2017 Steelhead Slam
Project Healing Waters
Nov. 4th, 2017
Project Healing Waters
Nov. 4th, 2017
Project Healing Waters; Guiding Veterans for steelhead
Gathering Sight; Folly’s End Campground, Girard PA.
Waters fished; Elk Creek, Tributary of Lake Erie
Hosted by; Skip Hughes PHW Regional Coordinator with Co-hosts Debi Hughes.
Gathering Sight; Folly’s End Campground, Girard PA.
Waters fished; Elk Creek, Tributary of Lake Erie
Hosted by; Skip Hughes PHW Regional Coordinator with Co-hosts Debi Hughes.
The morning was dark but was full of conversation and excitement. Here, some of the Veterans picking flies for the steelhead fishing. Many of the flies were donated by the facebook group Fly Tiers Anonymous.
Once daylight came Veterans and volunteering guides gathered together in groups and headed out to their steelhead fishing destination. Three private landowners opened their private waters on Elk Creek for the Veterans the day of the event.
The water conditions were just about perfect. The rain the previous days raised the water level and there was no doubt fresh fish moved upstream.
Among the participating veterans were three veterans from Oklahoma who drove to Erie Pennsylvania to participate in our Project Healing Water steelhead event. There were about 30 Veterans in all which a bunch of us experienced fishermen volunteered to guide these Vets to help them catch steelhead in the Erie Tributaries. One of those Oklahoma Veterans was assigned to me. It took quite a few hookups throughout the day and lost fish before he finally got one to the net. It felt good when he came up to me after dinner and thanked me and for teaching him a few pointers of fly fishing and fishing for steelhead. Really genuine!
The water conditions were just about perfect. The rain the previous days raised the water level and there was no doubt fresh fish moved upstream.
Among the participating veterans were three veterans from Oklahoma who drove to Erie Pennsylvania to participate in our Project Healing Water steelhead event. There were about 30 Veterans in all which a bunch of us experienced fishermen volunteered to guide these Vets to help them catch steelhead in the Erie Tributaries. One of those Oklahoma Veterans was assigned to me. It took quite a few hookups throughout the day and lost fish before he finally got one to the net. It felt good when he came up to me after dinner and thanked me and for teaching him a few pointers of fly fishing and fishing for steelhead. Really genuine!
Duane with his first steelhead.
Here are some other pictures that were taken of Veterans, their guides and the fishing experience.
We left no Veteran that wanted to wet a line behind!
Afterward dinner was served at 2:00pm
Thereafter awards were given and all Veterans received many donated gifts. New friendships were made and camaraderie was shared by all!
Skip Hughes Regional Coordinator and master of ceremony.
Donated by one of our master fly tiers. Tom Herr
Randy receiving Volunteer of the Year from Skip Hughes.
A special thanks to Jim, owner of Folly’s End Campground, for letting us have the event headquarters on the premises.
Thanks to the private land owners for giving these Veterans an opportunity to fish for steelhead without interference from crowds of other fishermen.
Thanks to those who donated gifts and food dishes.
Special thanks for the volunteers who took time out of their day to guide these Veterans for an experience of a lifetime.
Thanks to all the Veterans for serving our country!!
And last but not least, thanks to Skip Hughes and his helpers who took the time and commitment to put this all together to make the Steelhead Slam 2017 a big success.
Thanks to the private land owners for giving these Veterans an opportunity to fish for steelhead without interference from crowds of other fishermen.
Thanks to those who donated gifts and food dishes.
Special thanks for the volunteers who took time out of their day to guide these Veterans for an experience of a lifetime.
Thanks to all the Veterans for serving our country!!
And last but not least, thanks to Skip Hughes and his helpers who took the time and commitment to put this all together to make the Steelhead Slam 2017 a big success.
~doubletaper
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