Yellowstone River Expedition - Update 4
Hello all, We had a great time wrapping up our trip over the past couple of days. After a beautiful night sleeping under the stars on an island in the middle of the Yellowstone River, we woke to a hot breakfast and enjoyed a shorter float to the takeout. The overnight float was an incredibly fun experience—and something you can expect to see more of in future Lillard trips. This was the first...
Bob Marshall Girls Adventure - Update 1
Hi Families! We can't report that travel went super smoothly, but we're all together now. Because of a cancelled flight, the group wasn't whole until today. NOW the trip has officially begun! Yesterday, we spent the day fishing in Valley Garden, where Madeline began to learn how to roll cast, read water, and identify the incredible variety of aquatic insects hiding beneath the surface. She showed...
Puerto Rico Expedition - update 3
Hello all! Wow—what an incredible week it’s been. Since our last update, we’ve fished hard and been rewarded with lifelong memories. On Thursday, our group split up to explore two different sides of the island. Two boats fished the south side, while the other two headed west. Both groups had excellent days targeting large, tricky fish in beautiful water. One camper was rewarded with a truly...
Yellowstone River Expedition - Update 3
Hi families, Even thought it's just been a few days, we've been busy! Our week kicked off in the shadow of Electric Peak, where we hiked into the Gardiner River in search of a deep, mysterious pocket known as the “Wishing Well.” There, the group was introduced to a different kind of fishing—technical, patient, and precise. Using deep nymph rigs and stack mends, campers learned how to dissect...
Bob Marshall Expedition - Update 3
Hi families, The Final Dispatch from the Bob and Beyond Some trips wear you out. Others work their way in deep and stay there. Our expedition through the Bob Marshall Wilderness—from Lodgepole Trailhead to Meadow Creek—followed by a few float days on the Blackfoot, was the kind that rearranges your sense of what it means to be out there. We kicked things off in a familiar blur: grocery runs, last...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - Update 4
Hi all, It’s hard to believe, but we’ve reached the end of an amazing journey. This is our final update from what has been an unforgettable adventure through some of Montana’s most beautiful waters and wild places. Over the past 10 days, we’ve floated legendary rivers, explored the backcountry, and pushed ourselves in ways that brought out the best in everyone. We closed out the trip in true...
No Name Lodge - update 2
Greetings from our new home away from home! This trip is flying by, and we’re having the time of our lives. On our first day of fishing, we had an incredible crash course in saltwater fly fishing. All of our guides put us through the wringer—teaching us new casting techniques, challenging hooksets, and an entirely new world of line management. Day one was a huge success, filled with countless...
Bob Marshall Adventure - Update 3
Hi parents! The Bob Marshall Adventure II has officially wrapped up, and we couldn’t be more proud of how this trip turned out. From start to finish, this was a truly remarkable group of young men. They brought huge personalities, a deep sense of responsibility, and some seriously impressive fishing skills. Their energy made guiding not only smooth, but genuinely fun—and it was clear from early on...
Yellowstone River Expedition - Update 2
Hello all, We’re out of the backcountry! After hiking over 33 miles and landing many fish over 20 inches, we've made it to our campsite in Paradise Valley, where we’ll begin the next leg of our adventure. Following a much-needed rest day—complete with laundry, showers, and good food—the group is refreshed and excited to get back on the water tomorrow. Our backcountry journey began with a scenic 30...
Montana Guide School - update 1
Hello Parents! The 2025 Guide School is off to a strong and focused start, with the group diving straight into their Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course upon arrival. After airport day, we headed to Lillard Base Camp near Ennis, Montana, nestled in the heart of the Madison Valley. Surrounded by wide-open skies, winding rivers, and rugged peaks, it’s the ideal environment to train for real...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - Update 3
Hi Families! Ruby River Walks, Madison Floats & What’s Next After wrapping up an unforgettable stretch fishing inside Yellowstone, the crew made their way south—into some of the most rewarding water of the trip so far. From intimate, technical stalk-fishing on the Ruby River to classic hopper floats on the legendary Madison, the past few days have been full of challenge, learning, and incredible...
No Name Lodge Expedition - update 1
Greetings from Puerto Rico! I hope this finds you all well! Everyone arrived at the airport without any issues, and we met our driver outside the terminal. We hung out at the airport for a while, grabbed some lunch, and waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. A few chicken tenders and a couple of hours later, all of our tripmates were together and ready to roll. After a comfy ride in a spacious...
Bob Marshall Expedition - Update 2
Howdy from the backcountry! We’re deep into our weeklong journey through the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and spirits are high. The kids have been pushing themselves with long hikes, big casts, and even bigger smiles. Here’s a day-by-day recap of our adventure so far: July 19: We hit the trail early and headed into the backcountry, packs heavy but excitement high. It was a long day on foot, but some...
Montana Float Expedition - Update 4
Hello all! What a trip this has been! Our adventure has come to an end, and we’re so sad it’s over. Everyone made it to the airport safe and sound! The past few days have been nothing short of incredible. The Yellowstone continued to fish well for us, and we made sure to soak it all in before heading back to Ennis. Our last days in Paradise Valley were stellar—everyone caught awesome fish and...
Bob Marshall Adventure II - Update 2
Greetings from LFFE’s new Bob Marshall outpost! The group has just exited the backcountry of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, and spirits couldn’t be higher! Over the past week, everyone has really come together and bonded even more than we guides could have hoped. It’s been a jam-packed week, and we’ll do our best to share all the highlights. Day 1: After a long day of travel, the group...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - Update 2
Hi Families, We just wrapped up an awesome few days exploring the waters around Paradise Valley, and it’s safe to say the crew is riding high. We’ve been fishing the Yellowstone River, and each spot has delivered in its own way. From pocket water full of eager cutthroat to crystal-clear lake edges hiding cruising trout, the variety has kept things exciting and the team on their toes. The Boulder...
