The Salmonfly Project

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The Salmonfly Project

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Our mission is to conserve salmonflies and other aquatic insects for future generations through research, monitoring, education, and sound restoration practices.

04/05/2026

Our second year of sampling began on Rock Creek in collaboration with the . Rock Creek is especially dear to us because they are the home waters of The Salmonfly Project. Co-founders Jackson Birrell and James Frakes both did some of their graduate work here, so we’re glad to be back! Rock Creek is famous for being a relatively pristine watershed in Western Montana, with abundant fish and strong hatches. This project is focused on establishing baseline aquatic insect data - an important objective for ensuring abundant food sources for its resident cutthroat, bull, rainbow, and brown trout.

Our fieldwork was cut short by an early runoff, but we are lucky to have a team of well-trained volunteers who will finish our sampling without SFP staff once the water goes down. Thank you to Chris Evavold, who is our local volunteer leader. We literally couldn’t do it without you all!

03/25/2026

Ever wanted to become better at matching the hatch? This is your chance!

We’ve teamed up with to take our angler education to the next level. Learn from entomologist and incredibly talented SFP board member, , in her FishCamp Masterclass on entomology and matching the hatch.

This 18-part video course covers the essentials - from basic insect identification to a deep dive into the life histories and behaviors of specific hatches - to improve your angling and deepen your understanding of the trout streams we all love. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an expert fly fisher looking to take it to the next level, this course has something for you.

👉 Get access to the Masterclass today by becoming a member of The Salmonfly Project.

📬 Already a member? Check your inbox for access details.

Huge thanks to Maggie and the FishCamp team for making this possible! We’re thrilled to be able to provide such amazing educational content to our members. 🙌

Interested in improving other aspects of your angling? Visit FishCamp.life to see their great suite of courses on all aspects of our sport - freshwater and salt.

03/23/2026

Our first Membership Webinar of 2026 will be March 25th, 2026. These webinars are a great opportunity to learn about the status and results of our projects and participate in Q&A sessions with co-founders, Jackson Birrell and James Frakes. If you missed out on our angler entomology courses then this is a good opportunity to learn how to match the hatch!

There will also be a Giveaway of a Downriver Rolltop Fishing Backpack (MSRP: $150). All you have to do is attend (via Zoom), and members will be entered to win a prize. We are so excited to see everyone there! This event is open to anyone who would like to attend, but the giveaways are for our members.

If you do not have an active membership and would like to participate, it isn’t too late! Join at salmonflyproject.org/donate.

Salmonfly Project Webinar -
March 25th 2026
6:30 PM MST
RSVP at salmonflyproject.org/events and you will be sent a Zoom link to attend.

Thanks to for providing our giveaway!

03/17/2026

Thank you to all of the participants who came and learned about bugs on the Teton and Snake Rivers. The weather was frigid, but anglers are tough. These events wouldn’t have been possible without the help of , and . We can’t wait to do more of these events when we’re back in the fall.

We also loved seeing many of you at the in both Driggs and Jackson. All of the films were incredible and have us excited for days out on the water fishing hatches.

03/10/2026

We had a wonderful day teaching and learning about bugs on the gorgeous Yellowstone River with 19 passionate anglers! We hope that everyone who came out left with more confidence in their match hatching skills and with a sense of wonder about the aquatic insects in the rivers.

We couldn’t have done this event without the support of , and .

also shared his deep entomology knowledge and provided great tips and tricks for how to match hatches on the Yellowstone, based on his decades of experience fishing the river.

Get out and there and remember to match the hatch!

Photo credit:

03/06/2026

We just finished our 6th and final round of bug sampling for our Madison River project. Hooray! This project aims to quantify changes in bug populations on the Madison by comparing modern samples to those taken in the 1970s. Many local anglers insist that there have been dramatic changes to the Madison’s hatches, and our data will help determine where, what hatches, and how badly declines are actually occurring. Any insect declines we find indicate decreasing ecosystem quality - and a red flag that the food web is deteriorating and, if unaddressed, could ultimately impact fish populations. We are hopeful that this study will help resource managers find solutions for keeping this truly iconic river healthy. Results will be analyzed and released within the year. We can’t wait to share them with you.

This project has been generously funded and supported by the Willard L Eccles Foundation. None of this would be possible without the dozens of volunteers that have helped us sample aquatic insects on this river over the last two years. We also appreciate the , , , and for helping us gather volunteers for our study.

03/03/2026

We have an exciting new project starting up on the Provo River, Utah!

