From October 27th to 29th, we had the privilege of accompanying our veterans to the R Bar C Boy Scout Camp situated north of Payson for a memorable fishing experience at Christopher Creek. The individuals truly demonstrated the skills they had acquired during our four weeks of instructional classes. Our time by the river was exceptionally fruitful, with both veterans and camp participants jointly catching and releasing approximately 30 fish. Among the attendees, we were delighted to welcome three veterans who had previously undergone our fly fishing classes in September. Each of them enjoyed multiple successful catches. When we weren't engaged in fishing, we savored delicious meals expertly prepared by our camp cooks, relaxed in the cozy cabins, or gathered around the campfire on the crisp, starry nights. A heartwarming highlight of the event was the presentation of a quilt, handcrafted by one of our instructors' wives, which we raffled off to one of our deserving veterans. Building relationships with these remarkable individuals has been a genuine joy, and we've forged friendships that will endure for years to come. The camaraderie was exceptional, the food was delectable, and the fishing provided a serene and tranquil experience. Collaborating with the AZ Fly Fishers, this year's program proved to be a resounding success, leaving us eager for future classes. We're thrilled to announce that another class is scheduled for April, with an accompanying trip in May. If you're a veteran interested in participating in these classes and trips, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Additionally, if you're keen on volunteering as a cook for the trip, we welcome your assistance.
March 1st our veterans came together for a fishing weekend they will not soon forget. As each person trickled in through the day on Friday, we had a boat or two ready in case they wanted to get some evening fishing in. Most opted to just hang out around camp and get to know everyone, but some went out scouting for the next day. We were able to let the veterans know which boat that they would be paired with for the first fishing session the next morning. We had a great time around camp and had some alfredo/marinara pasta and sides to top off the day. March 2nd, we woke up early for a 5 AM breakfast, and after a great hot breakfast with sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and eggs we started preparing for the morning fishing session. After each veteran had their gear packed, we all headed over to the main boat launch area and met up with our other 3 boats that had arrived that morning. The morning fishing session proved successful and most of our veterans caught fish. Around noon the guys came in for brats/hotdogs and a nice lunch break. During this time, we were able to do a raffle to give away 2 quilts to 2 different veterans, and 2 steering wheel covers made by one of the ladies who sewed the quilts to the volunteers. We also were able to pair up the veterans with different boats for the afternoon sessions. The goal of pairing them with different boats was for them to get different techniques and ideas from multiple guides. The afternoon fishing session proved a little tougher because of windy conditions but still had a little success. Saturday evening after fishing, we had a Cajun fish fry prepared with hushpuppies for the veterans as they arrived. Saturday night we had a campfire and sat around for a couple of hours having great conversations, listening to the fishing stories for the day, and lots of laughter. We gave the pairings for the final morning session on Sunday also. Sunday morning, we again had a nice hot breakfast around 5 AM with bacon, pancakes, sausage, and biscuits/gravy. Afterwards the veterans got on the water for the final fishing session, and this day was the nicest day of all. The lake was calm and the fish were biting. To say that our first ever bass fishing trip was a success would be a huge understatement. The best thing that I was able to do this weekend was sit back and observe the veterans and their interactions with each other, with the guides, with the volunteers and see the smiles on their faces. Not only with the fish that they caught, or the quilts they were drawn for, but the ability to connect with others who have been through the same things as they have. Lifelong friendships were established, and that is why we at the Arizona Elk Society and Heroes Rising Outdoors have these events. We would like to give a huge amount of gratitude and thanks for those who donated not only of their time, but also boats this weekend. We have another set of bass fishing classes and trip scheduled for this fall.
Arizona's conservation leader
