Since my discovery of fly fishing in my mid-teens, upon our moving to Traverse City from southern Michigan, the reasons for venturing out and the importance attributed to certain accomplishment have changed and matured – from catching a fish, to catching a big fish, to simply sitting in the quiet and watching the river flow.
It happens to all of us, traveling along this continuum of sportsman evolution that defines a hunting and fishing life.
But ever since the first time cresting the hill on the washboard dirt road and coasting down into the Boardman River valley around Ranch Rudolf, I’ve always known that, in the end, the goal of “watching the river” will always hold the most meaning.
That section of the valley where Ranch Rudolf is so perfectly situated slips you back into another, slower time, guarded by hills and ridges covered in evergreens and aspens and oaks that are gatekeepers to the outside world. The horse pasture stretching to the hills, the swift and clear river, and the absence of modern life’s hum can’t help but make you slow down and become more introspective.
No wonder it’s the location for Reel Recovery’s annual fly-fishing retreat for men. This natural setting provides as much therapy as the retreat activities.
“Reel Recovery, established in 2003, is a nonprofit organization that conducts free fly-fishing retreats for men who are currently battling, or who have previously battled, cancer,” said Michigan co-coordinator Robbie Foley. “These retreats provide participants a unique opportunity to share stories, form lasting friendships, gain renewed hope, and, while on the river, forget about cancer.”
I met Foley at the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in Warren in early March. All of that concrete isn’t a place you’d think a fly-fishing expo would be, but at 46 years, it’s the oldest one east of the Mississippi.
Overhearing – OK, I was eavesdropping – while one of their volunteers explained the group’s purpose to a guest, I perked up at the words “Ranch Rudolf.”
Amid all the vendors from across the Midwest and country, we counted it as a wink from up above that two northern Michigan tables – his for Reel Recovery, and mine for American Fly Fishing magazine, published right here in Traverse City – ended up next to each other.
Reconnecting with Foley recently, I asked him to explain more.
“A primary purpose of Reel Recovery is to address the growing demand for and limited supply of support services specifically tailored for men with cancer,” he told me. “There are similar organizations for women such as Casting For Recovery. That being said, we have wonderful women volunteers supporting Reel Recovery.”
Reel Recovery is a national organization with retreats in most states and expanding to the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand in the last couple of years. The retreat at Ranch Rudolf is the only retreat (at this time; see sidebar) for the entire state of Michigan.
For Foley, the decision to volunteer was a personal one. “Many of my family and friends have been impacted by the cruelty of cancer. Both my parents are cancer survivors. My uncle, who has always had a significant influence on me, exposed me to fly-fishing at a young age. He was diagnosed with cancer, and it affected me deeply just as it did when my parents told me they had cancer. I felt powerless.
“When I stumbled upon Reel Recovery, this felt like an opportunity for me to couple my passion for fly fishing with helping those also affected by cancer. It was a way for me to use some of my tools to share and help others.”
The upcoming retreat will be Foley’s eighth, and he’s been involved with the Michigan chapter since his move to the state in 2020, working with longtime Michigan coordinator Reg Tidball.
At the expo, I described to Foley about my youth fishing in the beautiful area around the Ranch, and he concurred.
“The Ranch Rudolf staff goes above and beyond to host this retreat, and it would be hard to find a better setting for an event like this. Not only is the venue nestled along the renowned Boardman River, the Ranch has a couple of ponds that typically hold some really nice trout.
“What further enhances the Michigan retreat experience,” Foley continued, “is that Casey and Dana Cowell [of the Cowell Family Cancer Center] also have graciously invited the participants to come and fish some of their ponds and river access to the Boardman, which expands the fishing options for the retreat. Not only have the Cowells provided access to solid fishing, but Dana, a former fly-fishing guide herself, has participated in the last three retreats as a fishing buddy.”
The retreats last two and a half days and blends one-on-one fishing instruction and time on the river with supportive activities for the attendees designed to help them continue their fight against cancer.
And simply take their minds off of it for a while.
“We have ‘courageous conversations,’” Foley said. “We have a professional facilitator who engages in discussions that help give strength, encouragement, and a new network of friends and support for all of our participants. Participants can share as much or as little as they feel comfortable.
“There is a vest signing, where participants sign and wear a vest while fishing that was worn by preceding participants. The signatures are from men all over the country – and, in some cases, world – who have gone through, to some degree, what the new participant has gone through or is going through currently.
“Then it’s time to hit the water! Participants get paired with a ‘fishing buddy.’ These volunteers are the lifeblood of the program, and the program wouldn’t be what it is today without them. There are numerous fishing sessions throughout the retreat.”
Of course, any retreat in the outdoors is incomplete without great meals and camaraderie throughout, and then at the end is a closing ceremony.
“We all come together, participants and fishing buddies, and share in some reflections on the retreat. We end the retreat with the participants circling together and making a fist while grabbing the other participants’ thumbs. We all yell, ‘Be Well! Fish On!’” which is Reel Recovery’s motto.
If you’re thinking about attending, Foley has a suggestion. “Be open minded. Know that more than 4,000 men have been served by this organization since 2003. Most of these men were nervous going into the retreat.
Most every participant has left the retreat being extremely happy that they attended, and they have new skills to bring joy, enthusiasm, and renewed hope as they confront the challenges of their cancer survivorship.”
And the benefits reach far beyond the participants. “Although not my initial intention,” Foley said, “the reality is I get so much out of these retreats myself. What I’ve learned from the courageous men who participate in this organization has greatly influenced my life, and I’m a better man because of them.”