War vets fight stress with fly fishing

SAINT JOHN – Andy Dollar, who has been fly fishing New Brunswick’s streams and rivers since he was a boy, patiently ties a fishing fly at the Hammond River Conservation Centre. 

“It’s nice to make your own flies and catch your own fish on your own flies,” said the 95-year-old.  

But his fishing years stopped when he left Canada to fight the Nazis. Far away from home, he witnessed the reality of war. 

“One of my friends was captured and ended up getting shot,” he said. 
 
He says there was always hope he would get back home fishing. 

“It helped a lot because that’s what I was glad to get back to – so I could get the rod out to do fishing,” he said.   

Now a group in Ottawa is using the healing powers of fly fishing to help a new generation of soldiers deal with stress. 

The program is called Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada and is intended for wounded soldiers diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

The Atlantic Salmon Federation is sponsoring the program and its New Brunswick members say people would also get their support if they started a similar program in this province. 

“It seems like a wonderful opportunity to connect people to the local watershed groups where they may have their own fly-tying activities and so on. I would certainly try to establish those connections and lend support however possible,” said Geoff Giffon, the federation’s Director of New Brunswick Programs.  

Members say New Brunswick has countless streams and rivers where people can experience the benefits of fly fishing. 

“Its just part of the fabric of life here in New Brunswick and I think as anyone living in New Brunswick to get out fishing and experience our rivers is really to enjoy the amazing lifestyle we have here in this province,” he said. 

As for Dollar, he says he’s happy as long as he can cast a line.

“I think more about the fishing then when I’m fishing,” he said.