Thank you for taking time to teach us about fly fishing. It was a lot of fun!
Missoula, Montana Project
Lead Mentor: Karin Flint
Co-Lead: Kit Mullen
Project Location: Missoula, Montana
Year project founded: 2019
Mentors on this team: 14
Children mentored to date: 33
Children to be mentored in 2025: 10
Local foster care partners: CASA, Local Group Home
Local companies that support this project: Westslope TU, Trout & Company. Currently searching for local support for 2025.
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Missoula, Montana Project
Fly fishing can bring a sense of wonder and peace to human beings that can’t find that in their day to day life!
Project Mentors
KARIN FLINT, LEAD MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
CAMILLE NELSON, MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
Camille began fishing with her father as a child growing up in Oklahoma. The family moved to NC where she went to college, got married, and raised 2 sons. Both sons attended the University of Montana in Missoula and started fly fishing. After taking a fly tying class, she started tying flies for her sons, but had no plans to take up fishing. Her sons caught fish on the flies, and before she knew it, she was taking a fly fishing class. Living in Virginia at the time, she met some women anglers that have become lifelong friends and fishing pals. She looks forward to sharing her passion for the sport, for the outdoors, and for river conservation as a TMP mentor while spending the summers in Missoula.
TAYLOR LEISTIKO, MENTOR
Helena, Montana
Born and raised in Montana, Taylor enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, and anything related to exploring the great outdoors. She is currently working on a biology major and chemistry minor at Carroll College with plans to pursue the medical field. She has interests in cardiology, pulmonology, and surgery. Taylor volunteered coaching kids in Missoula Youth Track Club for four years, and now helps coach the Helena Warriors Softball team. Her family helped get her started in fly fishing, and her favorite spots include hiking into beautiful Montana mountain lakes. Taylor loves a good adventure and has a passion for helping others. She can’t wait to get involved with the Mayfly Project!
LEYLA ERAYBAR MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
Leyla has always had a great love for the outdoors. She is an avid fly fisher and hiker. Leyla volunteers for the Great Burn Conservation Alliance as a Trail Ambassador and on the Missoula Weed Board. She is excited to be volunteering with the Missoula Montana Project.
RANDI MATTOX, MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
Randi is originally from Oklahoma but calls Missoula, Montana, home! She learned how to fly fish in the spring of 2021 on the Missouri River and has loved the activity ever since both as a tool for mindfulness/mental health and community building. She enjoys fishing with her best friend, a Blue Heeler named Mordecai. Randi is passionate about increasing access to the outdoors and outdoor activities for women and non-binary people, BIPOC, and low-income people—one of the many reasons she resonates with the Mayfly Project’s mission and is excited to join as a mentor!
JUSTIN WINDHAM, MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
Justin is a lifelong Western Montana resident that grew up camping and fishing with his grandparents. Learning to fish around the age of 5 and then to fly fish around the age of 20. Camping, fishing, and being on the river are some of Justin’s favorite hobbies. He loves teaching his passion of fly fishing to his friends and family. Recently Justin’s favorite thing has been to show his love of the outdoors to his 2 year old daughter, who seems to also share the passion of the great outdoors.
PATTI BARTLETT, MENTOR
Seeley Lake, Montana
I am a Montana Native who retired from teaching a couple of years ago. I taught junior high math and science in Seeley Lake for the past 17 years while developing an outdoor classroom on Morrell Creek. We worked on stream restoration and health while electrofishing, examining water quality and increasing our knowledge of entomology. I love to fly fish in the streams and rivers around my home state along with those of north central Wyoming. I am looking forward to participating in Missoula Montana’s Mayfly Project!
IAN CORMACK, MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
A native to nowhere. Having lived in no less than ten different states Ian got his bearing for teaching fly fishing in the mountains of North Carolina. Not too long after, he took up as a resident fly fishing guide and horse packer in the Yellowstone area. Having seasonally drifted between Missoula, Jackson Hole and Summit County he found is place in Missoula County. Ian found his passion in teaching fly fishing in whatever locality it was available and brings with him a wealth of knowledge.
PAUL KATI, MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
Paul grew up fishing the Sierra Mountains. From catching golden trout in kings canyon national park, to chasing Pyramid lake cutthroat he self taught himself to fly fish when his family went on camp trips. Those days chasing trout in the high sierras helped shape the person he has become. The outdoors helped Paul become a better person. He’s excited to work with the youth and help them find that same peace he’s found every time he’s wander a river.
JOSEPH GASSENBERG, MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
I’m excited to become part of The Mayfly Project as it merges the mentoring I enjoy as a Family Physician with the passion I have for Fly Fishing. I grew up in Butte, Montana, and currently reside in Helena. I love exploring the mountains and rivers of Western Montana. Fly fishing, like life, is always a continuous learning experience which is always fun, often humbling, and puts you in amazing environments.
KATIE JACOBS, MENTOR
Missoula, Montana
Growing up in Colorado, Katie’s childhood was filled with outdoor adventures like fishing, hiking, and camping in the scenic landscapes of southwest Colorado. During her time in Austin, Texas, she immersed herself in global travel, exploring diverse cultures, fishing, and dedicating herself to various children’s nonprofit programs. Her extensive volunteer work in children’s homes reflects her desire to share her love for the outdoors and fishing with those around her. Now settled in Montana, Katie is an integral part of the community and eagerly looks forward to serving as a mentor for the Missoula, Montana Mayfly Project, where she can share her passion for adventure and the great outdoors with others.
News & Events
The Golden Trout Year, Denver Project!
It was an amazing year for our Denver, Colorado Project! We run a large program, and we served 12 kids over this past summer and fall. We had 9 boys and 3 girls participate this year. Two of our boys participated last year, and one of those two participated for his...
Angler’s Coffee, Supporting TMP!
We're thrilled to be chosen as the beneficiary of Angler's Coffee's drive to have a positive impact in their communities and the environment. For every bag, tumbler, or collaboration pack purchased, Angler's coffee donates back to The Mayfly Project! "I ordered...
A Journey to Joy!
A Journey to Joy: Mayfly Project Mentor to Big Sister In the spring of 2022, a dear friend of mine, involved with the Mayfly Project in Bend, Oregon,reached out with a unique opportunity. The offer? To become a mentor, teaching kids in foster carehow to fly fish. I...
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Missoula, Montana Project
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