When the Hokendauqua Chapter of Trout Unlimited held its third annual Project Healing Waters event in May, volunteers paired with veterans and taught them fly tying, fly casting and the relaxing joys of fly-fishing.

Fly fishing has therapeutic benefits for veterans and provides them with a new hobby and a way to enjoy life, according to Dr. Ed Hart, treasurer of Trout Unlimited,

"The motions of fly fishing help develop damaged muscles and improve balance and mobility," according to the Hokendauqua Chapter's website. "The fishing trips help the patients relax in a different environment from the hospital while he or she uses those skills and movements to catch fish."

Hart recalled his experience working at the spring event with Tom Evans, a Vietnam veteran a paraplegic due to his injuries from the war. Despite his disabilities, Ted is extremely skilled and caught the first fish of the day.

"He was amazing," Hart said. "I taught him a few things and he taught me a few things, too."

Trout Unlimited is a national organization focused on the preservation of coldwater fisheries and trout habitats. Several weeks before the Project Healing Waters event, members of Trout Unlimited are provided with training on teaching and assisting veterans with fly-fishing. Although fly fishing is certainly a major component of the event, Hart said the focus is on giving back to the veterans rather than showcasing one's fly fishing ability.

"It's important to set aside your personal ego," Hart explained. "You're there to transport the benefit to the veterans - it's all about the experience."

Every year, the national organization selects seven veterans to attend a fly-fishing trip in Montana. This year, one of the lucky veterans happened to be a participant at the Hokendauqua Chapter's event. Hart noted that although this veteran has 66 percent of his body injured, he greatly enjoyed himself at the event.

"Here's a guy who you could see the joy and see how much he was benefitting from the camaraderie with the other veterans," Hart said. "Some were veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam War and also more recent conflicts."

Aside from Project Healing Waters, Trout Unlimited also offers its Trout in the Classroom program, an educational program conducted in junior high science classes. In the program, students raise fish and later release the fully-grown fish into streams.

Additionally, the organization is dedicated to bringing awareness to local conservation and environmental issues, and open to any member of the public who is interested in joining. Because women are a minority in fly-fishing, Trout Unlimited offers free membership to women in order to encourage them to try out the sport.

Hart points out that both men and women are sometimes intimidated to try fly-fishing.

"A lot of people think fly fishing looks like it's too difficult," he said, "but then you see people with physical disabilities who are able to do it successfully."

For more information or to get involved with the Hokendauqua Chapter of Trout Unlimited, visit their website at www.hokendauqua.tu.org or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HokeyTU.