Reel Recovery retreat 2023

[BilletHead]

     Once again Pat and I asked to be River Buddies for reel recovery. What a blessing! Last week the 24th through the 26th. Ten participants arrived the afternoon of the 24th. As they showed up the ten River Buddies assisted them with their baggage and into their rooms. Dinner was next and the river buddies infiltrated the large table with the guys and mingled as we ate. 

      After dinner there was introductions of the participants and all of the river buddies.  Then separation with the participants to have courageous conversations and the rest of us a meeting of our own and social hour. 

   Next morning breakfast together again and the participants a quick meeting and the rest of us built rods and reels that are provided for them to use. Gathering again there was the vest signing. All laid out the guys picked one out to use. The vests travel from retreats all over the country in various states and the names and locations tell the tale. The guys added to that by adding names. 

       More pictures were taken including all of the river buddies surrounding the participants.  I will try to add more later as they become available.  Next was pairing up with river buddies. A couple of the fishermen stepped up and asked us to take them out others a bit shy we approached and asked them. This because of the busy morning would be a short session. Bob and I paired up. We all began to filter to the stream. I asked Bob how are you at walking. Good he said a bit unsteady at times but walking good so we will work with the steadiness.  We headed for the upper end looking for fish. I asked bob if he had flyfished before, nope but I have been reading about it. I picked a spot and had on an egg pattern with an indicator.  Explained what we would be doing and how we would get it there. This stream is pretty small, and no long casts are needed. A flip out of the fly or a roll cast. With Bob's research and reading we had him doing both real quick. One place in particular needed some line mending. I asked do you know what mending is. Bob says I read about it.  So he tossed out the rig and current came into play. I said upstream mend and just like he had been doing it all his life with a flick of the rod tip a perfect mend was made. Impressed us both and we laughed. A few feet later a downstream mend was needed. I suggested that and again perfection!  Bob caught well and he landed eight in that session. Well done, Bob! Of couse you have to kiss your first fish 😁        Good guy and great conversation and quite the fisherman. 

 

       

    We worked upstream on the spring creek with an indicator and egg pattern picking off fish after fish. He had things figured out well.  Mark and I took a break downing off bottles of water. After the break we hit it again. I asked if he wanted to try a dry fly. Yes, I would. I knew a few fish were rising because word was out Pat and Tony her afternoon participant was catching on top. I knew they were into something because everyone could hear her scream from afar letting out a fish on vocal.  Well Mark and I found some fish rising in places. I tied on a buzzball fly.  A catch all midge pattern that catches fish all over the place. Mark missed several until he figured out timing things right.  Mark and I caught a bunch of fish all afternoon long and even explored dry creek a little. Fish scattered here and there he caught more. The fish were less pressured and hard to get to. He could have used some waders or hip boots. Some retreats they use waders. At this place the main fished spring creek is small, and guys are not provided. Next year I will have spare waders and or hip boots if we need them. I know Mark and I were tired after this long day. Dinner at six thirty and the participants did their thing and river buddies did ours. 

  Third day morning breakfast and fishing until lunch.  Charlie and I paired up. Charlie was a very interesting fellow. He had never fished before, nadda, none and I mean zilch!  I Asked him if he had caught fish with his other river buddies. Yes, but they casted and set the hook and handed me the rod to reel in the fish. I said then what would you like to try? Can you help me learn to cast?  This really got to me. He was wanting to catch a fish on his own, doing the whole process. I said let's get to it friend. We walked up to a pond or spring. It's kind of both I think with water coming in and out but a large open section of water with a clean bank for casting.  I explained the rod, reel, line, leader and tippet functions. How it's the line pulling the fly and how the line rolls out in a loop with leader taking the fly to where you want it to go. Charlie is a very smart fellow and picked up things well. We worked on roll casting, and it was understood he picked that up fast. Then overhead casting and how to do that. there were tangles and other things and he kept saying how sorry he was. Hey, Charlie, it happens. You should of seen me learning and I still mess up. We did this over and over and everyone else were catching fish. I finally had to say hey why don't we put this to practice and catch a few ourselves?  Yes, I'm ready to try that now.  We then found a spot and drifted a run with indicator and egg pattern.  Charlie did this himself and learned to mend too. He caught a few this way in two places. I was really proud of what he had done and shed a tear or two doing this. You could see him light up when doing this. We found some risers and put on a buzzball. He missed several and could not follow or see the midge. I changed to a beetle and he could follow that on the water. He got with the program then and had three hook ups and none landed.  We had to be told twice to head for lunch and reluctantly had to comply. Charlie and I,     Some participants stick in my head more than others. Charlie will be one of these.

     Now to Pat, what can I say. I hardly ever seen her on the stream. She only fished with two of the guys. One for two sessions because he asked if he could fish with her again. She and her three sessions with her two guys tore the fish up. there are more pictures out there with them fishing but only got my hands on one so far. Pat and Tony that wanted her again.      Fishing was not the only thing that happened on the stream. There were some serious conversations we had with our gentlemen. We did not bring it up they did. No pressure they needed to talk, and we provided and ear and outlet for them to vent.  We then broke for closing ceremony and lunch.  All began to load up and head home with River buddies assisting. 

  Out of the ten some still in treatment, some on the road to recovery but two this time are terminal. If we only took a moment for them all to forget what they have and are going through it was a success.  

  Thanks for reading,

  BE WELL FISH ON!

[Ketchup]

Man BH, that was like reading one of the old time magazines from Field and Stream years ago. Very easy to follow and informative. Nicely done. 
 I have never heard of the group, and after reading still not sure of the details of those that participated. Is this something you could share? If not in public you can PM me. 

[BilletHead]

28 minutes ago, Ketchup said:

Man BH, that was like reading one of the old time magazines from Field and Stream years ago. Very easy to follow and informative. Nicely done. 
 I have never heard of the group, and after reading still not sure of the details of those that participated. Is this something you could share? If not in public you can PM me. 

                  Share heck yes. I forgot to share a link. It's a flyfishing retreat for men who have or had cancer. Free to attend the men have a good time. I have been doing this for years in some form for men and women for 16 years. Our own @jdmidwest has attended.  We can use getting the word out, donations or one can apply to volunteer.  Monies given to Missouri stay in Missouri even though this program covers all states. We accept participants from everywhere. Nine were from Missouri and one traveled from Texas to attend

https://reelrecovery.org 

How fly fishing is bringing together men living with cancer (today.com)

 

 

[Foghorn]

Awesome all the way!

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Earned a tear or two from me.   Thanks for supporting and informing about this.  I always appreciate the reports you share.  You all are Angels in the eyes of your participants.   

[BilletHead]

6 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

Earned a tear or two from me.   Thanks for supporting and informing about this.  I always appreciate the reports you share.  You all are Angels in the eyes of your participants.   

               Thank you so much friend.  We all have issues and you more than most know that. There is always someone else that are worse though. I have had two personal friends that I got to attend this that their cancers finally got them many years later. Both said this program helped them. 

[ollie]

Outstanding Work!!

[Ham]

I appreciate y’all helping with that. I know you get a lot out I helping others. 

[DADAKOTA]

Your group is doing an amazing job.

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Ham said:

 I know you get a lot out I helping others. 

             I really do Ham.