Alaska Fisheries Board

In Amarillo, TX, a group called the Fly Guys are specifically reaching out to war veterans, reeducating them and teaching them how to work in the area of custom fly rods. According to founder Kyle McAdams, “They’re actually constructing something that they’ll be able to use later on, on the river and then ultimately pass down and hand down to their kids and things like that.”

Veterans have been taught how to build lightweight fly rods so far, which they can use on a planned trip to Cimarron, New Mexico. Each veteran is given a beginner rod building kit, which comes with reel seats, grips, guides, threads, and other things that are necessary to build a basic rod. This gives them the feel of things, and it brings participating veterans together with a sense of community, giving participants something to be proud of according to custom rod instructor Austin McWhorter.

Veterans who have “graduated” from the programs with new rods have stated that it feels “gratifying” to catch fish with something that they made with their own hands, and many have reported being treated well by everybody.

It currently costs veterans a total of $80 to buy a quality tying vise and $125 to buy a whole fly rod kit. $25 buys fly tying materials, which may become more expensive or cheaper with experience, with many being able to find different shops. However, this is just meant to be a start. However, all of these materials can last up to a year for many veterans.

Currently, Fly Guys is being sponsored by groups including the Brown Automotive group, Amarillo National Bank, Budweiser Distributing Company, Top Notch Outfitters, Travelers Oil Company, Southwest Honda, Marble Depot Incorporated, and Dennis M Plunk DDS, all of whom McAdams states that Fly Guys and the veteran participants could not do without.