New nonprofit casting hope on Flathead Valley youth through fly fishing

Cast Hope, a nonprofit new to the Flathead Valley, aims to not only introduce kids to the sport of fly fishing through guided experiences, but to also hook them on the outdoors, and to offer a chance for meaningful mentorship for those who are closest to them.  

“As an organization, we believe that people change kids,” said Ryan Johnston, Cast Hope founder, and now Montana regional director. “We’re just using fly fishing as a vehicle to create a mentoring space for that kid to feel safe and become more connected with nature and people.”  

Johnston said that they ask that kids come with a family member, guardian, teacher or any mentor that’s already involved in their life so that they can facilitate relationships.  

Johnston founded Cast Hope in 2009 while in an MBA program at Chico State in Northern California.  

The organization has grown leaps and bounds from its inaugural year. In its first year, Cast Hope served 50 kids and had a budget of $19,000. This season, the organization will serve about 1,000 kids across California, Nevada, Idaho and Montana.  

This will be the first summer for the organization’s scope to reach Montana, a major goal for Johnston since moving to the valley in 2022.  

“I’m just really excited and fired up to be working with kids here and serving our own local community,” he said.  

THE SUMMER will begin in May with a few trips to Rogers Lake west of Kalispell. Several professional guides from Bigfork Anglers will be helping kids to “catch a fish as quickly as possible,” Johnston said.  

“The beauty of Rogers Lake is that the grayling are very prevalent, so kids can have success right off the bat, and have that feeling of pride,” he said. “It’s a way to ‘catch’ the kids.”  

They also plan to fish primarily on the Flathead River, as well as Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers, and hopefully beyond as the program grows in future seasons.  

Cast Hope partners with local nonprofit organizations to connect with the kids. This summer, they’re partnering with Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country, Child Bridge in Bigfork and Trail Life, a nationwide faith-based scouting organization, which has two troops in the valley.   

Cast Hope looks to introduce themselves to the community through a film screening next week.  

The International Fly-Fishing Film Festival will play in Whitefish at the O'Shaughnessy Center on Saturday, May 3. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $22 and all proceeds go to Cast Hope.  

The show consists of premium films produced by professional filmmakers from all corners of the globe and showcases the passion, lifestyle and culture of fly fishing. The organization also hopes it will be a gathering place for the fly-fishing community and a celebration of friendship and stories.  

There will also be a silent auction and raffle at the film screening as well.  

Johnston said they are set for guides for the summer for now, but for those looking to support further, they can visit their website at www.casthope.org/get-involved to see opportunities.