Justin Cates – Denver Co-Lead
I’m retired from a 30 year career in the defense industry where I worked for several national agencies in the satellite sub-systems area providing products and intel in direct support of our national security and troops on the ground, air, and sea. I worked with many active duty military folks during my career, and am passionate about giving something back to the veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country’s freedom and safety.
I fell in love with fly fishing in the early 90’s and have been fly fishing ever since. PRVFF provides a great way for me to combine my love of all things fly fishing with my desire to support our veterans. I’m honored to co-lead the Denver region chapter with long time friend and fly fishing buddy, Grip Peters.
Darrin Moore – Loveland Lead
I retired from the Army in 2003 after 20+ years of service. I was born and raised in Loveland and moved back in 2005 where I worked for a small construction management/consulting firm and eventually owned that same business until November 2021. I now am employed by the City of Loveland. My interest in fly tying and fly fishing started when I was about 12 years old when a friend of my dad taught me how to tie flies one summer. While in the Army my fly tying and fly fishing slowed way down and since moving back home that passion has been renewed.
I started with Platte Rivers Veterans Fly Fishing as a participant and built my first fly rod several years ago. I also submitted another rod I built to a national rod competition. Building that first fly rod opened the door for a new chapter in my passion for fly fishing. A monster was created!! I’ve not only been a participant in some great trips, but I was fortunate enough to lead a couple trips for PRVFF to Alaska. I love sharing my knowledge (what little I have) with others, love what PRVFF does for the local area veterans, and am honored to have the opportunity to be the Program Lead for the Loveland group. Truly, “The Water Hold No Scars!”
Dave Morse – Fort Collins Lead
I am an Air Force vet, having served during the Vietnam era in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Pentagon, Turkey, and at the Air Force Academy. I have been working with Platte Rivers Veterans Fly Fishing for the past 4 years as a Fort Collins/Loveland co-lead for fly tying, rod making and fishing trips. I am a retired geologist who moved to Fort Collins from Champaign, Illinois, in 2012. I have fished since I was a child, and started fly fishing back in the 1970’s, when I lived in Colorado Springs. Since then I have fly fished wherever I lived from the Rockies, to the Midwest, to Gulf Coast, to California Coast. I volunteer in Fort Collins as a Master Naturalist, leading geological hikes. I also sing in the Larimer Chorale, a large masterworks choral group that performs classical music with a symphony in Fort Collins. My interests include nature photography, skiing, choral music, and, of course, fly fishing.
Steve McCoy – Greeley Lead
I have been fly fishing for nearly my entire life and found Platte Rivers a few years ago. I am an Air Force Veteran, serving during the Vietnam War in Colorado Springs, where I worked on airplanes.
Not only have I been a lucky participant in this program but I’ve also mentored on trips, and helped build fly rods. I feel honored to be afforded the opportunity to lead the Greeley operations and bring this program to a new group of veterans.
Don Wambolt – Greeley Co-Lead
Born and raised in Western Nebraska on a farm until 1963, Don made the decision to join the United States Navy serving four years active duty and 2 years in the Naval Reserves. After being discharged in 1969, He ended up in Sterling, Colorado and lived there for nineteen years employed by Meadow Gold Dairy. He moved through a job transfer to Greeley, Colorado in 1986 and in 1988 he was introduced to flyfishing. From there it’s been an awesome ride for Don, learning how to fly fish then eventually introduced to Fly-Tying by a by a good friend leading him into his passion of tying his own flies. In 2018 he joined Platte Rivers Veterans Fly Fishing. He finds such pleasure being involved with the mission and in 2019 Don volunteered leading fly-tying for the Greeley PRVFF chapter. He has been involved with the organization since. He also assists with rod building and leading fishing trips.
Maron Davis – Laramie Co-Lead
Maron Davis is a Wyoming native and received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wyoming. He taught biology and science in Laramie for 33 years and coached football, wrestling, and track.
Maron proudly served in the United States Marine Corp from 1958-1962. He is an avid fisherman and white water rafter. He has been a fishing guide on the upper Platte and Encampment Rivers. He has been a Healing Waters instructor for four years.
