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Fly Angler's Entomology Education Event

July 25th, 2026

Three Dollar Bridge

Madison River, MT

Awareness of aquatic insect hatches, identification, and ecology has declined as modern fly fishing trends shift away from “matching the hatch.” At the same time, aquatic insects across the Rocky Mountain West are in measurable decline—threatening the trout populations, fisheries, and economies that depend on them. Bug Fest is designed to address this issue by reconnecting the angling public with the foundation of our sport – the bugs. In this hands-on event, participants will learn from professional entomologists from The Salmonfly Project about the aquatic insects that sustain the world-class Madison River. Learning will focus on basic insect identification and on the differences in life stages and behaviors among major hatches. Ultimately, the event aims to help participants to become better anglers and stewards of their local waters. 

Bug Fest will have four major educational activities, each focusing on a different aspect of the insect life cycle. Activities will run simultaneously and repeatedly for approximately 45 minutes each throughout the event, allowing participants to choose the duration and focus of their learning experience.

  • Nymph Station

    Participants will collect, sort, and identify aquatic insect nymphs while learning about their ecology, emergence timing, and behaviors that make them accessible to trout.

  • Drifter/Emerger Station

    Participants will sample drifting nymphs and those in mid-emergence, and how drift and emergence influence trout feeding behavior.

  • Adult Station

    Participants will collect and identify adult insects and learn to read river clues to better select fly patterns and effectively match the hatch.

  • Fly Tying Clinics

    Local fishing and fly-tying legends like Craig Mathews, Rick Wollum, and Kelly Galloup will tie hatch-specific patterns to help inform anglers’ fly selection.

Meet Our Signature Fly Tyers

Kelly has spent his life in the fly fishing industry. He’s an outfitter, fly designer, writer, TV host, podcaster, and owns the Slide Inn and North Slide fly shops.

Rick Wollum started tying flies when he was bout 10 years old. He enjoys matching the hatch to figure out what the fish are feeding on and what stage of the insect they are eating.

Craig Mathews and his wife, Jackie, founded Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone. He has authored and coauthored 10 important books on fly tying and fishing. He and his friend Yvon Chouinard cofounded “One Percent for the Planet,” which has donated $1 billion to conservation and environmental programs.

Partnerships

Brands and businesses are invited to attend the event to show commitment and solidarity toward aquatic insect conservation and education. While product display and tabling are not encouraged at Bug Fest, brands may showcase select items that are relevant to ‘matching the hatch’.

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