"T-Bird" and Michael DeBose at Dry Run Creek
Effervescent fly tier Teresa “T-Bird” Van Winkle sent us a bunch of pics and an article from the Project Healing Waters trip to the White River last week. Working with these Wounded Warriors on the White and Dry Run Creek had an impact on both Davy and T-Bird, and also Kevin Brandtonies who also guided these fly fishers.
We also received a very nice thank you card from Shella Hagen and the North Arkansas Fly Fishers for our donation of flies for the event. It was our pleasure to help this great program, but very nice to receive this appreciative response. We really hope this event keeps coming.
But we will let you read T-Bird’s report, its obvious a special time was had by all.
What a week we had, Davy and I. We were honored to guide two of the six Wounded Warriors of Project Healing Waters that was held at Rim Shoals. On Monday evening there was a meet and greet at the Rim Shoals pavilion where the guides were to be paired up with our heroes. What a group of characters they were. Six total were able to make the trip.
Davy and I spent the week with Mr. Michael De Bose of Long Beach, CA and Mr. Kevin Price of Colorado Springs, CO. Tuesday morning we fished from Cotter to Rim Shoals. The morning as you remember was a bit nippy but, the sun soon warmed and we were able to assist our men with some nice fish. After a day on the river we gathered for an evening meal at Rim Shoals pavilion where Ken Morrow, passed out TFO Rod and Reel Combo sets to all of the men, complete with the Healing Waters logo. Davy Wotton gifted each of the member of the group with a copy of the White River DVD.
Davy and Michael De Bose at Dry Run Creek.
Next a fly tying lesson from TL Lauerman, brought vises and kits that WAPSI Fly Company donated to each of the men. They broke in the vise by cranking out a woolly bugger. Even though the day had been long for our guys, David Specking and Michael De Bose could not call it a day without watching the DVD they had received, boning up on the information in the DVD for the two days ahead of fishing no doubt.
Wednesday, a tour of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery where our group was met and welcomed by the Hatchery Manager Ken Boyles. Both Mr. Boyles and Davy Wotton, President of the Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery led the tour of the facility. After the tour the men geared up in the parking lot outside the hatchery where they were treated to a day of fishing on Dry Run Creek. The smiles on their faces, while landing these terrific trout, rainbows and browns both we taken by our troop. There are no words to better tell the story than these pictures.
Thursday began with breakfast at Rim, as the men came down to the pavilion for breakfast I gave them each a fly for their hat. a bit of TBird luck to assist them with a good day of fishing.
After a good hardy meal we were off down the river for a beautiful float to Buffalo City. The fishing was hot in the Wotton boat, FishON! Cast after cast, Mr. De Bose ended his day with a catch numbering 21. Mr. Kevin Price, caught his first brown on Thursday and ended his day with a total of 18.
Both Kevin and Michael expressed that this was a trip they would remember for a lifetime.
On the river _ DW and Kevin Price
Kevin intends to return to Arkansas with his wife in the spring and book a couple of days with Davy and I. We hope this works out and look forward to seeing our new friend, Kevin and meet his wife for a trip of memories of their own.
On they way back to the farm, Davy and I reminisced of the week we had just spend- exhausted ourselves, but this event with these heroes we too will carry with us for the rest of our lives, all the better and more grateful for the life we live having met these brave men and the privilege of spending the past week with them.
Teresa “TBird” VanWinkle
Forgot to mention that Pink Worms were the consistent fly throughout the week.
The following Sunday it still was the proven fly.