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FLY FISHING GROUP GIVES BACK TO OUR VETERANS

Suburban Trends - 1/16/2017

We can never do enough to help our veterans, especially those men or women who have been wounded in service of our country. Few organizations do a better job of fulfilling that noble obligation than Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, which has recently formed the Northeast Jersey chapter.

We've written about this group in the past, and it always draws a good response from readers. And why not?

This organization welcomes all disabled veterans to participate in various aspects of fly fishing. All activities are offered at no cost to disabled veterans.

Day trips are organized as weather and river conditions permit, and the group was able to fish Willowemoc Creek, Pequest education pond and Connetquot River last year. Veterans will have the opportunity to learn fly casting, fly fishing, fly tying and fly rod building from members of the East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited, some of most dedicated and patient teachers in North Jersey.

If you are interested, individuals from novice to expert are invited to Wednesday's regular monthly meeting at the VFW, 28 Faner Road, Midland Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. You can also learn more about Project Healing Waters in general by logging on to http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/.

THANKS, DON: Longtime readers will no doubt remember that this column used to belong to Don Ecker, the founding president of the East Jersey chapter of Trout Unlimited and one of North Jersey's great champions of coldwater conservation. Ecker passed away on Jan. 2, creating a huge void in the North Jersey fishing community.

An avid fly fisherman and long-time Fort Lee resident, Don was a big influence on me, although I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to write this column. Hardly a week goes by where we don't write about something involving EJTU, teaching or conservation-wise, so he leaves behind quite a legacy that won't soon be forgotten.

You can find a nice tribute to Ecker on the EJTU website by logging on to http://www.eastjerseytu.org/index.html.

THINGS TO DO: Don't forget the first big outdoor show of the season, the Garden State Outdoor Sports Show, runs today through Sunday at the Garden State Convention and Exposition Center in Edison. For more information, including show times, attractions, directions ticket prices, and how to preorder tickets, log-on to http://www.gsoss.com/.

HELP WANTED: Is your town or club hosting an event that would interest the North Jersey outdoor community? We would like to publish it in this column. The best way to contact me is by email at Deaconmark62@gmail.com.

Outdoors

Mark Czerwinski