It's an episode that took two trips  to southern West Virginia to film and one that captured a special place in Curtis Fleming's heart. From the time flood waters ravaged our state in June of  2016, Fleming - a Bridgeport native and host of the Outdoor Channel's Fly Rod Chronicles - wanted to do something to help his Mountain State neighbors. It was decided that a FRC episode would feature the resilience of West Virginia and provide a flood victim with his first day of fly fishing with Fleming and Jacob Ott, director of outdoor pursuits for The Greenbrier. 

 

In the teaser - which can be seen below in its entirety - Fleming said:

 

"What you all are about to see is sad. It will humble you and it is something I hope we West Virginians nor any of our viewers out there ever have to go through. We are West Virginia strong and you're going to see us bounce back - come back with smiles on our faces, catching fish and doing what West Virginia people do."

 

The episode airs on the Outdoor Channel 7 a.m. Friday, March 24; 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 26. See additional air times on Wild TV and World Fishing Network at the Fly Rod Chronicles Web site HERE. 

 

This coverage of the Fly Rod Chronicles' shoot was first published on Connect Bridgeport in November of 2016:

 

Editor’s Note: Within hours after torrential rains flooded our southern West Virginia neighbors, I received a phone call from Curtis Fleming. He was doing a lot of verbal brainstorming, trying to come up with a way that he could help the flood victims. I think he, his wife and girls were ready to pack up the Fly Rod Chronicles truck with shovels and head south. But then the Fly Rod Chronicles show host switched gears - thinking outside the box - about how he could zero in on his own resources and make a unique difference.

 

Fleming ultimately contacted the Outdoor Channel – the network that airs his show – as well as various FRC sponsors. Everyone was on board, including Cabela’s – for whom Fleming serves as a fly fishing ambassador. The outdoor gear and recreation retailer offered gift cards to help replace some of the flood victims’ lost items. The next link in the chain was to contact Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to get his thoughts. Tomblin assured Fleming that he and other state officials liked the idea of shedding light on the resilience of the Mountain State to the show’s millions of viewers, showing them what West Virginia Strong is all about. These West Virginians would rebuild their homes and lives and as the waters settled back into their banks, fisheries would be stronger than ever.

 

By the time the leaves turned on the trees, many had already turned their lives around. Fleming - who traveled to Greenbrier and Monroe counties with his wife Shelly, producer Jarod  and other members of the FRC crew - was able to capture that in an episode of the Fly Rod Chronicles which will air in early-2017:

 

 

One after another, Wes Phillips reeled in rainbow trout from a tributary of the Greenbrier River. It was the Monroe County resident’s first attempt at fly fishing and he quickly became hooked. The 37-year-old disabled U.S. veteran was chosen, based on his story and circumstances, to be featured in an upcoming episode of the Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming.

 

“I’ll be talking about this for a long time,” he said. “Things like this never happen to me.”

 

It’s perhaps ironic that the waters brought Phillips so much joy. Just five short months ago, the Greenbrier River exceeded its banks, rushing through southern West Virginia communities, wiping out homes and property of thousands of residents. Phillips was among those victims. He, his wife – expecting at the time - and two young daughters lost nearly everything when their rented home was washed away in the flood.

 

Once the waters began rising at their home, the family had minutes to make decisions about what they might be able to salvage.

 

“Fifteen minutes isn’t very long,” Phillips said. “It was late at night and dark. We grabbed a cabinet that had some of the baby’s clothes in it – and we also saved our couch.”

 

Also joining Fleming for the crisp, cool early-November day of fly fishing was Jacob Ott, director of outdoor pursuits at The Greenbrier Sporting Club, serving as guide for the trip and as Phillips’ instructor.

 

Although this was Phillips’ first fly fishing experience, it wasn’t his first encounter with The Greenbrier. Immediately following the flood, he and his family – which eventually included a third daughter - stayed at the resort for several weeks, until they could get on their feet and reestablish their home. Jim Justice, owner of The Greenbrier and now West Virginia’s brand new governor, had opened the resort’s doors to the Phillips family and many others left homeless by the ravaging late-June waters.

 

Fleming and his crew had sought out other flood victims, learning their personal stories. Behind each was a common thread; one of selflessness, strength and sincere gratitude.

 

Toni Coolie - as were her mother and dad - is a member of The Greenbrier’s housekeeping staff. She was at work on June 23 when news struck that waters were rising into area homes – including hers located on White Sulphur Spring’s Swan Lane.

 

“My first thought was that I had to take care of the guests at The Greenbrier and to make sure they were safe,” said Coolie, who has been employed there for 40 years.

 

She said she left the resort at 8 p.m. June 23, but the water was so high she didn’t get any further than the gate at her backyard. She returned to the resort at daybreak, after the waters had begun receding, and made another attempt.

 

“It took me about an hour to get from the top of my street to the house – holding onto a walking stick – and when I walked in the door, everything was flooded,” she said. “My little dog – a boxer – was waiting on me. She was so scared.”