Dan McCrackin – Laramie Co-Lead
I was born & raised in Lakewood Colorado and moved to Laramie in 1979. I retired from the Navy in 2005 after 28 years of military service. In 2021, I retired from the University of Wyoming after working as a Database Analyst on the Student Information System for 25 years.
I took my first class from Platte Rivers about 9 years ago. I started helping with the Laramie Chapter and have taken on some leadership roles since I retired 3 years ago. I really enjoy teaching rod building. It is amazing to see the creativity some of our Vets have when building their first rod. Since retiring, I have had the opportunity to really get involved in fly fishing. I don’t claim my technique has improved any, but I have caught some nice fish.
Quint Davis – Cheyenne Co-Lead
I got involved with Platte Rivers Veterans Fly Fishing group when I met Duane Cook and Kevin Yarborough at a small, local, flyfishing expo in 2019. I asked if I could donate some excess (yeah right) fly tying material to the group. They did not want any material, but asked if I would be interested in filling in as a beginning fly tying instructor. Thus began a very rewarding journey with a wonderful group of people.
I am a Wyoming native, born in Evanston, WY. I am a UW graduate. My best friend and fishing partner, Kathy, and I have been married for 42 years. We have 3 children and 3 grandchildren, whom we love to take fishing. They have all tried their hand at fly tying, and some have become quite skilled.
I began fly fishing in the Smiths Fork of the Green River, the small streams and beaver ponds of the Snowy Range and the Laramie Range.
My first fly rod was purchased in Leadville, CO, in 1969, at the Coast to Coast store, if I remember correctly. I began tying flies in about 1974 with a fly tying kit I bought my Dad as a Christmas gift. The only instructions in the kit were a few pen and ink drawings and the direction to “cut off a length of thread and wax it before attaching it to the hook.” We have come a long way with instructional resources, materials and tools.
It is a great pleasure to teach what I can, (and learn from) people of all ages and skill levels about this fulfilling, mesmerizing activity we love.
Aaron Meyer – Cheyenne Co-Lead
I was born and raised in Ashland OH. After graduating high school in 1992, I joined the Air Force as an ICBM Electro Mechanical Technician. I spent 20 years active duty with assignments at Malmstrom AFB MT, Grand Forks AFB ND, Vandenberg AFB CA and FE Warren AFB WY. I started fly fishing on the base lake in 1993 while stationed at Malmstrom AFB. I put fly fishing aside while stationed in ND and CA for the simple reason of lack of access to good trout waters. I picked it back up when I moved to WY. I retired from the AF in 2012 at FE Warren AFB. I love WY so I stuck around and started brewing at a brewery in Cheyenne. Six years ago I moved from brewing to distilling and took the head distiller position at Pine Bluffs Distilling, where I am currently. I started going to the club meetings in 2022 where I jumped fully into fly tying and rod building.
Ron Escobedo – Trip Coordinator
I am a retired 36 year Postal Service worker. I’ve been happily married to my wife Kathy for 12 years, together we have two children each and 3 grand children. I was born and raised in Cheyenne Wyoming and have been a resident for 59 years. I was introduced to the great outdoors by my father at the age of 5, I’ve been fly fishing since the age of 18. I developed a passion for fly tying and rod building soon after. I’ve been a volunteer with PRVFF for 6 years. Along with Quartermaster/Rod Building Instructor, I’ve served as fishing guide, casting instructor, and trip lead.
Ryan Powell – Trip Coordinator
This is my first year with Platte Rivers Veterans Fly Fishing. I currently reside in Fort Collins, CO and am employed by Poudre Valley REA where I work in powerline engineering. I was born and raised in Colorado, however my profession has afforded me the opportunity to move around a bit and experience and enjoy various areas of the county. I’ve been fortunate enough to fly fish places like Colorado, Idaho, the Gulf of Mexico and Hawaii to name a few. After leaving Colorado for 16 years I am extremely excited to be home.
I have been fishing my entire life and had a fishing pole in my hand before I could walk. I began fly fishing in my teens and have never looked back. Fishing and the outdoors are my passions and my way of life, but with all my years with a rod in my hand I know I still have much to learn. I couldn’t be happier to be spending my time and sharing my passions with such a wonderful group of people.