For many Montanans, there is nothing better than spending a Saturday on one of our very own spectacular rivers, fly fishing for wild trout and soaking in the breathtaking views all around. This September 7 and 8, Museum of the Rockies will kick off the fall with its annual TwoFly Benefit, a weekend devoted to fishing, floating, and funding key MOR programs.
The event will begin Friday afternoon at Riverside Country Club with the Hook and Slice 18-hole golf scramble, followed by an opening reception for participants and guides to meet over dinner and cocktails and orient for the big day ahead. TwoFly attracts some of the best local fishing guides who support the museum by donating their time and talent and offering floaters the benefit of their vast experience and skill, whether perfecting their cast, or instructing the first-time angler. These elite guides know just the right spot to drop a line.
Saturday morning will find everyone gathered at the museum for breakfast before each group embarks on a full-day fishing adventure on Montana’s world-renowned blue-ribbon rivers. The Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson rivers hold the promise that the serenity of the scenery and excitement of the catch will combine for a perfect day. Anglers can look forward to dinner, drinks, and awards when they return to land, as well as the chance to compare fish tales and photos, as raffle items go up for grabs and entertainment completes the evening.
While participants and sponsors fish and float, MOR hopes that TwoFly Family Day will draw in community members, parents, and kids who stayed home with a fun and free event on museum grounds. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., September 8, kids can learn about casting, fly tying, fish identification, and much more, while enhancing their appreciation for fly fishing and our area’s abundant natural resources.
To a nonprofit institution like Museum of the Rockies, benefit events are life-sustaining and key to critical programming. A Smithsonian affiliate and national fossil repository, MOR welcomes over 190,000 visitors annually, two-thirds of whom are Montanans, and half of whom are children. TwoFly helps to fund Explore Yellowstone: Martin Children’s Discovery Center, a 4,000 square-foot Yellowstone-themed exhibit. This hands-on, immersive environment is designed to spark a passion in children for nature, science, and all things Yellowstone. Each TwoFly boat, sponsorship, and donation directly funds their path to discovery and imagination.
Everyone from the expert angler to the novice learning to mend a line for the first time will find it hard to resist the lure of the warm September sun, snow-tinged peaks above, fish rising in crystal-clear water below, and a guide who knows the river’s hidden treasures. Add to that the satisfaction of providing vital funding to an integral part of our community, and it’s no wonder these boats tend to sell out.
Advance registration is required, and there are several participation and sponsorship options from which to choose. To learn more about the many ways to be a part of TwoFly, please visit:https://museumoftherockies.org/benefit-event/twofly/participate/.
