All of the ladies broke for lunch between noon and 1 pm. On Thursday I would meet up with the same group that I had filmed and photographed launching earlier in the morning. They shared their fish stories, both the ones they landed and the ones that they lost, enjoyed some fried chicken, and hung out before eventually making their way back to the raft and onto the river once again. I went on to meet up with some of the ladies at their takeout area and here about their day and what they came across after lunch. Once they were packed up and in their vehicles, the girls were on their way back to the Freedom Ranch.

Thursday’s dinner was a great one. All of the ladies had incredible days and had caught multiple fish. Many of them having fifteen plus fish days. So you know that the table was wild with fish tales, laughs, comparisons, and some friendly competition. This was the night that some of the ladies said they wanted to fish the river behind the ranch, which obviously I was stoked about.  But in true fashion of a long float day, most of the ladies fell asleep shortly after dinner. The few that strayed awake I managed to convince them to sit down for some heartfelt interviews.

Friday was nearly identical up until dinner time. Some of the groups fished new sections of the river while some fished the same as they did the day before. I followed new groups to their launch and take outs and filmed their adventures along the river as often as I could. Once the girls had finished with their days, it was time to head back to the ranch, get cleaned up, and head to the Wise River Club for their farewell dinner and awards.

Once all of the ladies arrived at the restaurant, it was time for Montana to get on stage and lead us in singing the National Anthem for the group and all of the other patrons in the restaurant. With the patriotic moment completed, it was time to eat some great food, hand the ladies some awards (most fish, biggest fish, smallest fish, most species, etc). After dinner was complete, Montana then would go on to dance with some of the ladies as everyone was in good spirits and having the time of their life.

Saturday morning was the farewell day. With two final interviews today while the other ladies finished packing, the morning was a short one. I said my farewells after we packed their bags into the van and wished them all the best of travels. By 9 am, the girls were on the road, heading back to the airport. The trip truly was a phenomenal one, and being able to document an all women’s trip was an absolute pleasure. I can only hope that the film will do justice in telling their stories and the benefits that they reap from their time on the water.

Cheers to everyone who’s finding peace on the water. For all my fellow Veterans, keep up the good fight!

To learn more about how to get involved with Project Healing Waters CLICK HERE. 

Nonprofit of the Month: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Project Healing Waters and onWater Launch National Collaboration

Klamath River Restoration–Copco 2 Dam Fully Removed

Will Poston
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Klamath River Restoration–Copco 2 Dam Fully Removed

The world’s largest dam removal on California’s Klamath River continues progress, as work on removing Copco 2 Dam is completed. This is the first of four dams to be removed, ultimately restoring hundreds of stream-miles for migratory fish, wildlife, and river users. Copco 2 was located in the steep and deep Ward’s Canyon, effectively drying up 1.7 miles of riverbed. “Seeing the Klamath River flow through this canyon after being diverted for nearly a century is inspiring,” said Laura Hazlett, COO of KRRC. “It makes me excited for everything else that is to come with the removal of the other three dams.”

Klamath restoration is moving according to schedule, and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation will begin drawdown on the three remaining dams early in 2024 with complete removal by November 2024.

“Copco No 2 is the first dam to be removed due to its small stature, location, and lack of reservoir,” noted Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), the entity tasked with the safe and efficient removal of the four lower Klamath hydroelectric dams. “However, while Copco No. 2 was significantly smaller than the other dams slated for removal, it still had a significant impact on the river.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shane Anderson (@shaneandersonfilm)

Talented videographer and documentarist Shane Anderson has been on site long since physical dam removal on the klamath began this past summer. Shane is working on a highly anticipated project documenting Klamath dam removal and restoration efforts. It’s one we are very much looking forward to–be sure to follow Shane for updates on all things Klamath. Also, stay tuned on the Flylords’ site for a long-form story on Klamath restoration efforts later this year.

Photos courtesy of Klamath River Renewal Corporation and Shane Anderson.

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