Salt Lake City, Utah Project

Support The Mayfly Project

Salt Lake City, Utah Project

Project Mentors

KELLY MATTINGLY, LEAD MENTOR

Kelly is now retired from working with children in the psychiatric field for the past 30. Of course, being retired means more time to fish! Growing up, her family spent their vacations camping and fishing. As a result, she was holding a pole before she could walk (but this doesn’t mean she’s an expert)! When she started having children, the tradition continued and her children learned to love the outdoors as well. When her oldest son started fly fishing, he started teaching her to fly fish. The Mayfly Project combines both of her favorite things. She can’t wait to pass along her love of the outdoors and encourage kids to learn this amazing new skill.

Tyler Kunz, Co-lead Mentor

West Jordan, Utah

Growing up in Utah Tyler has had a lifetime of outdoor adventures. He grew up fishing with his family at lake Powell where he discovered that sunfish love velveeta cheese! It was then he discovered a passion for all things fishy! He picked up his first fly rod at 20 years old after a surprise fly fishing trip to Montana with his dad. From that day forward he always had a fly rod in his hands looking for the next fishing adventure! He is excited to carry over his passion for fly fishing to his role as Co-Lead with The Mayfly Project.

REBECA GRANILLO, MENTOR

Salt Lake City, Utah

Rebeca Reyes Granillo is a Utah Fly Fishing Teacher & Guide with over a decade of experience on her local rivers, lakes & streams.

Alongside guiding, Rebeca can be found volunteering her time with various nonprofit fly fishing groups & organizations such as The Mayfly Project. Rebeca started the Salt Lake City Mayfly Project chapter and enjoys her time on the team as a Mentor.

As a mother, Rebeca understands the importance of getting youth involved in the outdoors. She hopes to inspire participants to join in on this fly fishing journey while also encouraging them to help preserve the resources that allow us to enjoy our wonderful experiences on the water.

JARREN BRINTON, MENTOR

West Jordan, Utah

I grew up in Salt Lake for just about all my life. I graduated with a degree in psychology and have started working as a special education teacher in a high school. I love fly fishing and all kinds of fishing.

DAVID MCCRAY, MENTOR

Salt Lake City, Utah

David grew up in Oklahoma fishing farm ponds. After moving to Utah, he enjoyed learning to fly fish in cold, running water. He has since worked in Salt Lake City, then NW New Mexico, then back to Salt Lake City. He is a retired trauma and acute care surgeon and now enjoys spending time with his wife and dog. He also enjoys tying and fishing flies. In addition to getting to know some fine people, he hopes to impart his love of fly fishing and the outdoors to the children in this project.

JAKE KNIGHT, MENTOR

Salt Lake City, Utah

Jake Knight grew up in a small town in Ohio but has now lived in Utah longer than he did there. Jake enjoys serving the community as a local law enforcement officer which he has been doing for over 16 years. When he’s not working, you’ll likely find Jake somewhere outside with his wife and three dogs. He enjoys fly fishing, camping, hiking, biking, and anything else that gets him outside. Jake looks forward to sharing his passion for the outdoors with everyone involved in the Mayfly Project.

JAMES FARRELL, MENTOR

Salt Lake City, Utah

A New Jersey native, Jim grew up fishing primarily salt water until relocating to Salt Lake City in 2005. After a day on the Provo and Weber rivers with a good friend and guide, Jim was literally hooked on fly fishing. Raising three kids with his wife of 39 years, Jim coached and mentored many children in multiple sports and also participated in many charitable activities. After teaching his son to fly fish as well as several clients over the years, Jim wants to share his passion for fly fishing and just being outdoors as well as giving back to the community.

KYLE HANSEN, MENTOR

Sandy, Utah

I was born in Montana, but have lived all over the PNW and California. My teenage years were spent in Central Washington where my dad I would were avid fly fisherman on the Yakima river. We also happened to have a house with 15 acres right on the Naches river as well, so it was quite a privileged up bringing!

I went to the University of Idaho to study engineering. After graduating in 2008 I moved straight here and started working as an engineer for a semiconductor manufacturing. I’m currently with Texas Instruments.

I have a beautiful wife (Olivia) two young sons, Easton (4) and Calvin (2). I’ve taken Easton on many fishing and camping trips and he caught his first fish on a fly rod earlier this year!

Benjamin Palmer, MENTOR

Spanish Fork, Utah

Benjamin was born and raised in the Utah Mountains. He spent his childhood helping his dad at summer camp. Growing up in a non fishing family he talked his parents into a fishing pole when he was 8 years old. Relying on others to teach him, he took every opportunity to learn from anyone who would give him fishing advice. Moving to Spanish Fork, Benjamin made friends with a old fly fishing guide who took him under his wing and taught him the wonder of fly fishing and he has never looked back. Benjamin guided fly fishing for a few years with his new friend. Acknowledging that his success has come at the mentoring of others, Benjamin has spent the last 10 years sharing his love for fly fishing by teaching youth groups and community classes.

LUCY BEECROFT, MENTOR

West Jordan, Utah

A New York native, Lucy has fond childhood memories of sitting next to her grandparents as they fished off the pier of the Bay Shore NY Marina. Her grandparents loved to fish together. Now as an adult Lucy spends her vacations and weekends fishing along side her life partner. Lucy has a deep love for fly-fishing and is constantly seeking knowledge and opportunity to talk about fishing. She has experienced for herself the healing of the spirit, mind, and body that fly-fishing and nature offers. She hopes to share her love for fishing and nature as a mentor.

NYSSA STEPHANOS, MENTOR

West Jordan, Utah

Being an Utah native, Nyssa has grown up being adventurous in all the elements. She’s been fishing for over 40 years with a spin rod and found her love for fly fishing in 2015. She also loves hiking, camping, geo-caching and searching for hot springs. She joined the Mayfly Project in 2020

Questions or Need to Connect?