Earlier this year the Club put out a call to action to our members who tie flies (and even those who don’t) to contribute to PCC’s popular and esteemed Wounded Vets’ Program. The idea was to collect as many donated flies as possible for use by the program participants during the actual fishing phase of the annual event.  Steve Posner, PCC’s Fly Tying Chair, reported that our membership came through in spades, with over 700 flies donated, along with some nice terminal tackle and accessories.  Dennis Greninger, the Wounded Vets’ Program Co-Chair, was on hand at the Clubhouse to receive the donation.

PCC Fly Tying Chair Steve Posner and Wounded Vets’ Program Co-Chair Dennis Greninger admire the loot…

This enthusiastic response by the PCC membership “underscores our Club’s commitment to one of our most cherished volunteer programs, and will allow us to continue to do our part in helping those who have given so much to our country to become more involved in our beloved sport,” said Posner.

Added Greninger, “I was astonished by the number and quality of flies provided by our members. PCC does have incredible fly tiers. Both Dr. Jim Graves and I are grateful to the support provided for PCC’s “home grown” outreach program to bring the joys of fly fishing to our combat vets. Thank you.”

Veteran's Trip 2022

After a 2-year hiatus, the Wounded Vets Program was reactivated this year, the 14th year of its existence. The program is designed to provide knowledge and experience in the art and practice of fly fishing for combat military veterans who are experiencing mental health consequences of their military experience.

Eight veterans were recruited from a Vets Center (a mental health component of the VA system) by a counselor, Everett Wong. Everett has provided the crucial recruitment and internal organization for the Program for much of its existence.

On Saturday, September 10th, we conducted training in the principles and techniques of fly fishing in a day-long introductory course at the clubhouse. Classroom instruction was conducted by Dennis Greninger and myself, with Carl Crawford, Scott Boller and Jim Sadd providing casting instruction on our Club pool.

The following weekend we journeyed up to the Mammoth Lakes area for a couple days of flyfishing experience. The instructor team and the vets group stayed in donated condos at Seasons4 Condos, which was facilitated by Seasons4 owner, Teri Stelic.

On Saturday we made a stop at Kittredge Sports to give the vets a fly shop experience and then on to the Long Ears section of the Upper Owens. With few hook-ups in the morning, we migrated to the Pumice Flats area of the San Joaquin for the afternoon. On Sunday we fished Bishop Creek a couple miles downstream from South Lake. The water was clear and flowing well and a few fish were caught.

After lunch, which featured a short hailstorm, we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed home. Despite the lack of a lot of catching, the vets were in high spirits throughout the weekend and the feedback, as usual, was very positive.

We want to thank the Pasadena Orvis store in for their continued support over the years and for donating tackle for the vets. The PCC membership and Board continues to support the Program with good will and a very adequate budget.

Moving on to year 15 with the hope of a snowy winter.

Jim Graves, Chair



PCC’s Wounded Vet’s Program, established and led by Club member by Dr. Jim Graves, has provided a fly fishing education and experience to over one hundred twenty of our military combat veterans, both men and women, since 2007.

The Wounded Vets Program is much more than a fishing trip to the mountains. It’s an opportunity for camaraderie with other vet’s, and a time to live and fish together with counselors from the East Los Angeles Vet’s Center. The article “Fly Fishing and the Brain” from Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, concludes that combat veterans who participate in a fly fishing retreat had significant reductions in stress as well as improvements in PTSD symptoms and sleep quality. Counselors at the East LA Vet’s Center have reported very positive results for vet’s that have participated in our program.

Dennis Greninger