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.

LORI JOHNSON, MENTOR

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Hi ~
I’m an outdoor enthusiast from Fort Collins, CO who is currently living in Idaho Falls, ID. I’m a secondary special education teacher at an alternative high school and absolutely love it! I have two sons, Sam, who is a cinematographer in Los Angeles, and Joseph, who is a professional figure skater living in Brooklyn.
I’m active in many outdoor recreational activities. I love alpine and cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, swimming, cycling, golfing…you name it and I’ll try it! I enjoy fishing, but have never fly fished before, so this will be a learning experience for me as well!
I’m really excited to join the Mayfly Project team and can’t wait to meet and work with the kids.

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

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