Identifying Montana Fish (Watch Party)

Have you ever caught a fish and didn’t know what it was? Montana is home to 91 different species of fish that can be difficult to identify. Ryan Schmaltz of Montana Wild will teach you how to look at a fish in a way that will help you figure out what it is. This is an interactive program where you will be involved in the identification of fish through an activity after a short presentation.

This program is part of the Montana Library Network's virtual programming series. NVPL will host a watch party; the presenter will not be on-site. Zoom option to watch from home is available. 

Presenter Bio

Ryan Schmaltz worked with fish and wildlife for 24 years. He grew up in North Dakota and went to daycare at the game warden’s house. He started working for North Dakota Game and Fish the summer of his freshmen year of high school. He worked in fisheries, wildlife, and enforcement before finding his niche in education.

Ryan has worked for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks for 12 years. He leads Project Wild Educator Trainings all over the state for hundreds of teachers each year. He supervises National Archery in the Schools in nearly 200 Montana schools, leads education programing the MT WILD Education Center in Helena, and visits local schools teaching the Hooked-on Fishing Program.