Casting for Recovery Retreat

Three years ago, or maybe it was four (COVID made me lose track), I was waitlisted for this breast cancer retreat called Casting for Recovery (CfR). I didn’t know what the connection between breast cancer and fly fishing was, but I knew I wanted to do it. I have always wanted to learn how to fly fish, but never had the opportunity to try it.

I grew up bait fishing in the summers with my grandpa and it is still something I remember fondly. We would catch mostly walleye, some perch, and if we were lucky a small bass in Lake Erie. Andrew and I went fishing a few times in Oregon too, but we have never been fishing in New Hampshire. Being the wimp that I am though, I really hated cutting the worms with my thumb nail, and I had heard that in fly fishing there were no live worms to cut. Beyond that I didn’t know much about fly fishing, and to be honest I didn’t even know if that was true or not. Worms or not, I was intrigued by the sport.

The year I was wait listed for the CfR retreat I got a call the day before the retreat and was asked if I could make it, as one person that was slated to come no longer attend. The answer was no, we had family plans that wouldn’t allow me to go. I applied again last year and was accepted but the organization canceled the retreats because of COVID. Bummed again! Finally, this year I got in and it was worth the wait! My retreat was in Stowe, VT.

Let me tell you a little about the organization…it’s a national operation that started right here in New England, Vermont to be more precise. It started small and is now offering 40 or more retreats a year across the US, is mostly volunteer led (there are only a few paid staff), and supports women that have had or currently are living with breast cancer. They have some awesome sponsors and the funds they raise go towards making these retreats 100% free to those attending. They provide gear, lodging, food, support group sessions, fly fishing lessons, and a guided fly fishing experience.

What is the connection to breast cancer and fly fishing you may ask? I wondered that myself. Their website says it best by stating that “For women who have had surgery or radiation as part of their breast cancer treatment, the gentle motion of fly casting can be good physical therapy for increasing mobility in the arm and upper body. Couple that with the emotional benefits of connecting with nature, and you’ve got powerful medicine.”

The motion of casting the fly is incredibly meditative. It feels more challenging the more you force the line out or the harder you work — kind of like golf in that way, although I am not the best golfer (yet). Once my muscles relaxed into the motion and I let my body and line move in sync I felt this full body connection to the time and space that I was in. Now, I don’t want to paint a beautiful perfect fly fishing picture, I most definitely didn’t get the cast right on the first 50 tries, but I did get it, and then I didn’t get it, and then I got it again. When I got it right, all felt just right.

In addition to learning this new sport, I met some lovely women along the way. The CfR staff were incredible teachers, and the participants were fun, interesting, and engaged. Some breast cancer retreats or support groups are stuffy, dull, and end up feeling like a whole lot of work. This was the opposite experience for me. I cannot wait to connect with these women again out on the river.

If you’re a fly fisher, let me know, I want to go out with you too!

XOXO