Big Adventure

After a smooth arrival day on 7/8 our Colorado West Elk Adventure is off to a great start.

Our group crossing the Continental Divide, ready to catch some trout!" />

We spent the first full day of the trip getting to know eachother while we fished a 1,200 acre private ranch with over 1 mile of stream and two spring fed ponds. The creek proved to be the most productive fishing with everybody hoooking a fish and several of the more experienced fly fishermen catching over 20 fish on the first day.

The ponds on the other hand were a little tougher, but the rewards were worth the effort. Only a handful of fish were fooled from the ponds but all of the ones we did catch were well over 10″. The biggest fish to come out of the pond was a fat 20″ rainbow by Matt, but my favorite was the 14 inch beauty that Jackson caught on the fly he tied the first night of the trip.

Dan with a huge 20″ rainbow from the spring fed ponds" />

Jackson with a gorgeous trout he caught on a fly he tied the night before" />

After some morning fishing we took advantage of our last chance to shower for a few days. The afternoon was split between a game of frisbee to help us aclimate to the altitude, some backcountry prep, and a little home made ice cream from the small mountain town of Crested Butte.

Tomorrow the real adventure begins as we head into our first backcountry. For three nights we will chase native cutthroat high in the mountains surrounding Crested Butte. Check back on the 14th to see how it went.

Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions was started in 2010 as a graduate thesis for my Master's Degree in Environmental Conservation Education at NYU. The operating premise was simple - by coupling amazing wilderness fly fishing camps for teens with environmental education and service learning we can help inspire future generations of fly fishing conservationists. We have been growing our unique list of trips and experiences ever since.

When it comes to choosing a summer program for your teen the options are endless. For the teen who loves to fish, be outside, and has a strong sense of adventure we have made the choice easy. We are the leader in teen fly fishing adventures and are dedicated to providing the best backcountry fly fishing experience with opportunities for teens to engage in leadership training, community service, and backcountry camping.

Sincerely,

Will Lillard signature

Will Lillard, Founder/Director/Guide

Contact Us

[email protected]

Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions
2540 King Road
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768

(828) 577-8204