Jonathan Saam
Loveland Lead
I served in the United States Army from 2008 to 2016, completing four years of active duty and four years in the Reserves. My service included a deployment to Afghanistan, where combat‑related injuries ultimately changed the course of my military career. Originally from Rockford, Michigan, I moved to Colorado in 2012 through military service and have called it home ever since.
Education has always been important to me and over the years I’ve earned a broad academic background across several fields. I now work for the Colorado Department of Agriculture as a regulatory officer. My journey into fly fishing and fly tying began about a decade ago, when a group of Veteran mentors introduced me to the craft. Although I grew up fishing with traditional gear—and still enjoy chasing bass, pike, and panfish—fly fishing opened a new chapter for me.
I joined Platte Rivers Veterans Fly Fishing as a participant and eventually built my first fly rod through the program. From there, my passion only grew. In an effort to save money by tying my own flies, I dove deep into materials, tools, and techniques. Like many before me, I quickly learned that fly tying can become its own wonderfully addictive hobby. Sometimes buying a fly really is the cheaper option.
This program has been life‑changing for me alongside many of our Veteran participants. It teaches meaningful skills, builds confidence, and brings Veterans together through shared experiences on and off the water. Equally important, it is offered at no cost to the Veteran. Because of the impact this community has had on my life, I stepped into the role of Loveland Area Lead to help carry the mission forward and support other Veterans discovering the healing power of fly fishing.
“The Water Holds No Scars.”