Project Healing Waters (PHW)

The Project’s program provides basic fly fishing, fly casting, fly tying and rod building classes for the wounded and injured personnel ranging from beginners to those with prior fly fishing and tying experience who are adapting their skills to their new abilities. All activities and services are provided to the participants at no cost. All equipment and materials are provided to the participants, including equipment that accommodates their special needs.

Long Beach Casting Club is proud to be one of the first clubs in the country to host a PHW program in a VA hospital, and remains a nationwide leader in that effort. Since our program’s beginning in May 2007, we have worked with veterans with both physical and psychiatric disabilities, young and old, male and female.  Our program at the Long Beach VA hospital includes series of classes in fly tying, fly casting, rod building and fly fishing basics, as well as fishing outings.  

Our fishing trips are both one day local outings to the San Gabriel River, Eldorado Park and Jess Ranch Lakes, as well as overnight trips to Bishop.  Several of our participants have been selected to participate in national PHW fishing trips to Montana, Wyoming, Maine, and Alaska.   Montana Fly Fishers and Leaning Tree Lodge have donated accomodations and meals for eight disabled veterans to fish the Big Horn River October 2010; we are eagerly looking forward to and practicing for this trip.

If you would like more information about Project Healing Waters in general, please go to the national website at projecthealingwaters.org. If you would like to donate to or volunteer at the Long Beach Casting Club PHW, please contact Program Lead Carole Katz at (714) 731-6044.