McGuire VA MedICal Hospital

FFV / PHW First Fly Fishing Trip Report 10/30/07

Richmond, VA

Our first fly fishing trip with five Vets from McGuire VA hospital took place on Oct 30, 2007. The day started out on the cold side slightly delaying the Vets arrival and fishing start.

Carroll & Gretchen Smith have been very gracious in allowing the Vets as well as the club members of FFV to use their wonderful farm pond. The facility accommodated the Vets who were all in wheelchairs.

The Vets started using their new casting skills and in no time were catching fish. We had a ratio of two FFV members to one Vet; they all work as a team.

Due to the late start Jo Ann Lindstrom headed up the lunch duties. She and George Pearson delivered the lunch to each fishing team on the waters edge so the Vets would not lose any time fishing.

The club members and PHW friends who volunteered did a great job with the Vets. The following guys worked on the fishing teams: Bill Pearsall .Steve Lewis .

Dale Huggins, Vin Lacovara, Thom Wheeler, Richard Scott, Steve Klein, Lynn Spurlin, Jean-Paul Cosse and Phil Johnson. John Bass, Regional Coordinator for PHW, was on hand supporting Vets as well as the FFV members. John is unique in as much as he has been wheelchair bound most of this life and an avid fly fisherman.

Mark Sargent did a fine job of taking pictures of the event.

A great deal was learned from this first trip.

  • The VA really like the facilities the Smith farm provide as they can see about 80 to 90 % of the pond so if any problem did occur help could be sent ASAP
  • We need two club members for each Vet in wheelchairs, minimum.
  • Simple box lunches work well and the Vets like them.
  • Make sure there is fish in the pond. The Vets really got a kick out of catching any kind of fish.
  • Develop a plan with assigned task.
  • The bottom line is making sure the Vets are having fun!

We will plan other trips down the road.

I think FFV can hold their heads up high in as much as we really did a lot in 2007. Regular tying classes (1 & 3 Monday of each month). Regular casting classes (2 & 4 Wed of each month). A one wonderful fun day fly fishing trip.

Great job guys!

Phil Johnson