Project Healing Waters - Colonial Beach, VA

03/26/2026

03/26/2026

Project Healing Waters Colonial Beach had a great **fly tying class on 17 March 2026**, where participants spent the evening tying the classic **Deceiver** fly.

Originally created by **Lefty Kreh**, the Deceiver is a well-known streamer pattern designed to imitate baitfish. It is a favorite for targeting a variety of species because of its simple design, natural movement in the water, and proven ability to convince fish that lunch has arrived.

Our participants worked on building the fly step by step, focusing on materials, proportions, and technique. As always, there were a few flies that looked ready to catch fish right away... and a few that may have looked more like they survived a rough trip through the tackle box. That is part of the fun.

Beyond tying a great pattern, classes like this help build skills, confidence, and camaraderie. Every session is another chance to learn something new, share a few laughs, and enjoy time together.

A big thank you to everyone who came out and made the evening a success.

03/26/2026

Project Healing Waters Colonial Beach had a great casting class on 14 March 2026!

During the first hour, participants worked with their 5-wt rods, focusing on the fundamentals and sharpening their technique. It was a solid chance to build confidence, improve accuracy, and get those casting motions feeling a little smoother.

In the second hour, things got a little more exciting as participants moved up to 10-wt rods. These heavier rods take a bit more muscle, timing, and patience, but everyone jumped in and gave it their best. It was a great way to prepare for future outings and get comfortable with gear designed for bigger challenges.

There were a few tangled lines, a couple of “creative” casts, and at least one moment where the rod probably wondered who was really in charge—but that is all part of learning. Most importantly, everyone showed up, worked hard, and had a lot of fun doing it.

We are proud of the progress our participants continue to make and grateful for the volunteers who help make these classes possible.

02/27/2026

02/18/2026

Last night, we tied up another of the most popular trout dry flies, created by Al Troth in 1957.
The Elk Hair Caddis is an iconic, highly buoyant dry fly, designed to imitate adult caddisflies. It features a hollow elk-hair wing and palmered hackle, making it exceptionally visible and versatile for fishing in and on both fast-moving and calm waters.

02/17/2026

Last night we had our 1st Burgers, Lies, & Flies event. Not many flies were tied, but we had a great turnout; fishing stories were told, and camaraderie was strong. A big shout to Ice House CB for hosting our event and the great food!

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

https://youtu.be/TYcE_3SrrKU?si=D-dATy1xA_qT61AE

Rob Streeter (Rob Streeter Outdoors) and I are hosting an event throughout February 2026 to collect flies to donate to our military veterans participating in...

02/05/2026

Just wanted to give a shout-out to the team at Mossy Creek Fly Fishing! We needed some 10wt saltwater reels to match our 10wt fly rods for our upcoming saltwater events. During the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival, we spoke with the Mossy Creek team about our needs, and they began work immediately upon returning to their shop. Not only did they work with their reps to help us out, but they also donated the backing and time, spooling everything up for us. Again, thank you very much!

01/23/2026

On Saturday, 17 Jan 2026, a few of us teamed up with Project Healing Waters Fredericksburg, VA, for a fly-fishing outing to a local private pond. Despite not catching many fish, cold temperatures, and freezing rain, we had a great time learning from each other and perfecting our skills. The most important part, though, was the camaraderie!

01/21/2026

The "Hum Bug" fly pattern typically refers to a simple, effective panfish (like bluegill, crappie) attractor developed by the Gaines Company, which is one of four panfish patterns in their Grubby Bug series. The other three patterns are the Grubby Gert, the Marabou Miss, and the Nifty Nat. Known for its chenille body, rubber legs, and bright colors (Yellow/Green, Black/Yellow, Black/White, Red/White combinations), designed to imitate small aquatic insects or larvae.