The Provo is one of Utah’s most important trout streams, with many stretches boasting 3000-4000 fish per mile. Despite lots of trout, anglers and scientists are concerned about issues surrounding human development, drought, and fishing pressure that impact the river. Many have observed insect declines over the years, including green drakes and salmonflies, and - as you know - this represents a decline in water quality.

We’re teaming up with , , , and to perform the first thorough survey of bugs on the Provo in nearly 80 years. Our data will help verify what we’ve been lost, quantify shifts in water quality, and establish a new baseline for regular monitoring in the future. We’re very excited to leverage these data to not only improve local awareness, but also management decisions that will preserve this blue ribbon trout streams for generations to come.

Thanks to all of our awesome volunteers and collaborators!

02/21/2026

Spring hatches are coming! Join us on the Big Wood River to learn how to better match the hatch on March 9th.

This is a free event, but has a 20 person participant limit. RSVP at salmonflyproject.org/events to reserve your spot today!

We’re excited to collaborate with and . See you all there!

02/17/2026

A HUGE thank you to for producing this limited edition Western Super Hatch Flybox. This box is intended to help anglers identify insects on the water and aid in matching the hatch. Want one of your own? These boxes are only being distributed through our select fly shop partners and 100% of the proceeds are going towards aquatic insect conservation. Visit or to get your own.

At SFP we believe that anglers who know more, care more. Improve your game by learning how to match the hatch and help us protect this vital resource.

02/12/2026

Who wants to come hang with us on the Yellowstone? Join The Salmonfly Project for a free entomology clinic!

When: March 7th from 10:30am to 1:00pm

Where: Meet at Carbella Campground and Boat Ramp – 1 Tom Miner Creek Rd, Emigrant, MT 59027

During this hands-on event, you’ll improve your hatch matching knowledge by learning from professional entomologists from The Salmonfly Project. The clinic will focus on the biology of aquatic insects found on the Yellowstone and how anglers can collect and identify common hatches. You’ll also learn about the life histories and behaviors of different insects and how to mimic them to catch more fish. All participants will receive a field guide of major hatches of the western US. Free refreshments will also be provided. Please bring weather-appropriate clothing, as this event will still be early season!

Donations are encouraged; all donations will go directly to The Salmonfly Project to support their local education and conservation efforts.

If you’re interested in participating, sign up at salmonflyproject.org/events or follow the QR code in the flyer. RSVPs are required, with a cap at 20 participants.

Thanks to and for helping sponsor this event!

Photo credit:

02/10/2026

Who wants to get buggy with us in the Tetons? Join The Salmonfly Project on the upper Snake River for a free entomology clinic!

When: March 13th from 10:30am to 1:00pm

Where: Emily Stevens Park – 1300 Emily Stevens Park Rd, Jackson, WY 83001

During this hands-on event, you’ll improve your hatch matching knowledge by learning from professional entomologists from The Salmonfly Project. The clinic will focus on the biology of aquatic insects found in Upper Snake River watershed and how anglers can collect and identify common hatches. You’ll also learn about the life histories and behaviors of different insects and how to mimic them to catch more fish. All participants will receive a field guide of major hatches of the western US. Free refreshments will also be provided. Please bring weather-appropriate clothing, as this event will still be early season!

Donations are encouraged; all donations will go directly to The Salmonfly Project to support their local education and conservation efforts.

If you’re interested in participating, sign up at salmonflyproject.org/events or follow the QR code in the flyer. RSVPs are required, with a cap at 20 participants.

Thanks to and for helping sponsor this event!

02/06/2026

Join The Salmonfly Project on the banks of Moose Creek, headwaters of the Teton River, for a free entomology clinic in collaboration with and !

When: March 10th from 10:30am to 1:00pm

Where: Moose Creek trailhead, near Victor, ID (43.562656, -111.067594)

During this hands-on event, you’ll improve your hatch matching knowledge by learning from professional entomologists from The Salmonfly Project. The clinic will focus on the biology of aquatic insects found in Teton River watershed and how anglers can collect and identify common hatches. You’ll also learn about the life histories and behaviors of different insects and how to mimic them to catch more fish. All participants will receive a field guide of major hatches of the western US. Free refreshments will also be provided. Please bring weather-appropriate clothing, as this will still be early season!

Donations are encouraged; all donations will go directly to The Salmonfly Project to support their local education and conservation efforts.

If you’re interested in participating, sign up at salmonflyproject.org/events or follow the QR code in the flyer. RSVPs are required, with a cap at 20 participants.

Thanks to and collaborating with and helping to sponsor this event!

Photo credit: .marie

Address

Missoula, MT

Website

http://salmonflyproject.org/

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