Rockbridge Trip Highlights Project Healing Waters Calendar

by Jim Kissane

Assistant Program Lead

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing - Greater Kansas City

American flags lined the main road at Rockbridge Trout Resort, welcoming our Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing group.

It’s easy to understand why our annual Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing trip to Rockbridge Trout Resort is the favorite among our Greater Kansas City Program participants. We recently returned from our fifth expedition to Rockbridge, and each trip has been better than the last.

Rockbridge is a fishing and hunting ranch located about 30 minutes southeast of Ava. MO. This Ozark wonderland is owned and operated by the Amyx family, with a rich history dating back to the 1800s. Rockbridge used to be a bustling community, the county seat of Ozark County, with a sawmill and its own post office. The town is gone but Rockbridge still has a post office in the building serves as headquarters of the resort.

Project Healing Waters participants find peace on the river.

From the moment we arrived at Rockbridge, the Amyx family made us feel welcome, with the road to the lodge lined with American flags. Check-in went smoothly and most of our group headed to the stream to check out the water. It didn’t take long for us to realize that this was going to be an epic adventure.

We have always been impressed with the fighting nature of the fish here – Missouri steelhead, we call them. Fish would average about 15 inches in length, but would fight like those half again that size. This time, however, the fish were half again that size, averaging more than three pounds apiece, with several five- to six-pounders in the mix. You couldn’t horse these fish in, either: they took a minimum of 10-15 minutes to land, and most of us had the opportunity to test the knot connecting our fly line to the backing.

New participant Bob Weber made his first trout a memorable one.

Our trip started on a Wednesday morning, leaving Kansas City and arriving in time for a half-day of fishing, capped by a barbecue supper donated by Jack’s Stack Restaurant. Thursday began with breakfast prepared by program volunteers, after which our group attacked the water, stopping only for a streamside lunch of sandwiches prepared by the wonderful Rockbridge Restaurant (try the smoked trout salad!). The day ended with dinner at the restaurant and a bonfire in the fire ring. Volunteers prepared breakfast on Friday, followed by a half-day of fishing before returning to Kansas City.

That summary doesn’t begin to describe the trip, however. Our group included 17 participants – by far our largest contingent on this annual trek. Some were taking their first fly fishing trip. Others were catching their first trout. Still others were fishing for the first time with rods they built in the annual Project Healing Waters rod building competition. These are some of the memories that make the trip last forever. So, too, are the quiet moments on the stream in the still of a morning, shared among brothers in arms.

Prolonged standing and stream currents can be challenging for some participants, but Doc Pustka didn’t let that stop him. Volunteer David Cook stands ready to help Doc net his catch.

But don’t expect it to be quiet for long. Hardly a moment went by without someone – usually several someones – hooking a fish. Celebratory whoops intermingled with tactical advice – some of it serious, some of it sarcastic – Keep your rod tip up! Get him on the reel! Let him run! Don’t let him run into those tree roots!

The fish were brought to the net, followed by pictures and high-fives. Some participants, like Mike Davis and Steve Licata, always seemed to have a fish on. Others, especially those new to the sport, needed a little help, and volunteers tried to make sure that every Veteran got in on the fun.

Participants opened their fly boxes and shared their hand-tied creations with each other. Around the bonfire in the evening, they opened their hearts and shared their stories of the day.

Those stories continued on the ride home to Kansas City, along with a look ahead to next year’s Rockbridge trip. Because they just keep getting better.

Long-time participant Chuck Bradbury displays a six-pound trout that may have been the largest of the trip.

A bonfire marks the end of a perfect day of fishing for our Greater Kansas City program, and the fish stories required no exaggeration.

Our group wore Project Healing Waters shirts for RED Friday – Remember Everyone Deployed.

This year’s group of participants on our annual Rockbridge trip was our largest yet.