The Liam Wood Fly Fishers and River Guardians Program in Missoula this summer was a huge success thanks to generous funding by the F. Morris and Helen Silver Foundation, the Jubitz Family Foundation and Marlene Robinson and Bruce Brabec (Liam's parents). The program was the first step in creating a local chapter of the river guardians school at Western Washington University. Students learned to fly fish and identify local fish and macroinvertebrate species, spent a day assisting the local Trout Unlimited chapter with a river restoration project, learned and practiced biological, chemical and physical stream monitoring protocols, and discussed concepts of river stewardship through the scientific and social lens of fly fishing. Like the Western WU program (which is housed in the Huxley College of the Environment), our program introduced fly fishing with the hope of “engender[ing] respect for the natural world and river ecosystems, and compel action toward conservation and stewardship.”

Thank you partners: The Missoulian Angler Fly Shop , West Slope Chapter Trout Unlimited, Kesel's Four Rivers Fly Shop, and writer David James Duncan.

Liam Wood Fly Fishers Program Press Release

Letter to Prospective High School Students and 2008 Application Form.

Tentative Schedule for Liam Wood Fly Fishing and River Guardian School

Instructor/Partner Bios