Potter County Waters That Heal

Fishing is much more than catching. Spending an evening on a trout stream or a morning on a bass lake can have rejuvenating qualities. Many use an angling outing to drain away the stress and refresh the mind.

A magical event took place in Potter County last month, taking the healing properties of fishing to a higher level. It went so well, in fact, that the prospects are excellent for a return of the magic next summer.

A dozen Vietnam veterans from Pennsylvania and New York were treated to a threeday fishing outing as part of Project Healing Waters. It's a threeyear old program to support the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled veterans and active duty military personnel through fly fishing, fly tying and outings.

Hosts were Cathy and Roy Magarigal, owners of the Moores Run Fish & Game Preserve, and the God's Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

The Magarigals advertise their 540- acre property, lake and 1.5 miles of Little Moores Run as "catch and release fly fishing for some of the largest trout found anywhere . . one of the few places in the East where you can expect to get into really large trout in a natural stream environment."

"I saw a clip about Healing Waters on TV," Cathy Magarigal said. "Veterans, fly fishing, we can do that. We emailed Healing Waters and then Roy asked his Trout Unlimited friends if they would be the sponsoring organization."

The 12 vets, suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, appreciated the northcentral Pennsylvania hospitality. They were met at the state line and escorted to the First Fork Lodge by ten motorcyclists - members of the American Legion Post 192 in Coudersport - and greeted at the lodge by flag-waving residents.

"The welcome brought tears to my eyes," commented veteran Rick Rizzo, of Albany, NY. "The treatment that we are getting here is just overwhelming. People are different here than where I come from."

Veterans spent the first morning receiving instruction with casting and fly fishing and then fishing at the preserve. After lunch, it was time for the vets to try their hand at fly tying.

Volunteers from the God's Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited turned out in full force to support "Project Healing Waters. Rich Nicka (top, left) and Carl Sprouse (bottom, left) were among TU members who helped disabled veterans enjoy a fishing trip to Potter County. They tied flies, learned about casting and other fly-fishing techniques, and tested their skills and luck on the flat water of Moores Run Lake and the natural trout habitat of Little Moores Run. God's Country TU Chapter President Dr. Peter Ryan thanked the many people who donated money, supplies or time to make the visit such a success. Ryan said TU hopes to host another group of veterans next summer.

"We gave them all beginners' fly tying kits and materials," explained Dr. Pete Ryan, long-time president of the Gods Country Chapter of TU. "It took them about an hour-and-a-half to tie their first fly -- a green weenie -- but each fly after that took progressively less time. On the third day, they tied a foam beetle in less than 20 minutes."

Day One ended with an evening of fishing on Little Moores Run and the preserve's well-stocked lake. A mayfly hatch started, and it seemed that someone's rod was always bent by a heavy trout. There were excited yells and broad smiles as many brown trout were hooked, played and netted.

Jerry Sagan, a veteran of two tours in Vietnam, smiled after landing a large brown.

"I've never felt this way before," he exclaimed. "This is so exciting. Today is etched in stone in my mind. I just don't feel the pain when I'm fishing."

Former Navy corpsman Bruce Bogart, from Erie, had fished before, but had never tried fly fishing. "This is just a super experience," said Bogart.

Next day's schedule included the addition of a stream conservation program presented by Jack Fleckenstein, from the Potter County Conservation District, and closing ceremonies in the evening.

"I am so proud of these guys," Dr. Ryan said. "Bruce (Bogart) caught his first trout on the fly that he tied that afternoon. He was so excited about that.

"We had total cooperation from everyone with donations of goods, services, and money. Austin-Costello Sportsmen Club donated their club for the fly tying, the First Fork Lodge put up the vets and, of course, the Magarigals provided the excellent trout fishing."

"This has been an enlightening experience," Ryan added. "It is the most rewarding thing that I've ever done."

Ray Markiewicz, who volunteers as the northeast coordinator for Healing Waters, was thrilled with the Potter County event: "I just can't speak more highly of the special treatment that the veterans received here. These volunteers are all sweet people and I feel like I've known them for years."

A number of the TU volunteer guides, including Howard Bajor and Carl Sprouse, said they were getting more out of helping than they were giving.

"It was a real privilege to provide 'fish therapy' for these guys," Sprouse said. "The fishing provided them with a distraction from their everyday problems."

Based on the positive experiences and high level of support, Ryan said a return visit to the local healing waters is likely.

"The chapter will discuss this but, right now, I can't see now how we could have made it any better," he added. "We'd love to do this again next year."

(Editor's Note: Story and photos come from outdoor writer Mark Nale, a retired biology teacher whose work appears in several publications. Mark shared this report of his experience in Potter County courtesy of the Centre Daily Times. He can be reached at MarkAngler@aol. com.)