Fly fishing aids healing for disabled vets

From KY3-TV in Springfield, Mo.

BRANSON, Mo.-- A small group of veterans from several states spent the weekend on Lake Taneycomo. Their trip is part of Project Healing Waters. It's fly fishing, but that's not all; for disabled active duty military personnel and veterans, it's an effective therapy both physically and emotionally.

This fly fishing trip is a first for 27-year National Guard veteran David Cary.

"Yesterday was the first fish I'd ever caught in my life, and that's 49 years," says Cary.

He also learned the tedious art of fly tying. The concentration and fine motor skills needed for fly tying and fishing become therapeutic.

"Just to get my mind off all the things I deal with on a day-to-day basis," Cary said.

Those things began with a tour of duty in Iraq in 2003.

"I suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, don't sleep good, I don't do good in crowds, just kind keep to myself a lot," Cary said.

But, on Lake Taneycomo, he's one of the guys.

"We've had several guys who've had severe PTSD, and after one or two trips, they come completely out of of their shell. Of course, not to say that they're completely over the issues they had, but they're more animated, they talk easier, they joke around. They're able to talk about their experiences more," said Project Healing Waters regional coordinator Rick Trowbridge.

On the water, the veterans pair up with volunteer guides, going through motions that are no ordinary physical therapy.

"Just to see their face, and the animation that goes on between casting, hooking, and netting a fish, you can see that it changes their lives," said Trowbridge.

It's a learning, yet relaxing experience.

"It gets your mind off everything that's going on, and you just drift down the river and catch a fish," said Cary.

It's an experience that Cary, only on his first trip, is ready to try again.

"Oh yeah, I'm hooked! I've caught four fish today and seven yesterday," Cary said.

Lilley's Landing donated the boats for the weekend, and several guides volunteered their time. Cary and the rest even got to check out a Branson show for free.

Project Healing Waters is a nonprofit organization that has spread to 75 programs across the United States and now even to Canada and Europe.