 

She proceeded to make her way to the next block to the home of her mom, who passed away in February. She hoped, she said, that the house – which had been raised after the 1972 Buffalo Creek dam break and resulting flood – had been saved and was livable.

 

“The water had stopped right at the front door,” Coolie said.

 

Thanking her late mom and the good Lord above, she explained why she feels fortunate.

 

“I still have a house. I still have my life,” she said. “So I am blessed.”

 

Among organizations through which Greenbrier County flood victims had been helped was Neighbors Loving Neighbors, a program that Justice had put into place before the flood even struck.

 

“Getting ready for the golf tournament (the Greenbrier Classic), he began collecting cans of food that would be distributed to local food pantries,” Coolie said.

 

That project grew into a program which raised massive amounts of cash and played a vital role in the rebuilding of homes and lives. Justice, Bubba Watson and Jerry West were among major contributors.

 

Greg Wilson is another dedicated employee of The Greenbrier. A sheet metal worker, he’s fondly known at the resort as “the Tin Man.” Wilson was at work when the flood struck. His wife Sherry, a child care provider, was at their home with several children under her care.

 

“We were getting ready for the PGA and water was coming up through the drains,” Wilson said. “We were hearing flood alerts left and right when Sherry called and said I had to come get them.”

 

When he arrived, the waters had risen to bridge level, he said.

 

“It was swift and I knew the children couldn’t get through it. It was scary,” said Wilson, reflecting on the scene at the couple’s Patterson Street home in White Sulphur Springs. “I backed the truck up, Sherry and the kids climbed on and we drove away.”

 

Driving off, they watched their home float away.

 

“We lost everything we owned,” Sherry Wilson said. “We had one jacket between the two of us. I had my purse and he had his truck. We lost every piece of equipment, our family pictures, everything. The water even totaled my car.”

 

Though The Greenbrier was available as a lodging option, the Wilsons didn’t have to take advantage of that offer. They had friends in nearby Lewisburg who invited them to move in. They were grateful for that. Still, it was all a lot to take in and process, Wilson said.

 

“Mr. Justice let me have some time off to get my bearings straight and it helped,” he said. “It’s just tough to accept what happened here.”

 

Thanks to Neighbors Loving Neighbors and other outreach programs, the Wilsons are rebuilding their home and are close to moving in. Over the past few months, they, like so many others – including Phillips – have concentrated much of their time on helping others, rather than focusing on their own losses.

 

Among work that still needs to be done is right at The Greenbrier.

 

“We have some things to fix up here, but we’re going to keep her going,” Wilson said.

 

The grounds at the resort aren’t as pristine as they once were. Bulldozers are busy at work, mending the golf course. The stream which runs through the property is a fading reminder of the recent devastation. Articles of tattered clothing and scattered household items linger in the brush which lines the waters.

 

“The Greenbrier will be back, but more importantly, we had to take care of the people,” Governor-Elect Justice said.

 

Immediately following the flood, he said, one could walk into neighborhoods and see people who had lost their homes; their sacred possessions.

 

“Then it drifted into piles of pictures, photo albums, books and pianos that had been in families for generations,” he said. “Then you see the National Guard come along – and thank goodness for them – but they take an end loader and dump into a truck all of these people’s memories – all of their stuff and everything is just gone.”

 

So many people were hurting, really hurting, said Justice, who didn’t wish to single out his own efforts, but to attribute the rebuilding and the valiant attitudes of area residents to a pooling of efforts. 

 

“There was catastrophe after catastrophe, but we’re trying to do what we can do,” he said. “We’ve got to go on. West Virginians are resilient and we’ll be ok.”

 

The Mountain State continues to be a treasure-trove, Justice said.

 

“The leaves are turning a little late this year, grouse season is coming up and bow season is in full swing,” he said. “There are native brook trout in streams all over the place. You can catch the most beautiful trout on the planet.”

 

Justice turned the tables, showing his appreciation to Fleming.

 

“You’ve built a company and displayed the greatness of West Virginia in so many ways - becoming an ambassador for West Virginia tourism,” he said.

 

Sure, West Virginia is scenic and is home to the most beautiful waters Fleming has encountered in his worldwide travels, Fleming said.

 

“But more importantly, we have folks here whose arms were stretched out wide to their neighbors in their time of need,” he said.

 

Phillips and his family have moved into another home and are still in the process of restocking belongings. He was caught by surprise when Fleming presented him with a generous gift card to Cabela’s so he could buy some outdoor attire and gear -  which will likely include some fly fishing equipment.

 

“There’s just something about fishing that puts your mind at ease for the time being,” Phillips said. “I really needed that.” 

 

Editor's Note: As one might guess, Fleming also pulled several trout  from the southern West Virginia waters; all catch and release. The flood victims mentioned above are just a few of those to be featured in the 2017 episode of the Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming which will air on the Outdoor Channel. Photos are by Julie Perine.

 

Visit the Fly Rod Chronicles Web site HERE. Follow FRC on Facebook and Twitter @FRCcrew.