Casting for a Future, Joey’s Fly-Fishing Foundation Celebrates 15 Years

Casting for a Better Future is the purpose of Joey’s Fly Fishing Foundation celebrating 15 years in 2022.

The foundation was started by Joey Puettman, in 2007 in a small studio in Sheridan. The programs are based on mentoring, and teaching the youth values through the skills they learn; rod building, fly tying, and fly fishing.

Puettman’s background is mental health, and he was a junior high wrestling coach. He is an avid fly fisherman who has fished around the world. Puettman was wondering how better to help at risk youngsters, when he had the idea to combine his love of fly fishing with his desire to help youth.

Jace Brown has been with the program since its beginning. “Joey and I met when I was nine, I was in the first group of kids to come through program.”

Brown added, “This foundation changed my life. Our goal is to change kids’ lives.” Brown has been involved with the foundation ever since. After he left the program, he volunteered on and off through the years.

“This last June I came back and was hired as the regional program director for the program. I help run all the programs, the clinics, the trips and whatever we are doing that involves the kids I am a part of.” He added that many of the youngsters who started in the program come back as mentors to give back what the program gave them. Some volunteers have been here up to seven years. “They want to give back

Jade Smith is a mentor. “I’ve been in the program as long as Jace. I was in a summer school course and the guidance counselor set up a course with Joey’s Foundation. I grew up doing quite a bit of fishing, I lived in Dayton, had the river in my back yard.” While he was familiar with fishing, he had never used a fly rod until he came into the program. Brown had fished as well, so but only with a spinning rod, and he said it was rather boring. “I had never touched a fly rod until I came here,” he said.

Smith had this to say about his experience with Joey’s. “Being in the program helped me to be prosperous in life. After graduation I went into the Marine Corp, and now I pass on the knowledge to others. I enjoy helping the next kids in line after me. I like to see them progress and prosper in life. If there is anything I can do to help them succeed I will. My goal is to just change one kid’s life.”

Brown expanded on what the program teaches. “Learning to build a rod they learn patience and how to trust themselves that they are doing it the right way. Patience, Confidence, and Respect in mentoring is what we try to do. And that is kind of my role that I have taken on. Is to stay as true to that as we can.”

The students range in age from 12-17. “We can take anyone, our goal is to reach the at-risk youth. Anyone can sign up. The ones that stick around are the ones that have problems they face, either at school, within themselves or at home. We make this a safe, positive place for them.” Brown said. “We have programs all year. Through fall and winter, we do the rod building seminars. It is an eight week program, the students come in for one day a week and we usually get between 4 and 8 kids.”

“It started locally and we get out there and shake a lot of hands,” Brown said. “We do what we can to get involved with the community, let’s make a rod for you to raffle off for your club. We are working with schools about conservation.”

The Cutt-Slam is through the Wyoming Game and Fish encourage anglers to learn about Wyoming’s cutthroat trout. Brown talked about how Joey’s participates.

To qualify, fishermen must take a clear photo of each fish and record the date and location the fish was caught. Fishermen can then attach the photos and enter the catches in the online at the Cutt-Slam website. once the Game and Fish receives documentation and photos of all four subspecies, they send a certificate recognizing the achievement.

Smith added this about the Cutt-Slam

The skills not only involve learning to fish. While in the program, the youngsters learn about the water ecosystem. Smith added, “We cover it all under the guise of fly fishing and they learn lifelong skills to carry them into a healthier future.”

The Foundation is open to both boys and girls, boys dominated but Brown said that more girls are getting interested, and that they are putting together a curriculum for girls.

The word of Joey’s Foundation is getting out. Smith said that there is a chapter in Worland now. In 2012 the Foundation was featured in Wyoming’s Call of the Wild, which is available on YouTube. In the same year Joey’s was featured in the 307 Magazine.

Casting for a Better Future is the goal of Joey’s Fly Fishing Foundation, celebrating 15 years of service to at risk youth this year.