Vets Healing on the Fly is now independent!

This is an exciting week, 8/15/25 was our first day operating independently from the old national organization as a new program, “Vets Healing on the Fly”.  This is “Day 1” of our new journey as an independent 501[c]3.  We are operating as an independent program working with the Farmington Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Vets Healing on the Fly is dedicated to assisting veterans and active-duty military personnel as they progress on their journey of healing.  We accomplish this through fly fishing, fly tying, educational and outing related activities.  Through these activities, we hope to assist vets cope with the challenges they face every day.  All equipment and associated costs are provided at “no cost” to program participants.

Over the next year you will start to see changes with our group making our events more available to the vets that workdays or only have weekends available.  The changes will come in small steps so we do not bite off more than we can chew step.

We are also on Facebook so please check us out and “Like Us,” and “Follow Us.”

Check out our new fashionable apparel!

“Bob,” as my son has named him, who lives in my basement (Bob, not my son), is modeling our new Vets Healing on the Fly tee shirt.  Bob will not be attending the Doc’s Pond Outing, but the vet participants who do will receive their very own VHF tee to take home and keep.  If you like the design, it was mine, if you don’t, we can blame Emilio, our web designer.

We do plan on offering more apparel items in the future, but

this is our first step. (Thanks Emilio!)

Docs Pond Saturday 8/23/25 

Saturday, 8/23/25, we will be holding an outing to Doc Shildgen’s Bass Pond in Litchfield, CT for our Vets Healing on the Fly participating in our program.  Any vet interested in bringing a family member to this year’s event, please let me know so we can plan accordingly.  Float tubes and kayaks work well at this event. PFDs are mandatory if you are floating on the water. Please bring your own or I will have some for loan.

Flies are starting to be staged for Doc's Pond. Hoppers, Sculpins, Buggers, Mop Flies

Bass plugs and Damsel Flies are all available. Some tied by the group, others were donated

Doc's Pond 2024

All of these images were taken at Doc's 2024

The comradery, Time on the Water, Plenty of room to spread out, and even the solitude. All part of the healing process