The April 17 BRTU meeting might be our most fun program of the year. Scot Bealer and Lea Frye are coming over from Helena for “Telling Fish Stories With a Camera."

Scot will offer a lighthearted look at the evolution of fish stories combined with the stunning photography of wildlife (and fish) photographer Lea Frye. Their award book “Most Trout Don’t Read” is full of stories and additional information geared towards people who are still in the “learning” phase of fly fishing, which of course for some of us never really ends. The book received a Silver Award from the Nonfiction Writers’ Association. 

Thanks to Chapter One Book Store, you can pick up a copy of the book at the meeting and have it signed.

In the late 80’s, Dave Whitlock invited Scot to work at the L.L. Bean Flyfishing School, so he sensibly dropped out of grad school and moved to Maine. Scot says he simply switched from graduate school for wildlife to graduate school for fly fishing. Since then he has worked as a guide, a teacher, some “real” business jobs, and eventually he started writing. Currently, in addition to helping his wife Lea Frye with her wildlife photography, he also teaches kids about fish biology and fishing as part of the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks' “Hooked on Fishing” program. This is a program that BRTU is exploring for our valley schools.

Lea Frye is a full time wildlife photographer of amazing abilities. Her photography has appeared in multiple issues of Montana Outdoors, including the current issue in the article about Montana Owls. Her work has also appeared in: Big Sky Journal, Treasure State Lifestyles, Signature Montana, Colorado Life, Country Magazine, and many other publications. Her fine art prints are currently on exhibit at the Bigfork Arts and Cultural Center, The Choteau Arts Studio and Gallery, as well as at the Rockstar BBQ restaurant and Hub Coffee in Helena. Her animal photo greeting cards can be found in gift shops across the state.

The program starts at 7:00, but come down about 6:00 for personality adjustment, featuring the Elks Club legendary brats cooked in beer. By special arrangement, a brat and a brew are only $10.00.

The meeting is open to the public and there is no charge for admission. to get more information, please contact Dave Ward or Marshall Bloom.