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Gaylord Sports Association Veteran Events Series (SAVES)

Bob Bowden on January 4, 2026

They host two major annual fishing tournaments specifically for veterans with permanent physical disabilities, visual impairments, or PTSD. For the upcoming 2026 season, their schedule typically follows this pattern:

2026 Veteran Fishing Tournaments

  • Spring Tournament (Candlewood Lake): Usually held in May.

    • Application Period: Registration typically opens in March.

    • Location: Danbury, CT.

  • Fall Tournament (Congamond Lake): Usually held in September.

    • Application Period: Registration typically opens in July.

    • Location: Southwick, MA

Tournament Details

  • Format: These are open-water bass fishing tournaments. Each veteran is paired with an experienced angler and boat captain from CT BASS Nation.

  • Cost: The events are offered at no cost to veterans, including equipment, tackle, life jackets, and a luncheon. This is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

  • Support: The program is organized in partnership with the Major Steven Roy Andrews Fishing Outreach Program, which often provides veterans with their own fishing gear to take home.

  • How to Apply

Because spots are limited (usually around 25 veterans per tournament) and fill up very quickly, they recommend getting on their email list early.

Take a Warrior Fishing, INC

Bob Bowden on January 3, 2026

Warrior Fishing provides Active Duty, Retired and Military Veterans the means to fish for free.

Nestled in the heart North Carolina, Take A Warrior Fishing, Inc. (TAWF) is not just another non-profit. We are a dream realized, a commitment symbolized, and a salute to the indomitable spirit of our military community. As a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization based in North Carolina, our mission transcends traditional gestures of gratitude.

At TAWF, we merge the serenity of fishing with our deep respect for those who’ve donned the uniform, whether active, reserved, retired, or veterans. Through fishing, we provide moments of tranquillity, camaraderie, and joy to the warriors who’ve given so much. By collaborating with generous boat owner/operators, we ensure that every military personnel gets a chance to experience the joy of fishing – absolutely free of cost.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about fishing; it’s about giving back, sharing experiences, and casting lines of hope and unity. For those about the fish, we salute You!

Anglers of Honor

Bob Bowden on January 3, 2026

Anglers of Honor provides accessible and therapeutic fishing experiences to:

  • military veterans with physical disabilities and mental health challenges and their family members. We aid in their acclimation to life after active duty.
  • people suffering from spinal cord and traumatic brain injury.

Through the Anglers of Honor program, participants and their families learn the basics of fly fishing, which they get to put to immediate use on premier, private fly fishing waters that have been restored to allow access for people with disabilities.

Our nonprofit organization is part of a larger alliance of entities with complementary missions to serve veterans and other people with disabilities and their family members. This alliance, which provides nearly 100 outings each year, is managed by the River Deep Foundation. We invite you to learn more about Anglers of Honor’s impact in the Foundation’s annual report.

Warrior Impact

Bob Bowden on January 2, 2026

Each day, 22 veterans and first responders take their lives due to the pressures felt from post-traumatic stress, and more than 800,000 of them are suffering from PTS right now.

Warrior Impact leads the charge against this phenomenon throughout the Pacific Northwest. Based in Central Oregon, we connect our nation’s Warriors with needed resources, and encourage them to engage in the Warrior Impact program and other events geared toward curbing the devastating effects of psychological trauma.

By getting these heroes the support and resources they need to regain their footing and rebuild their lives, we hope to see the staggering numbers of those impacted by PTS eradicated.

Brave Souls United

Bob Bowden on December 28, 2025

Our mission is to create a safe space away from the noise of society where veterans can share their stories, reconnect with nature, and find the support they need to overcome trauma, PTSD, and the burdens of combat and, most importantly, prevent suicide.

JTF Sports and Outdoors

Bob Bowden on December 23, 2025

These programs focus on outdoor opportunities that immerse active duty, veterans, and their family members into nature and other environments which provide individual and group therapeutic breakthroughs.

