Rochester, New York Project

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Rochester, New York Project

Project Mentors

JORDAN MURPHY, LEAD MENTOR

Rochester, New York

Having grown up in the Finger Lakes regions of New York, Jordan’s passion for outdoors and fishing started at a young age. After graduating from Ithaca College, he moved to New York City for 12 years working in Advertising. In 2018, he and his family moved to Rochester, NY. There was an immediate appreciation for Western, NY and the amazing local streams it has to offer for fly fishing. He enjoys getting outside whenever possible, especially fishing, finding bugs and having fun in local waters with his 5 year old daughter Levon. He’s really looking forward to the opportunity of becoming more involved with the local community by becoming a lead mentor and bringing The Mayfly Project to Western NY!

KEITH BUTLER, CO-LEAD MENTOR

Rochester, New York

I’ve been fishing my whole life and have early memories with my grandfather, teaching me to cast. My solace is truly on the water. Although I pursue any species that can be caught on a fly rod, my passion is swinging flies to winter Great Lakes Steelhead. When I’m not fishing, I enjoy tying flies and building rods. I’ve been teaching Earth Science for the last 25 years and enjoy spending as much time as possible with my family pursuing all outdoor activities.

TYLER MUHS, CO-LEAD MENTOR

Rochester, New York

Tyler grew up fishing with his Dad and Grandmother in the small ponds around Rochester. After a long hiatus and with encouragement from his partner Stephanie, Tyler picked up a rod again in 2016. Soon after, a gift of a fly rod from Stephanie sparked a new passion. Tyler enjoys fly fishing across New York and New England with Stephanie and his brother in law Robert aka Rascal. He looks forward to passing his love for fly fishing and conservation onto his two young daughters, Madison and Emma and to the Mentees of The Mayfly Project.

LINDSAY AGNESS, MENTOR

Honeoye Falls, New York

Lindsay lives in upstate NY and grew up fishing with her grandfather as a child. In 2011 she became a part time Fly Fishing Guide in the Rochester, NY area. She is a fly fishing instructor for the Upstate NY Casting for Recovery program for women recovering from breast cancer. She also guides for Project Healing waters working with veterans from Fort Drum. She volunteers her time as the VP for Youth Education in NY State Trout Unlimited. She is a TU youth camp counselor and works across NYS with boy and girl scout troops on their Merit & STREAM Girls badges. In April 2022 Lindsay was inducted into the NY State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame for her lifetime devotion of “giving back” to others teaching in the outdoor sport of fly fishing.

ADEENA BROWN, MENTOR

Interlaken, New York

Dee’s childhood was spent fishing the brooks and ponds of central Connecticut. Nowadays, she calls the Finger Lakes home and enjoys fly fishing New York’s beautiful waters. Dee has held past and current board roles in Trout Unlimited, Fly Fishers International and Juliana’s Anglers, a women’s fly-fishing and field sporting club. She is also a volunteer River Helper with the Upstate/WNY Casting for Recovery retreat. Her most important experience of all, however, is as a former foster child and ward of the state herself. Dee says, “For me, fishing is a time of peace, reflection, and solace. Fly fishing keeps me healthy and spiritually engaged in the world around me, it is a precious gift. I’m honored to share it!”

PAUL KATO, MENTOR

West Henrietta, New York

A Pennsylvania native, moved to Rochester New York in 1980. Grew up fishing small farm ponds in the Scranton Pa area. Been fishing for over 50 years. I enjoy catching panfish, the occasional small mouth bass, salmon, and trout. I have been fly fishing for about ten years. I find it very challenging, but rewarding. I am also an avid runner, logging over 100 miles per month. Father of two boys, grandfather with two grandkids. Happy to have the opportunity to work with the Rochester New York Mayfly project team!

CHRIS POLLOCK, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

Chris discovered fly fishing in mid-life, and what started as a hobby has quickly become a passion. As a father in a large family, Chris loves to connect with kids, especially those who have been overlooked. You’ll frequently find Chris on the creek with one of his boys, fly fishing and enjoying the outdoors.

CHRISTINA MULLER, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

A passionate fly angler with over two decades of experience, Christina Muller’s journey began in North Jersey, picking up fly tying at the same time as learning to cast. A graphic artist by trade, Christina was captivated by the creativity of imitative materials to translate what she saw on the water into effective patterns. These days, she packs more fly-tying materials than clothing when embarking on her fishing adventures. After a day on the water, Christina’s ideal way to relax is at the vise, recreating the day’s observations. Christina has devoted most of her angling time to the waters of North Jersey, Southern NY, and Eastern and North Central Pennsylvania, with frequent jaunts along the East Coast, Florida, out west, and the Ontario areas.

SCOTT MUROSKI, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

I am a 53 year old husband and father of 4 children ages 27, 22, 20, and 17. I have been Fly fishing for 41 years. I have been living in the Rochester, New York area approximately three years. I enjoy being outdoors as much as possible and love fishing. I find it fun and exciting to share my fishing knowledge with others.

DAVID AGNESS, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

David has spent 52 years as a fly fisher. He is the current President of the Seth Green Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a United States Coast Guard licensed Charter Boat Captain and Fishing Guide on Lake Ontario for 21 years. Historically, David ran a fly fishing school for injured veterans for 11 years, was the head guide for Project Healing Waters for 18 years and guide for Casting for Recovery fly fishing for 9 years. He has great experience as a guide and mentor for two TU Youth camps the past three years and also as a head coach of women’s soccer travel teams and AAU basketball for a combination of 15 years.

ANDREW KROTZ, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

I am 18 years old and have been fly fishing for about as long as I can remember. Fishing has always been one of my favorite ways to pass the time, especially when around others. I hope to share that feeling with the children in the Mayfly Project.

SIMON BOMBARD, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

Growing up in the Adirondacks, Simon spent much of his childhood fishing ponds and streams alongside his grandfather. After graduating college, he moved to Vermont, where he spent a decade exploring the Green Mountains with a fly rod and honing his fly fishing skills. In 2023, Simon and his wife relocated to the Rochester area to raise their daughter closer to extended family. Currently working in the non-profit sector, Simon has dedicated his career to serving those in need and is excited to contribute to the community through The Mayfly Project. In his free time, he enjoys sharing his love of fly fishing with his daughter or poring over maps in search of new streams to explore.

DELANEY EMERSON, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

A Rochester Native, Delaney grew up hunting and fishing different waters from small ponds for bass and panfish to trolling for Salmon in Lake Ontario with her father. From a young age Delaney fell in love with the outdoors. In 2022, Delaney went on a guided fly-fishing trip with Guide Lindsay Agness and fell in love. Delaney’s been fly fishing Oak Orchard, Sandy Creek and the Salmon River in Pulaski. Delaney is a 3rd/4th grade Special Education Teacher at Hillside Children’s Center. She enjoys sharing her passion for the outdoors with students by sharing fishing stories and teaching them about the waters and habitat resources around them and giving them experiences that they might not get to do otherwise, like catching fish!

CARL PALMER, MENTOR

Rochester, New York

Growing up in Southeastern Pennsylvania Carl began his fishing career at the age of six when his dad took his brother and he fishing. His interest in fly fishing started in junior high school where he belonged to a fishing club. He really got hooked on fly fishing when he began working at a company where one of the fellows asked him if he wanted to fly fish after work. Carl has volunteered, teaching fly tying and fly fishing for a number of organizations including Project Healing Waters, the Girl Scouts, and Compeer and ran a fly tying/fly fishing club while teaching in Ithaca, NY. Carl has taught the deaf for 21 years at both Rochester School for the Deaf and at The National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT.

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