Portland, Oregon Project

Fly fishing today was the most fun I’ve ever had!

Mentee

The Mayfly Project

Project Location

Portland, Oregon

Year Project Founded

2023

Project Lead Mentor

David Long

Mentors on this team

18

Children mentored to date

14

Children to be mentored in 2025

8

Local foster care partners

Currently searching for local foster care connections and programs.

Local companies that support this project

Tualatin Valley Trout Unlimited Chapter (West Portland), Fly Fishing Journal.

Apply to Mentor

For more questions about this project,
contact David Long at:
info@themayflyproject.com

Support the Portland, Oregon Project

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Fly fishing is my therapy and as someone that grew up in part of the foster care system, I know these kids need fly fishing too!

Kayla Lockhart, Mentor

Portland, Oregon Project

Project Mentors

David Long, Lead Mentor

A native Oregonian, I started tying and fly fishing as a teenager in the lakes around my home waters of the McKenzie River and quickly fell in love. In 2018, I started Eko Patagonia, a place for people to visit and share in my love of the outdoors.
I prefer fly fishing for the therapeutic benefits I experience, and if conditions call for it, I am happy to grab a spinning rod too :). Either way; being in nature is a form of mindfulness, a way to become one with nature, and a means to forge a deeper connection with myself and perhaps something greater. I look forward to sharing the outdoors with others through The May Fly project.

Hannah Haywood, Mentor

Hannah is an artist and muralist who found her love for fly fishing through her passion for the outdoors. She has found that the same sense of tranquility and creativity she experienced in her art was also present on the water. Hannah believes that both fly fishing and art have the power to inspire, connect, and heal, and she feels grateful to have found such meaningful passions in her life.

Ethan Livermore, Mentor

Ethan Livermore is a Yakama/Filipino/White fly angler born and raised in Portland, OR, where his family has lived for many generations. His passion for angling started at a young age when his grandmother would take him camping at the many lakes that are sprinkled throughout the Cascade Range in Oregon. He is excited to share his passion and knowledge of fly angling and fly tying with young anglers and introducing them to our wonderful world of fishing.

Aleson MacFarlane, Mentor

Growing up in Portland, she saved her allowance to buy a fishing rod and would bike to the Willamette River to fish. Her dad would take her and her younger brothers backpacking and Aleson always packed her rod. As the years passed, she switched to fly fishing (although not exclusively) and began spending time on the Deschutes, Crooked and other rivers and streams. She loves fishing, woodworking, camping and her two boxer dogs. She recently retired and is working on improving her fly fishing skills.

Sara Schechla, Mentor

I am a Pacific Northwest native who grew up camping, hiking and fishing with my dad and brother. Fast forward a few years and I now enjoy all the same activities outside with my own family! Anytime I have an opportunity to get someone outside with me, it’s a great day. Fly fishing has become a bigger passion of mine over the last 3 years. I love seeing “who’s home” in the river or creek I am fishing that day. I look forward to helping others connect with nature through fly fishing with the Portland, OR Mayfly Project!

Eric Leininger, Mentor

Hello! I have been a full time fly fishing guide for the past 14 years and currently work at Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters located here in Portland, Oregon. I cut my teeth guiding in alaska for 9 summers and am extremely grateful for that experience. I am also lucky enough to work with some great companies that have supported me along the way. Simms, GLoomis, Hatch Outdoors, Scientific Anglers, Renzetti, Ahrex and Bajio have all been too kind. Looking forward to giving back to the community that has given me so much.

Bailey Bartlett, Mentor

Growing up in Oregon, I spent many days with my dad tying flys and fly fishing on the rivers that ran through my home town. I now fish on the shore, jetties and rivers where I live on the northern Oregon coast. When I am not fishing I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth in my county and a medical scientist. I am so privileged to be the curriculum coordinator for our Mayfly chapter. I look forward to seeing you on the water!

Willie Bibbo, Mentor

My name is Willie Bibbo I spent the earlier years of my life in South Carolina. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a heavy influenced outdoor family. I started hunting and fishing by the time I was able to walk in the mountains of West Virginia chasing brook trout and white tails. After attending college I live and worked on a boat that I was fortunate enough to fish for most salt water species. We traveled from South Carolina to Alaska then up the Columbia to where I hang my hat now in the Gorge. I’ve been specifically fly fishing for the past 13 years + and still can throw an amazing wind knot on a calm day. I now spend many days either on a local river, chasing brookies in the high mountain streams. Let’s see some bugs get eaten.