Reel Recovery Missouri

[BilletHead]

Just finished Reel Recovery yesterday. A two night almost three day retreat for men with cancer. We had ten men attending and ten of us River Buddies to take them fishing plus staff to facilitate their stay. This time we were at Westover farms. Nice place to have it and all were treated well. Great bunch of fellows. Each of us got to fish with three different participants. First morning I got to fish with Ken from Michigan. A young man(teacher) about the age of my Son. Hits pretty close to home when I think of it. He had only had a fly rod in his hands once before. We went to the stream and I asked can you cast? I think so he replied I have been reading and watching and practicing some. He then stripped some line out raised the rod, stopped, let it load and casted it out. Well done! We than began to throw and strip a wooly bugger. This was new to him also. No hits so we put on an indicator and rusty midge. I asked if he knew how to mend line? Well no and what is that. I showed him once and he got it down pat. Where we were needed both upstream and downstream mends which he did like he had been doing it all his life. Missed one fish and moved on. Found another spot in slower water with a few fish. Retied on the black bugger and it was fish on!

The afternoon I got to spend with Carl. What a hoot it was. Carl is retired from Union Electric and we had in common the same jobs. We fished and talked shop. He caught in and out of rain showers. between we took shelter and had some good conservations. Talked about storm breaks. (where we would help other utilities during acts of weather) I would say our paths might of crossed in the past where he had helped the utility I worked for and the time I had went to union electric properties to work. Tornado once when he came my way and ice storm once when I went his. I guess it was a blast from the past you would say,

Last morning it was with Kirk. Another great man who has served our country and then went into law enforcement. He retired from Omaha Neb. and now lives down near Taneycomo on table rock lake. I asked if he knew of Lilly's landing. Well yes he exclaimed groups of us came down from Omaha to fish and stayed there several times. That is why I retired here. So there you go Phil you may of met him and know him. Small world I say. There is so much more to this program than fishing. I learned his wife is a survivor and gave him the info for the ladies retreat, reeling and healing. He said my wife will love this and she is a better fisherperson than I am. Well I got to say Kirk did well and caught fish. I told him about this website and the friends he can make, the help he will get too. If we can get him on here please help him get going friends. Every time I said something to him it was yes sir. I said hey don't do that. He replied this is what 'I learned in the service and how I was raised. it is yes sir and yes mam from me. What a gentleman,

Take a minute and be thankful for our health and than a few more to think of these fellows and the rest of this retreats men. They all have a story,

BilletHead

[ness]

Great going there, BH.

I haven't been to Westover in a few years, but I really enjoy it. Pretty property -- especially in the spring -- cool buildings, nice folks. I hope they're doing well financially. I had fun fishing, target shooting and shot some sporting clays there too. Unfortunately, it's a pretty long haul for me to get over there.

[tho1mas]

Thank you for doing that B.H.

[BilletHead]

Thanks guys,

Yes Ness it is a pretty good trip for me too. Over four hours if I do the speed limit. Got to go back in a couple of weeks for the ladies retreat. Tom and Lisa are the ones who run it for the new owners. Great people. Construction constantly going on.

Need to give a shout out to my fellow fishing buddies. Out of the ten of us six are out of the Ozarks fly fishers out St. Louis. Great bunch of guys. I did not know they had shooting at Westover . Pretty neat,

BilletHead

[Jeff Tief]

It's about an hour and change West of me but haven't been in a couple years.Last time,Jim Messina from Loggins and Messina had rented out the complex but not the stream.

[Chief Grey Bear]

This is an awesome project that you devote your self to.

I salute you.

[ness]

Thanks guys,

Yes Ness it is a pretty good trip for me too. Over four hours if I do the speed limit. Got to go back in a couple of weeks for the ladies retreat. Tom and Lisa are the ones who run it for the new owners. Great people. Construction constantly going on.

Need to give a shout out to my fellow fishing buddies. Out of the ten of us six are out of the Ozarks fly fishers out St. Louis. Great bunch of guys. I did not know they had shooting at Westover . Pretty neat,

BilletHead

Tom and Lisa were the ones running it last time I was there. Great folks.