When he caught his first fish of the day, he jumped up and down, and all the other kids came running over to high-five him. Those are the moments that mean so much to these kids. He was hooked from that moment on! 

TMP Mentor

Scranton, Pennsylvania Project

Lead Mentor: Karl Knepley

Project Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Year project founded: 2022

Mentors on this team: 7

Children mentored to date: 4

Children to be mentored in 2024: 6

Local foster care partners: TBA

Local companies/foundations that support this project:  Currently adding community partnerships. Please contact us if you are interested in supporting this project!

Sign up to mentor here!

Contact our Lead Mentor here: Karlknepley@gmail.com

 

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Scranton, Pennsylvania Project

Fly fishing is a wonderful sport that hyper-connects with nature, is super fun, and provides a refreshing oasis in a sometimes crazy world. I started fly fishing as a kid and it has become a lifelong passion that I love to share with others. And what a blast to share fly fishing with the next generation of kids!

Karl Knepley

Lead Mentor, Scranton, Pennsylvania Project

Project Mentors

KARL KNEPLEY, LEAD MENTOR

Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania

I’m a retired executive that loves to fish, especially fly fish. I have fly fished and tied flies for 40+ years and enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others. I love ice-cold, crystal clear native Brook trout creeks; technical limestone streams; and year round difficult tail waters. I’m blessed to fish the West Branch of the Delaware, New York’s Salmon River, the Dream Stream section of the South Platte, the Quality Waters section of New Mexico’s San Juan River, and high Sierra streams & lakes most years now. My most unusual fish landed was a 36” shovelnose guitar fish on a 4-weight fly rod (a real saltwater fish, think if a shark and ray had a baby).

RORY LISEFSKI, MENTOR

Newburgh, New York

I grew up in the Catskills and despite hearing about fly fishing my whole life didn’t get into it until after I moved away. Now I live in Newburgh NY and try to make it up to the mountains whenever I can. I also enjoy tying quite a bit. My favorite flies to tie are north country wet flies and soft hackles. Their simplicity really appeals to me.

BRIAN TUGEND, MENTOR

Moosic, PA

A Pennsylvania native, Brian grew up fishing with his father in the rivers and lakes of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Brian works in the investment management industry and has utilized fly fishing to relax outside the office. He has spent the last decade refining his fly fishing skills on the limestone streams of central PA, the freestones of NEPA, and the east coast’s most famous tailwater, the Upper Delaware River. Brian looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experiences with the next generation of fly fishers as a mentor for the Scranton Mayfly Project!

DAVID WEIGLE, MENTOR

Danville, PA

Moderately competent fly angler & tyer. I”m a husband, father, teacher, and learner. Born/Live/Fish central PA. If I’m not on Penns or Fishing Creek, I”m thinking about them.

News & Events

A Journey to Joy!

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...

Thank You, TMP Sponsors!!

Thank You, TMP Sponsors!!

TMP had a wonderful year! We could not have served and outfitted so many kids without the huge support of our donors and company partners! We have so many companies that support TMP, but we would like to especially highlight our Dun, Emerger, and Nymph Sponsors, who...

It’s Giving Tuesday, 2023!!

It’s Giving Tuesday, 2023!!

November 28th, 2023 is Giving Tuesday, an important day for TMP where we work together to raise funds for 2024 Projects! If you cannot donate, please share our fundraisers with your friends and family. It takes a village!!! More Exciting News:We have a donor that will...

Support The Mayfly Project

Scranton, Pennsylvania Project

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