Whitefish High senior earns Eagle Scout with ‘flybraries’ project

Anglers in the Flathead Valley have another option for sharing flies thanks to a recent Whitefish Eagle Scout project.

Ryland Armstrong, a senior at Whitefish High School and the Senior Patrol Leader of Whitefish Boy Scout Troop 1936, and other scouts recently built and installed “flybraries” at six fishing access spots around the valley. Armstrong coordinated volunteers in constructing “flybraries” which allow fly fishers to take a fly if they need one and leave one to share.

Prior to the project, Armstrong contacted Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to seek permission to place them on information kiosks. 

He worked with the Flathead Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited who gave advice and funded the project. Armstrong said Trout Unlimited was a big supporter of the project and he couldn’t have done it without the group, while also noting that his parents also provided support.

“The purpose of my project was to spread more awareness about Trout Unlimited and their efforts to protect our rivers and open up fishing to more people,” he said.  

All of the Scouts led by Armstrong constructed the “flybraries” at the Moose Lodge and a few Scouts traveled around the Flathead Valley installing them. Armstrong reflected, 

“What I liked best about this project was honestly going out and putting these in some amazing fishing spots,” he said. “It was super cool to see some areas I never even knew existed. Montana is an impressively beautiful state. I would say to anyone reading this, go outside and explore it.”

Armstrong has been involved in Scouting since grade school and is the son of Rena and Zach Armstrong.  Having completed all of the requirements, Armstrong now becomes the 34th Eagle Scout from Whitefish Troop 1936.

“I had always thought that Eagle Scout projects were a big scary daunting task but as it turns out, with the right planning, coordination, and team, any project can go together smoothly,” he said.

    A “flybrary” allows for fly fishers to take a fly if they need one and leave one to share.