Cleveland, Ohio Project

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Cleveland, Ohio Project

Project Mentors

CODY FOSTER, CO-LEAD MENTOR

Lakewood, Ohio

Cody grew up in a town east of Pittsburgh, PA and at the age of 12 began fly fishing with his Uncle . They would fish the small blue line streams of PA for trout after school and on weekends. At the age of 14 Cody’s parents were going through a divorce and this is when Fly fishing quickly became a healthy obsession and a way to truly relax while enjoying nature. He currently lives in Lakewood, OH, married and a father of two daughters. When Cody learned about the Mayfly project he immediately wanted to join in hopes to introduce more people to the sport of fly fishing and the benefits it has brought him over the years.

LESLIE GAIR, CO-LEAD MENTOR

Willoughby Hills, Ohio

An Ohio native, Leslie grew up walleye fishing Lake Erie with her grandpa and going on fishing trips to Canada with her family. She picked up a fly rod in high school, which ingrained what she knew would be a lifelong journey. She has grown to really appreciate Ohio for its amazing fisheries, landscapes, and ecosystems. She majored in Zoology from Miami University and continued her passion for the environment and conservation through her career as a high school science teacher. She recently started a fly fishing club at Mentor High School and in her free time you can find her on the river or in the woods. She really enjoys sharing everything she appreciates with the youth and watching them grow as environmentalists themselves!

CHRIS BAMFORD, MENTOR

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Chris grew up chasing fish in Western Pennsylvania. Grad school took him to Northeast Ohio where he met his wife and has called home for over 40 years. When he bought his first fly rod in the early 90’s, his life changed forever. With steelhead alley as his home waters, he ventures far and wide to find fish. He has fished in 15 countries and 22 states. He most enjoys saltwater fly fishing due to its visual nature. He is a co-instructor for “The Ethos and Practice of Fly Fishing”, a class taught at Hiram College where he and his partner have introduced fly fishing, conservation, and fly tying to students for the past nine years. He works as a management psychologist and is on the board of a nonprofit community mental health organization.

SHELBY MUTER, MENTOR

Cleveland, Ohio

When Shelby isn’t working her 9-5 as a User Experience Designer, you can find her outside hiking, camping, cycling, and fly fishing! She didn’t grow up fishing — with the exception of one or two trips her father took her on a child that she hated (and probably didn’t appreciate haha)! She bought her first fly rod and reel in 2020 and started fly fishing after meeting the founder of Ohio Women on the Fly. Shelby is passionate about helping women feel confident out on the water and especially loves any fishing trip that involves traveling to somewhere new and great food. She’s fly fished Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Vermont, New Mexico, and the Bahamas but her favorite place to fish is Rocky River in Cleveland, Ohio.

JOSH MORROW, MENTOR

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Born and raised in PA, Josh grew up chasing trout on his local streams with his dad. They could often be seen making a few casts before school . . . elementary school. Josh made his way to Cleveland in 2015 “for work” – at least that’s what he told his wife. Everyone knows it was for the steelhead. He, his wife, and kids now call Chagrin Falls home. Josh started fly fishing over 20 years ago and spin-fished before that. While Steelhead Alley is nearest to his heart, Josh also enjoys chasing trout all over the country as well as Alaskan salmon. He believes the best way to see the world is with family and a fly rod in hand. He developed a passion for teaching the sport as he recalls all those who volunteered their time to teach him.

MATTHEW SPINNER, MENTOR

Cleveland, Ohio

I was raised in Lakewood, Ohio and grew up fishing the Rocky River. I moved to San Francisco when I was 20 years old and spent the following decade cooking professionally in the bay area, as well as in Europe. I hung up my chef whites and went to guide school in Colorado, and subsequently left the restaurant industry to become a professional firefighter. I couldn’t be more excited to lend some of my life knowledge to new fishers.

JAKE KUIPERS, MENTOR

Cleveland, Ohio

 Jake was raised in a fly fishing family and grew up fly fishing all over the west, mostly in California and Montana. As a recent transplant to Northeast Ohio, he now stalks the banks of the Chagrin River in pursuit of steelhead. Jake can’t believe the beauty and incredible fly fishing opportunities in the area. Fly fishing has given him immense joy, breaks for reflection, and a deeper appreciation for the outdoors. Jake is committed to sharing the fly fishing experience. He has taught fly fishing to students in formal classes, friends, and, most recently, his two children. Jake is thrilled to share his love and passion for fly fishing as part of the Cleveland Mayfly Project!

BRIAN BRUENING, MENTOR

Lakewood, Ohio

A Cleveland native, Brian began fly fishing in 2014, targeting Steelhead in the Northeast Ohio water system from the Vermillion River to the Conneaut River.  Brian has gone on to fish and explore the surrounding fisheries including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan and West Virginia.  Any free time not spent with his wife, Lindsay, and daughter, Brian will be out exploring a new river system or learning something new about the sport.  As lead mentor for the Cleveland Mayfly Project, he hopes to share and instill his passion for the fly fishing and the outdoors with the next generation of anglers.

JIM GIBSON, MENTOR

Rocky River, Ohio

A Native of Michigan, Jim grew up fishing the rivers of Northern Michigan with his dad. He was introduced to fly fishing through Boy Scouts and eventually took up fly tying in middle school. After High School he joined the US Coast Guard and became a helicopter pilot. He was lucky to serve all over the US from Florida to Alaska and fed his fishing hobby whenever not on duty. He is an avid spey fisherman for steelhead but loves fly-fishing in any form. He has an instructional background enjoyed teaching many friends and coworkers how to fly fish over the years. He is excited to share his passion for venturing into the outdoors and Fly Fishing, especially the respite they provide from the stresses of daily life.

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