Buda’s King Salmon : Project Healing Waters

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Stories from the field

Buda’s King Salmon

01.22.25

Hampton Roads

By Al Budaszewski, PHW Hampton Roads

As a kid I learned to fish casting worms with a zebco 33 for perch, shiners, and the occasional rainbow trout in the river behind my house in Warner, New Hampshire. Every now and then a fly angler would show up, catching more and bigger trout than I ever thought possible.

These anglers fascinated me for more than 40 years until a fellow Veteran told me about Project Healing Waters.

Since I’d recently retired from the Navy and met the criteria, I decided to check out PHW since I’ve been fishing fresh and saltwater my whole life. Upon joining the program in Yorktown, Virginia, I was immediately immersed in rod building, fly tying, and listening to the fishing stories from all the members.

I’ve come to enjoy this part the most, as well as the friendships I’ve made attending our meetings.

In September, I was selected to travel to Oak Heart Lodge in Newaygo, Michigan. For me this would be my first experience catching fish on a fly.

This experience had a profound effect on me, and not just for the joy of catching such an amazing fish.

I was paired up with two different guides while there, but Chris Raines had the distinction of guiding me to my first fish (a sucker), as well as the largest freshwater fish I’ve ever caught – a monster King Salmon.

I get frequent migraine headaches that effect me in a major way.

I didn’t have a headache for about 2 weeks after arriving at Oak Heart Lodge, which I attribute in part to the healing power of fly fishing, the magic of Oak Heart Lodge and their staff, and Project Healing Waters.