Joint Task Force Sports provides escorted trips for active duty, veterans, and their family members onto land leases for hunting bringing them together, away from the pressures of everyday life. These trips help attendees connect with each other & with nature to help understand what one another is going through and jointly heal.

Fishing therapy has real, documented results. It calms the nerves, focuses the mind, and creates a much-needed sense of camaraderie. It also provides low-impact physical exercise that anyone can get involved in which is critical to our veterans dealing with disabilities.  Here at Joint Task Force we look for all available opportunities in this area from deep sea, kayak, fly, etc…

Peterson Outdoor Ministries

Bob Bowden on December 23, 2025

Peterson Outdoors Ministries is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization with a governing board of directors. It was founded in 2006 to provide hope, healing, and restoration for veterans and their families, as well as those with disabilities and serious illnesses. With an emphasis on veterans and those with disabilities, Peterson Outdoors Ministries has expanded its outreach to include First Responders, Military Chaplains, Gold Star and Blue Star Families.  POM’s recreational therapy has expanded over the years to include the following states: Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Tennessee. POM also does events in Canada. Thousands of Veterans, family members, Military Chaplains, First Responders, and those with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses have been helped from over 30 states and two countries. Dozens of veteran suicides have been prevented, and many more have been prevented through our support programs and partners. Many veterans and those with disabilities have returned to volunteer throughout the years, which is a testimony to the organization’s success. The Lodge of Hope, another tool of Peterson Outdoors Ministries, is a 7,000 sq. ft. disabled accessible lodge located on 214 acres in Missouri, with a 35-acre private lake. Lodge of Hope is the headquarters of Peterson Outdoors Ministries and serves as a year-round retreat center where veterans, first responders, and those with disabilities can come and partake in therapeutic outdoor activities such as deer, turkey, and waterfowl hunting, as well as fishing, boating, kayaking, nature walks, and more! All of this is designed to bring hope, restoration, and renewal for those who come to The Lodge of HOPE!

PNW Veteran Fishing Charter

Bob Bowden on December 14, 2025

PNW Veteran Fishing Charter was founded from a place of love, healing, and understanding. Our mission is to help veterans find peace, purpose, and connection through the healing power of fishing and the great outdoors.

This journey began with my father, a proud Vietnam veteran who was struggling to find moments of peace after years of carrying the weight of his service. I wanted to help him reconnect with joy and purpose, but in Eastern Washington, I couldn’t find any veteran-centered programs that offered the kind of experience he needed. Eventually, I took him to Adventure Vet in Park City, Utah — a trip that changed everything. Watching him light up again, seeing the smile and spark return to his face, showed me just how powerful shared experiences and outdoor adventures can be for a veteran’s spirit.

When I returned home, I knew I had to do something more for our brothers and sisters in arms. It wasn’t until August 2025, while I was out fishing for the first time in over a decade, that it hit me — out there on the water, surrounded by peace and quiet, I realized I hadn’t felt that calm in years. That moment became the foundation for PNW Veteran Fishing Charter.

Today, we provide free fishing trips for veterans, supplying everything — the boat, the bait, the rods, the reels, and even a full fishing setup for each veteran to take home. Our goal is simple: to give veterans a place where the weight of the world lifts for a while, where the only thing that matters is the cast, the water, and the brotherhood that forms between those who understand.

We operate entirely through the generosity of our community — donations of gear, cash, and time keep our mission alive. Every contribution helps cover the cost of fuel, food, bait, maintenance, and outreach, ensuring that no veteran ever has to pay to find a bit of peace on the water.

We’re also working toward expanding our programs through grants and sponsorships, with the goal of offering overnight camping and extended fishing adventures that allow veterans to fully disconnect, recharge, and reconnect with themselves and others.

At PNW Veteran Fishing Charter, we believe healing doesn’t come from pills or isolation — it comes from purpose, connection, and the quiet moments that remind us we’re still here, still strong, and never alone. Together, we’re healing — one cast, one catch, and one reel at a time.

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