Reeling and Healing Midwest Blog

Here we are – Day 2 at the show!

Yesterday was amazing – there were approximately 3,000 attendees who came through the door and traveled from booth to booth, attending seminars and lectures – all focused on fly fishing.

We gave away over 1,200 of our signature fish necklaces. Many of the show attendees and vendors are sporting them again today.

We’re excited to be selling our raffle tickets. The two prizes are being sought by many interested fishers – men, women and young adults. The Tiffany key chain is an ideal gift and show stopper. With so many rods up at other booths as prizes, many attendees have commented on what a breath of fresh air this unique prize has become at the show.

The volunteers of the MFFC have provided superb service once again. From set-up assistance, the hospitality suite, the hotel accommodations and always stopping by to check on us and offer help – it just doesn’t get any better than this. Their effort to make this show the best in Michigan definitely pays off.

We spent some time with a number of vendors. Katherine D. and Cathy S. visited booths and tested out a starter rod kits for Katherine. After about 30 minutes at the casting pond comparing rods of various price points, Katherine purchased her first rod. She’s now armed to take on as many trout as she can imagine at the retreats this year. Plus, she’ll be practicing her casting in her backyard at anytime.

We have had well over 24 volunteers help out at our booth. They’ve set-up, sold t-shirts, offered chair massage, provided music, speakers, bubbles, have been folding brochures, selling raffle tickets, and sharing their Reeling & Healing Midwest stories with everyone. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP!

Additionally, we must extend thanks to the Trout Unlimited chapters, the vendors, supplies, the MFFC and many individual fishermen for their support. All have become part of our family with a goal to teach our sport, enhance the lives of cancer survivors and help each other and our causes.

The fly tyers who are donating flies, continue to drop by and add more flies to our donation basket – we are so very grateful. The flies will go to our retreat participants and will be shared with Reel Recovery, Project Healing Waters and Fishing Has No Boundaries. For those tyers who forgot their flies for donation, please remember to send them our way.

We salute Gail Madden for the hundreds of pairs of fish earrings and other handmade items she has provided to us to sell at shows to help sponsor retreat participants. Gail has been making the earrings for us for over five years!
And a special thanks to Kari Betzer who created some beautiful beaded bracelets to sell at the show as well. A percentage of the proceeds from the bracelets and her scarf collection will be donated to Reeling & Healing Midwest. You can find more of her items on her website (If you purchase an item from her website she will donate a portion of the proceeds to help sponsor a participants at a retreat this summer).

Here are a couple photos with the earrings and bracelets.

That’s all for now.

Fish On!