Fort Bedford Trout Unlimited Hosts Fly Fishing Weekend

For the fifth year, a weekend of fun, camaraderie, and fly fishing brought together veterans of the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Program and volunteers from the Fort Bedford Trout Unlimited (FBTU). This event, called the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Weekend by FBTU, is treasured each year. The event began in 2017 and was held annually until Covid postponed the event for two years. The event was resumed in 2022 and took place this year on May 19, 20, and 21. Veterans of Project Healing Waters are welcomed to Bedford County each year. During their stay, they are escorted to local streams to fly fish by volunteer guides from the Fort Bedford Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The guides provide local knowledge of streams and advice on techniques and lend a hand when needed.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. (PHWFF) began in 2005 serving wounded military service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, PHWFF has expanded nationwide bringing a high-quality, full-spectrum fly fishing program to an ever-expanding number of disabled active military service personnel. PHWFF is split into regional programs and this year the veterans came from the Altoona/Hollidaysburg, Pittsburgh, and Wilkes-Barre regions.

On May 19, the veterans arrived in Bedford where they were greeted and housed for the weekend by Horns Cabins in Manns Choice, PA. They were fed each morning and evening by the Horn-O-Plenty Farm-to-Table Freshtaurant (HOP). While at the cabins, the veterans could fish the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River or sit and socialize by the campfire.

The next morning, Saturday, May 20, a convoy was led from the cabins to Yellow Creek in Hopewell Township of Bedford County. There, the veterans were paired with guides from the Fort Bedford Chapter of Trout Unlimited and escorted to the stream. A partly cloudy morning led to an overcast afternoon with light rain. Lunch was provided stream-side by the HOP and a gathering of jokes, stories, and tall fishing tales were shared. The weather provided ideal fishing conditions and every veteran caught at least one fish. Paul Cinkan, an Army Veteran from the Pittsburgh region, landed nearly two dozen fish in the first day.

Sunday’s destination was Bobs Creek, in Pavia Township of Bedford County, the location for the second full day of fishing. A partly cloudy day led to numerous fish being caught. Another streamside lunch was provided and new friendships continued to grow. All of the fish caught over the weekend were properly handled and released back into the streams. The support from the Fort Bedford Chapter of Trout Unlimited was astounding, as there was a ratio of 2 guides per veteran.

The weekend concluded with a meal at the Horn-O-Plenty Restaurant. More stories and gratitude were shared between both parties. For the veterans, it is a care free weekend, where they could enjoy the outdoors with comrades and new friends. For the FBTU volunteers, they could give back to those who deserve more than they can ever be offered for their service to our country.

Financial support from the weekend was provided by the Fort Bedford Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the Horn-O-Plenty Restaurant, and Horns Cabins. Donations to support the event came from Everett American Legion, Bloody Run Social Club, Allegheny Region Post 4440 VFW, VFW Post 9219, Knights of Columbus, Negley’s Water, and The Organic Snack Company.

For more information on Project Healing Waters please visit http://www.projecthealingwaters.org. For more information or to get involved with the Fort Bedford Trout Unlimited visit http://www.facebook.com/fortbedfordtu or email [email protected]. FBTU will be having a fundraiser on September 23, 2023 at the Bedford American Legion.