Idaho Falls, Idaho Project

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Idaho Falls, Idaho Project

Project Mentors

ANDREW BOSWORTH, LEAD MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

I have been fishing all my life. My earliest memories fishing are with my grandmother on a small pond from a boat for blue-gills and with the old man across the street who taught me how to catch bass and catfish. I would get up in the morning and wait out in front of his house for him to say whether we were going or not. It wasn’t just the fishing but the time he and his wife shared with me. My life has been blessed with mentors who helped me become the person I am now, and I strive to project that same positive influence for others. For the last 20 years, I have been a high school science educator, focused on getting kids to feel confident and excited about science. Now I can share my passion for fishing with kids via the Mayfly Project. Life is good.

DAN SMITH, MENTOR

Rigby, Idaho

I started fly fishing in my early teens. My father was a bait fisherman and we fished together all the time, but I would get bored or distracted waiting. I saw some guys fly fishing for salmon at the mouth of the Saranac River on Lake Champlain in NY and I knew that was how I wanted to fish.

LESLIE SODERQUIST, CONSERVATION MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

A longtime resident of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Leslie has been fishing most of her life. She vividly remembers catching her first trout on a fly rod on a western Wyoming creek with her grandfather. Now retired, Leslie has more time to volunteer on conservation related projects as an Idaho Master Naturalist and with the South Fork Initiative. She loves to help others learn to fly fish and provides instruction for Casting for Recovery participants. Leslie is looking forward to helping youngsters learn to fly fish with The Mayfly Project. Her favorite fishing adventures are those found in the backcountry of Idaho and Wyoming.

DOUG KINNEY, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

I grew up in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Growing up my father taught my brothers and I how to fish for Bass and Walleye from a very young age. On the weekends we fished out of a little 16’ aluminum boat chasing largemouth bass on the numerous gravel ponds along I-80. In 2006 I moved to Idaho to pursue my career as a flight nurse and enjoy Yellowstone country in the Intermountain West.  After moving, I picked up a fly rod and have been pursuing trout and steelhead ever since. I enjoy tying flies as much as fly fishing and learning the history behind each pattern and the tyers that invented them. I also enjoy teaching others how to tie flies. When I’m not working as a flight nurse you can find me making pizzas in a small little pizzeria I co-own in downtown Idaho Falls. I have a wife and 2 rescue dogs I enjoy spending time with camping and floating the rivers in my area.

DANIEL BRILEY, MENTOR

Rigby, Idaho

Daniel began fly fishing at age 10, and has spent a lifetime learning and sharing his passion for the sport with others. He grew up in Oregon, and has explored many of the fine fly fishing destinations around the western US. He is avid about fly tying, and spends most of his time that he is not on the river behind the fly tying bench creating artistic masterpieces designed to fool wary trout. He is looking forward to sharing his knowledge and skills with the Mayfly Project in both Idaho Falls and Phoenix.

TANNER GARDNER, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

I was born and lived in Wisconsin for 22 years. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with a bachelors degree in hydrology and a minor in waste resources. I have always had a passion for the outdoors and enjoy taking part in remote fishing and hunting adventures along with hiking, camping and swimming. I also enjoy spending time outside playing basketball, football and occasionally throwing for a few holes on a frisbee golf course. I traveled to Idaho falls in pursuit of the Wild West experience chasing bugling elk and searching for world class trout. I’m very close with my family and the distance between them and I has inspired me to become more involved with my community and the Idaho Falls Mayfly Project.

STEPHANIE CASTRO BALDIVIESO, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Originally from Venezuela, Stephanie moved to Florida where she learned how to fish for blue gills and bass with her father. After finishing her degree, she moved to State College, PA for a graduate degree and she learned how to fly fish. Stephanie volunteered in her local chapter of Trout Unlimited, where she taught women anglers about fly fishing. Now, Stephanie moved to Idaho Falls, ID in 2023 for her science job and is looking forward to fly fish in Idaho waters and teach children how to cast, set up rods, and have fun fishing and being outdoors

CHRISTOPHER MOUANOUTOUA, MENTOR

Jackson, Wyoming

“Christopher is a first-generation Hmong American outdoor educator. His ultimate goal is to remake the outdoors into a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive space for marginalized communities and BIPOC. He studied at Mount Olive College which is now formally known as the University of Mount Olive and earned his undergraduate degree in Recreation & Leisure Studies. Through The Mayfly Project, Chris hopes to cultivate ideas, create platforms, and make appropriate changes to benefit everyone in outdoor and educational spaces. He loves the inspiring atmosphere and vulnerability of the rivers + mountains. One favorite thing of his; is being able to work in wild places and be put in a position to mentor, play, and share his love for the natural world with those he encounters.”

COREY LEVIN, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Corey grew up fishing the flats of West Central Florida for snook, tarpon, and redfish. Fishing has been a part of his life since he can remember. While fly fishing was introduced him early, Corey did not develop a passion for it until he settled down with his family in Teton County, Idaho. He was hooked the instant he got that first Cutthroat eat on the dry fly. He loves to share his fly fishing passion with others. Corey has worked with youth for many years in the snow sports industry and strives to have lasting positive impact in the lives of others.

JOSH MERKEL, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

I grew up in Western New York where I learned to fish from my grandfather who took me on fishing trips from a young age. After learning how to fish for bass, pike, and panfish with conventional tackle I decided to pick up a fly rod after seeing others fly fishing the trout and salmon run in the tributaries of Lake Ontario. After graduating college, I moved west pursuing a career in land management, over the years I have lived in several states across the west and have been fortunate enough to fish many of the best rivers in the country. I moved to Idaho Falls in the summer of 2023 after taking a new job with the Forest Service and am looking forward to exploring the public lands of Eastern Idaho.

MAREN DAVIS, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Maren grew up in Idaho hunting, going on pack trips, fishing, camping, loving the mountains and rivers and the beautiful outdoors! Relatively new at fly fishing, she has found a passion and excitement and wants to share it with everyone she comes in contact with, hoping that they will find the depth of beauty, tranquility, and respect for the fish, rivers, and their fellowman. She is looking forward to being a mentor and hopes to instill life-changing moments for those in the Mayfly Project in her area.

TANNER GARDNER, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

I was born and raised in Wisconsin, fishing small inland tributaries and lakes is what I did the most. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with a bachelors degree in hydrology. I have always had a passion for the outdoors and preserving the landscapes natural beauty. In my free time I enjoy taking part in remote fishing and hunting adventures along with hiking, camping, and swimming. I traveled to Idaho falls in pursuit of the Wild West experience chasing bugling elk and searching for world class trout. I’m very close with my family and the distance between them and I has inspired me to become more involved with my community and the Idaho Falls Mayfly Project.

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