As reported in the May Ring of the Rise newsletter, we have kicked off a Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing donation drive. Pete will coordinate any rod builds and I will coordinate the rest (reels, flies, leaders, tippet, waders, money, etc.). Please check out Pete’s “Project Healing Waters” post in the Rod Building section of the forum.
 
If you didn’t see the response letter from Carole Katz, Southwest Regional Coordinator PHWFF, in the newsletter, here it is;
 
It’s nice to hear from you. We’ve been able to take disabled veterans fishing several times without purchasing much in the way of equipment because of your club’s generosity.
 
Since your original donation, we have had three rod building classes that have become very popular.  When we do rod building, we tend to make 5 weights and because of that, we don’t need any more 5 weight rods right now.  We could probably use some 3 or 4 weights for local fishing trips like the San Gabriel River; built in whatever length the builders feel is appropriate.
 
We can always use reels in 5 weight, and I do not need any more automatics now (your group sent several of these the last time).  We go through a lot of leaders and tippet, and local trout stream flies.  For tying classes, we always need standard wet or dry fly hooks, but in sizes 12-16, and not many 16’s (their vision or eye-hand coordination is not terrific typically).  Used waders in medium and large would be good also.  Marriott’s has given me a lot of used wading boots that were traded in during rubber-soled boot promotions by Simms, so we don’t need more boots.
 
What I would really like to have right now is money.  Leaning Tree Lodge in Ft. Smith, Montana, has donated four nights’ accommodations and meals for eight disabled veterans.  Several of their rooms are fully handicapped accessible, and the fishing can be done from drift boats all day, so this is a great trip for disabled vets.  Big Horn Trout Shop is donating accommodations and meals for the crew of the award-winning Fly Rod Chronicles TV show, who are coming to film our trip.  The veteran participants will be selected from the Southwest Region sometime before the October trip.  We are trying to raise money for the cost of airfare, discounted guide fees, Montana fishing licenses and airport transportation.  Anything your group can do to help with this would be very much appreciated.
 
You can be sure that the drive you describe would be beneficial to our organization.  There isn’t a vet in our group who hasn’t been almost overwhelmed at times by the generosity of the community.  I’ve been amazed myself, that during tough economic times like this, donations continue to come in, volunteers continue to show up every week, and wonderful people like you continue to think of ways to say thank you to the men and women of the armed services.    
 
I would also like to note that Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing now has 90 programs nationwide in both VA and military hospitals, along with one on an Army base in Germany, and a similar program in Canada.  Much of our growth has a lot to do with the generosity of groups such as yours.
 
Carole Katz
National Trustee, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
Southwest Regional Coordinator
Program Lead, PHWFF @ Long Beach VAMC  
 
As you can see, there is an established need for our continuing support of this amazing organization. If there is anything you can do to help out in this donation drive it would be very much appreciated.  
 
Specific identified needs are; 5 wt reels, flies (maybe some of you that have fished the San Gabriel will have some ideas of what patterns and sizes to tie), leaders, tippet material, tying materials including hooks (dry & wet) in sizes 12 – 16, used waders and of course, money.  
 
Guy has offered to collect these donations at the shop or you can send them to me at Gary Silveira, 1528 Via Arroyo, Paso Robles, CA 93446.
 
As this drive is starting during a month that celebrates Armed Forces Day (May 15th) and Memorial Day (May 31st), our goal is to have the donation drive completed on July 4th.
 
For more information about Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing please go to their web site at http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/index.html.  
 
Working together, a small contribution by many of us will make a large contribution overall.  
 
Thanks in advance for your support,
 
Gary  

Hey folks.  Just cause Gary posted this topic in the SSFFC section doesn't mean everybody can't be involved.  Last time helping "Project Healing Waters" was, posted, a couple of years ago, the response was overwhelming.  I don't think anything is different.  Economy still sucks.  Veterans are still just as injured and disabled.  Only difference I see is: Gary posted it this time.  Really, he isn't a bad guy  .
 
Time to step up and give.  You don't have to donate $500 dollars worth of equipment.  Anything will help.  Spend a few bucks and buy some leaders and tippett material, tie some flies, or send a couple of bucks.  Shoot, send your beer money for a week.  With some of you, that ought to raise a ton of money  .
 
Thanks to Stanbery and crash ash for stepping up as soon as they saw the post under the Rod Building section.
 
And yes, I will be a pain about this.  These people made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Agree with the goverment's politics or not, these are still our soldiers.  Although we can never pay them back, let's give something.
 
Somebody wants to help with the materials cost, I will do the same thing I did for the "Cast For The Cure" donation drive.  I will build a bamboo blank for a raffle.  Anybody who donates at least $50 will be entered to win a two piece ferruled bamboo blank.  I just can't afford to put out the cost of the materials this year, approximately $100.  Just finished a rod for another donation, so I am tapped out on freebies.
 
Ask Chris C. how that worked out

Hi guy's, I'll be dropping off my waders and boots to Guys Shop in the next couple of weeks. They really are just like new so the lucky vet who gets them should be happy with them. They just didn't fit me right. As for flies for San Gabriel's I would just stick to the basic trout patterns that work well anywhere in Southern California. For dry's I would tie Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, PMDs, BWO, Stimulators, and some ants. Nymphs would be Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Copper Johns, maybe some Spinners. Then a Woolly Bugger or some other streamer.
 
I find the basic patterns are the easiest to tie and are fundamentally sound in catching fish. I remember starting out and didn't know a nymph from and Adams but after learning more I find that the basic patterns are the ones I catch fish with and they build my confidence. I find that I don't need to tie too many patterns to catch fish. I find that I only use about 1/4 of my flybox. Keep it simple.
 
One thing I didn't see on the list of needed items was books. There are many wonderfull books on fly fishing and the study of bugs, fly tieing or just plain fishing stories that are wonderfull to read. Books alone have been my greatest help in learning this wonderfull sport. I'm sure some of us can come up with a book or too.
 
Time to step up to the plate, it's our turn to bat.
 

I'll join in the raffle. Plus donate a fly box full of flies.  
 
It takes something special like this to get me to the fly tying desk.
 
 
thanks!  
 
shane

I'm in. I'll send a check your way, Gary. Do I make it out to Project Healing Waters?
 
 
Chris

I could make a donation, could someone PM me an address to mail a check?
 
John

Glad to see folks coming foward for such a worth while cause. The club will be making a monetary donation as well. As mentioned by Pete the last time we did this a couple of years back we donated rods, waders, vests, lines, leaders, you name it and ended up with about $6000.00 worth of goodies for the vets. It would be great to top that this year. These guys deserve everything we can do for them as a small token of our appreciation for their service and sacrifices so that we may enjoy life the way we know it. Thanks to all who can help out in any way possible.

Hey all, where can I send some flies? I have a tun that I have been tying & have no boxes for. I have adams, parachute adams, BWOs parachute bwos, Elk hair caddis. I have some little containers (like the ones at guys shop) that I can put them in. Also is there a deadline on when the stuff should be done? Thanks
 
John