Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Project

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Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Project

Project Mentors

EMILY SKINNER, LEAD MENTOR

Emily lives in Idaho with her husband and four kids. Fishing was always in her blood, but mostly with worms and bait. At a young age, Emily and her mom caught a 3 pound rainbow trout, and so it all began. Although she grew up with her moms amazing sense of adventure, it wasn’t until Emily had kids that she fell in love with fly fishing. In a season that could be chaotic, fishing was what helped her as a mom to find a sense of peace (as much peace as taking 4 kids allowed). It became a passion for her, especially as they started fostering. The reward definitely outweighed the challenge, and she continues to share the love of adventure with her own kids. You can find her homeschooling by the river and lakes, adventuring, no matter what.

BO SCHRAMM, CO-LEAD MENTOR

Bo grew up spin fishing with his dad in the Sierra Mountain lakes and rivers in California. As an adult, he moved to Coeur D Alene Idaho with his family and picked up fly fishing. Since then, he enjoys the local rivers and frequents NE Montana rivers to feed his love of all things fly fishing. Fly tying has become a labor of love and the exhilaration he gets from netting trout on his own flies is bliss. Learning to row his raft while helping friends and family land fish is his newest challenge. Bo coached young kids in baseball and soccer for many years and as a registered nurse, he has the compassion to help others. With his passion and his love for fly fishing, he is excited to be a mentor in the Coeur D Alene Mayfly Project.

KAITLIN BARNHART, TMP CO-FOUNDER

Athol, Idaho

WAYNE WAKKINEN, PREVIOUS LEAD MENTOR 

Couer d’Alene, Idaho

Wayne was introduced to fly fishing by his grandfather while on a trip to an alpine lake in Colorado. Large cutthroat were cruising the shoreline along snowbanks during the 4th of July weekend and it was exciting to see them accelerate toward the fly in the crystal clear water. He’s been hooked ever since. He’s shared his passion for fly fishing with family and friends over the years, and now he feels it’s time to share that passion with foster kids and help introduce them to the wonderful outdoor world of northern Idaho.

ERIC BARNHART, MENTOR

Athol, Idaho

DANIELLE THOLL, MENTOR

Sandpoint, Idaho

Danielle is from Michigan and has lived in North Idaho for 4 years. She is an optometrist by trade and when she is not at work she is found hiking all through the Pacific North West, skiing all winter, and fly fishing with her pup, Alma, every chance she can get. Danielle has been a mentor since 2016 and enjoys encouraging others to get outdoors.

MATHEW LAWRENCE, MENTOR

Sandpoint, Idaho

I love anything that is active and outdoors but fishing has always held my heart the most. Coming from an underprivileged home, fishing became my escape at a young age and has continued to fuel an unexplainable passion. Helping kids in need is also something I hold dear to my heart as I know without the help of my community around me I would not be the person I am today. I hope to be able to give as many kids as possible an escape in the way of fishing and show them they don’t have to have the same hobbies and follow the path of those around them.

FRANK WAKLEY, MENTOR

Sagle, Idaho

Frank Wakeley was Born in Auburn New York on July 11, 1946 and has been an Idaho resident for 50 years. Currently is a retired civil engineer and professional Builder. I have been an avid fly fisherman since a young child having been taught how to tie a fly on the end of a tippet and present it to a hungry trout by both my father and grandfather. As an adult, I learned to tie my own flies and enjoy sharing them with fellow fisherman. I have been a Trout Unlimited member for more than 20 years and now happy to be involved with the Mayfly Project.

DIANE WAKKINEN, MENTOR

Couer d’Alene, Idaho

Diane grew up in Michigan and learned about fishing, which typically involved dropping a line over the side of a boat, during summers spent on Lake Huron. Diane didn’t experience fly-fishing until many years later when she was introduced to it by her fly-fishing enthusiast husband, Wayne. A self-described beginner, she enjoys the challenge that fishing while wading presents and the solitude walking in a stream can offer. Diane looks forward to using her prior experience working with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and her love of everything outdoors along with a compassion to make a difference in the lives of kids in foster care.

JACKSON MOORE, MENTOR

Spokane, Washington

Born and Raised in Spokane, Washington, Jackson developed a passion for the outdoors and wildlife at a young age. He has worked with children for many years through coaching youth soccer and working at the Shriners Hospital for Children in downtown Spokane. Jackson is now looking forward to passing on his passion for fly fishing and wildlife as a mentor for the Coeur d’Alene project.

EVAN LEWIS, MENTOR

Evan has spent most of his life in Colorado and Ohio where you could generally find him playing basketball, running marathons, hiking 14,000 foot mountains, cycling around Denver and Boulder, or snowboarding in the Rockies. He was introduced to the world of fly fishing in 2021 with a first experience on the beautiful Weber River near Park City, Utah. Despite not catching any fish, he was hooked (sorry, had to do it)! Since that time, he has predominantly fished the front range of Colorado with a few trips west to Gold Water stretches of the Gunnison and Colorado river. His pursuit of the outdoors led him to North Idaho in late 2022 and he’s looking forward to settling into his role as a mentor for the Coeur d’Alene Mayfly Project!

MARK VEHR, MENTOR

Mark was born in Ohio and grew up moving around the country. After 23 years as an USAF officer moving around the world he decided to settle in Coeur d’Alene. He is now retired from his second career as a Certified Financial Planner. Now fully retired he enjoys anything outdoors whether it’s skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer or fishing whenever possible. Mark has been fly fishing since 2013. Mark enjoys fly fishing for the relaxation time in nature. He has found fly fishing is an excellent way to introduce folks to the therapeutic environment of the great outdoors.

MIRANDA BERG, MENTOR

Miranda developed her love for fishing alongside her father, who taught her how to fish with worms and bait. As an adult, Miranda expanded her fishing skills by learning to fly fish, which allowed her to catch wild trout found in the alpine lakes she frequently hikes to. Miranda finds joy in both the camaraderie of fishing with friends and the tranquility of casting her line in solitude. She is acutely aware of the barriers that can deter others from embracing the joys of fly fishing. Miranda is dedicated to passing on the hobby of fly fishing to children who may not otherwise have access to it, ensuring that the beauty of the outdoors and the thrill of fishing can be enjoyed by all.

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