I loved being able to fish with you guys. Can’t wait for the next time!
Pearisburg, Virginia Project
Lead Mentor: Zach Smith
Co-Lead Mentor: Randy Jewell
Project location: Pearisburg, Virginia
Year project founded: 2020
Mentors on this team: 15
Children mentored to date: 17
Children to be mentored in 2024: 8
Local foster care partners: CASA, Intercept, DSS
Local companies that support this project: Community support, local county donations.
Apply to Mentor Here!
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Pearisburg, Virginia Project
I know for me fishing is a way of getting away from it all and relaxing, and I hope it can be the same for these children and a way to show them people care and they can achieve great heights through the skills they learn fly fishing.
Project Mentors
ZACHARY SMITH, LEAD MENTOR
Pearisburg, Virginia
I live in Southwestern, VA and have lived here most of my life. Fishing and outdoors has been a passion of mine since I was little. I have fished for most of my life. I started fly fishing over five years ago and fly tying over a year ago. I love being outdoors and fishing is just one of the many activities that I love and have a passion for in the outdoors. It is a way for me to get out and relax at the end of day and be in nature. I am currently an Attorney because I have to pay for all of my hobbies including being an avid fisherman. I have worked with many foster children in the Court systems and look forward to sharing the love of fishing with them.
RANDY JEWELL, CO-LEAD MENTOR
Peterstown, West Virginia
Growing up in Southern West Virginia Randy spent most of his days outside fishing, hunting, and enjoying the mountains. Spending most of his early years learning to fish for bass with his father off the back of a bass boat solidified his love for chasing fish of any species. Fly fishing came later as a teenager, and fly tying came soon after. Fishing for trout proved to be a much more challenging thrill. Being in the water with the fish, not to mention the discriminating palette of the trout made seeking a bite that much more exciting. Experiencing fly fishing for trout in cold mountain streams with a hand-tied fly connects your soul with nature in a way few things ever could. After marrying his wife Jessica who taught public school for ten years he began to see how important it was to be a light in the lives of children. With a brother also being involved in caring for foster children which ultimately led to adoption Randy also saw how love, consistency, and patience could change a life. Randy and his wife have three children and enjoy being outdoors with them whenever possible.
News & Events
2nd Annual Mending the Line Fundraiser!
One month left to purchase your tickets to our 2nd Annual Mending the Line Fundraiser!!!! When – 6pm to 8:30pm – October 12th, 2023 Where – Chenal Event Center – 21 Rahling Circle, Little Rock, AR Guest Speaker – Hank Patterson Expect to enjoy an evening of TMP...
Making the Long Drives for Kids, Got Fishing!
“But you live in McCall, 4 hours from our local project?” I remember asking Brian Oakland, of Got Fishing, when he first reached out to us and told us he was going to not only raise funds for our Idaho Projects, but he wanted to join our project in Coeur’d Alene. He...
Butler, PA, Fly Fishing Extravaganza Fundraiser!
2023 Fly Fishing Extravaganza in Butler, PA!! Join us for our 3rd annual day of instructional fly fishing on private property!! This will be a day of fly fishing, food, raffles, contests and FUN!! Details of the event are as follows: Date: August 19, 2023 Time: 9:00...
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Pearisburg, Virginia Project
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