VetTide…Who we are
“There’s an immense sense of escapism that is singular to fishing, I think. You have one goal, land that sucker!”
VetTide was born out of the idea that “Fishing is therapy”. My name is Dan and I am a United States Army veteran. I have used fishing as my therapy for my whole life really. I began fishing when I was about 5 and haven’t quit. I joined the United States Army in 2007 and returned home from a 15-month tour in Iraq in December of 2008.
Upon my return, life was not easy. I had no outlet for my stresses or anxieties. Returning to my home and family didn’t feel real or comfortable. I felt out of place in my hometown, with my friends, and even in my own bedroom. At that point, I didn’t know how or where to seek help or advice.
We all know the VA exist but in that same breath, we all know how monumentally unhelpful the VA can be. It can truly be daunting to confront the issues we come home with. There are overwhelming feelings of guilt, sadness, loneliness and even regret.
Now, when I was a kid, I took to the water in rough or uncomfortable times. I spent all my summers on the bay or at the beach with my rod and I knew that felt good, so my gut instinct was to get on the water when I returned home. With my rod baited and dipped in the water, I knew this would help. There’s an immense sense of escapism that is singular to fishing, I think. You have one goal, land that sucker!
Whether you’re fishing for your personal best or just killing time, it feels good