Hello AWOL Family! We hope you have had an amazing summer season. As fall draws near, we are dreaming of cooler temperatures, hoodies, hot coffee and rowdy fish. It has been a very busy year for us here at AWOL Angler, we are thankful to say! And we have much more to come.
HAPPENING THIS MONTH:
Monthly Meetup Guided Fly Fishing Trip-September 17th (Jemez)
AWOL In Conservation Project-Sohum Mountain Ranch September 10-11
We are very excited to have launched a new program this year at AWOL. Our pilot program will be running its first project September 10-11 at the amazing Sohum Mountain Ranch in Chromo, Colorado.
We do a lot here at AWOL organizing and running professionally guided trips for our Veterans, teaching everything from the basics to the finer aspects of fly fishing. Casting, fly selection, reading rivers, catching and netting fish, and especially...safe catch and release practices. But we wanted to do more.
It's no secret the calm peaceful nature these rivers and lakes tend to bring on long days spent in the wilderness. They become our refuge, our place to go where we can drop our guard for a little while, breathe deep, and completely dwell in the present. But what about giving back to the environments which give so much to us?
AWOL in Conservation is a program aimed at bringing a "full circle" aspect of healing to the Veterans in our program, as well as the environments we fish. By teaching our participants how to fish, where to fish, when to fish, and finally...how to be a steward of those environments which care for them...we believe we can even further enrich the healing and peaceful experiences we offer as an Organization. In the future, we plan to work with state and federal sources to do cleanup projects on public waterways, fish introductions, and habitat improvement projects.
For our first project, we will be partnering with our new host ranch location-Sohum Mountain Ranch of Chromo, Colorado. On the weekend of September 10-11, we will be bringing a crew of Veterans to the ranch to cut and clear fishing access trails to the fabled Navajo River which runs through this gorgeous property, clearing the way for epic fishing and even better memories for future Veterans and other visitors to the ranch to come.
We are so excited for the opportunity to work on and improve a ranch that provides such a peaceful environment for our Veteran fishing trips. We are planning to run this project in three phases, the first in September, the second in October, and the third and final next spring 2023. We hope to host our first Lodge Fishing Event for our Veterans here Summer 2023. Stay tuned here folks...MUCH more to come.
MONTHLY MEETUP SEPTEMBER 2022
Our monthly meetup guided fly fishing program has been an incredible success this year, putting some 50 Veterans on the water with us this year to date on rivers ranging from the Rio Grande, to the Rio Chama, and even some stillwater lakes in northern New Mexico.
We will be hosting this months guided fishing trip in the Jemez mountains, northwest of Albuquerque. August brought us plenty of blessed rain and cooler temperatures, and we are going to take the opportunity to teach some late summer high country stream fishing techniques. September 17th, we will be meeting at "Amanda's Country Store" at 8 in the morning and dispersing around the area from there. If you are a Veteran interested in fishing with us, be sure to get signed up under "programs" then "monthly meetup."
FALL FUNDRAISING IS UNDERWIEGH!!!
Your donations are the lifeblood of our organization and the reason we are able to provide these healing experiences for our Nation's finest. This year alone, your donations have facilitated some 50 Veterans on the water for our Monthly Meetup program, and another 12 at lodge events hosted at Trout Stalker Ranch in Chama, NM, and Stone Meadow Ranch in Conejos, CO.
This month we are running a raffle from September 1st to September 17th for a custom made, glass knapped knife locally made by our artist friend and long time supporter, Terry Rothwell.
This knife is custom pressed glass, knapped to an edge. The handle is deer antler and wrapped in a sinew. Cradled in this beautiful antler and wood display, it will make the perfect addition to your mantle or hearth.
Tickets are being sold exclusively on the website for $25 a piece or 5 for $100. As always, all proceeds will be used to fund future fishing trips for Veterans in our program.
As we prepare to bring this summer season to a close, we hope that you will continue to follow along in our mission to impact Veteran mental health. We have made leaps and bounds over the past few years, and we have YOU to thank for it.
Great Job, Wes! Wes Myer and the AWOL family are a top notch organization invested in their veteran community and conservation programs. Join these guys whether as a participant fly fishing and/or volunteering for one of their conservation projects. AWOL Angler community nails it with their outdoor therapeutic program. Love working alongside these guys.
Hope to stop by and see you guys on your Sept 17th weekend outing.
*Wes, if I win the raffle for that bad@$$ custom knife- consider it donated back towards your next monthly outing and prize it to the combat veteran that hauls in the biggest trout. Glad your out there doing great things brother. PA Michael Green