Montana Float Expedition - Update 3
Hello from the Paradise Valley! After a couple more days of fishing on the Missouri, we headed south to the Paradise Valley. Our campsite sits right on the Yellowstone River, surrounded by mountains and stunning valley views. The Missouri finished strong for us, and we caught some truly amazing fish. After a cool, rainy day, the sun came back out, and the fish were happy. Temps in the low 70s made...
Colorado Adventure II - update 3
Hi families, Today is the last day, and it’s bittersweet—it’s so hard to see these guys go! It’s been such a pleasure getting to know them and watching them form friendships with each other. This trip absolutely flew by, and we all wish we had more time with this awesome group. Here’s a recap of the past couple of days: July 21 After an amazing breakfast, the boys packed up their gear and got...
Yellowstone River Expedition - Update 2
Hello all, Our time in the Yellowstone frontcountry has been incredible. We’ve been able to experience stunning natural beauty and catch some amazing fish. The past three days have been spent exploring the park and fishing across much of this remarkable area. No matter how many times I return to Yellowstone, I’m always awestruck by its beauty—and this trip has been no exception. The boys have had...
Montana Float Expedition - Update 2
Greetings from Craig, Montana! Our time on the Blackfoot was nothing short of spectacular. For three days, we fished for native westslope cutthroat trout in waters largely untouched by human influence, soaked in the rugged beauty of northwestern Montana, and readjusted to the rhythm of camp life. The stretches of the Blackfoot we explored felt like stepping back in time—before heavily managed...
Bob Marshall Adventure II - Update 1
Hi parents! The boys have wrapped up their busy travel days, and we are officially on our way to the next stop on this big adventure—the incredible Bob Marshall Outpost! Spirits are high as we settle in, and after a hearty dinner of juicy hamburgers, we’ll jump right into planning and prepping for the action-packed days ahead. Before diving into what's ahead, let us introduce ourselves! Hello...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - Update 1
Hi Families, The Montana Road Trip is officially underway! We greeted everyone at the Bozeman airport, loaded up the vans, and hit the road—fired up to kick off what’s already shaping up to be an incredible week of fishing and adventure. After a smooth arrival, we made our way south into Paradise Valley, where the towering Absarokas and winding bends of the Yellowstone River set the perfect...
Colorado Adventure II - update 2
Hi families, We made it out of the backcountry today! I’d say we had a pretty darn good time fishing Tonahutu Creek and Haynach Lakes over the past two days. The boys have pushed themselves hard, and they’ve been rewarded with great fishing and incredible views. For a group with a lot of first-time backpackers and fly fishermen, they’ve accomplished so much already. The group clicked almost...
Yellowstone River Expedition - Update 1
Hello all, We had an absolutely fantastic day meeting everyone today. Everything went smoothly at the airport, and the trip is already off to an amazing start. We couldn’t be happier with this group of guys and are so excited to get things underway. Today was all about group bonding. We played some icebreakers, held a short casting instruction session (complete with a little friendly competition)...
Montana Float Expedition - Update 1
Hello everyone! Our airport day went smoothly, and everyone arrived on time. We’re now headed up to the famous Blackfoot River for the next few days, and we couldn’t be more excited. If you’ve ever watched A River Runs Through It or read Norman Maclean’s writing, you’ve heard of the Blackfoot. It truly is a stunning river—towering cliff walls, crystal-clear water, and sweeping mountain views are...
Montana Road Trip Expedition II - Update 4
Hi all, Sad to say, this is our final trip update for what has been an incredible 10-day fly fishing adventure through some of Montana and Yellowstone’s most iconic waters. From casting on the Madison River to hiking into the remote beauty of Slough Creek, this trip has been full of unforgettable moments, wild landscapes, and a whole lot of trout. Our final day was all about goodbyes, early...
Bob Marshall Expedition - Update 1
Hi families! The Bob Marshall Expedition is officially underway, and we couldn’t be more excited! Owen, Adrian, and I have been looking forward to this trip for months, and we couldn’t ask for a better group of campers to share it with. Everything about this adventure promises to be incredible. Travel day went off without a hitch. One of our favorite parts of the first day is watching the group...
Colorado Adventure II - update 1
Hello from sunny Colorado! This morning, 11 guys from around the country met up with our team at Denver International Airport. Everyone is super excited to get this trip started and start putting some fish in the net. Airport day went smoothly, and we quickly hit the road to our first campsite in Granby, CO. The group is already connecting and building friendships that will last a lifetime. With...
Yellowstone Expedition - update 4
Hey all, We woke up on the morning of the 13th at Canyon Campground in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana and spent most of the day driving through the scenic Greater Yellowstone area on our way to our next campsite in the world-famous Yankee Jim Canyon on the Yellowstone River. The drive itself felt like a bonus adventure—winding mountain roads, waterfalls pouring off cliff faces, and even a...
Yellowstone Adventure II - Update 4
Hello Parents! I’m writing to you on the final day of the Yellowstone Adventure as I wait for the last flight to depart. It’s been a stellar two weeks packed with trail miles, thousands of fly casts, new experiences, deep friendships, and some absolutely beautiful (and big) Cutthroat Trout. We were beyond fortunate to have spent this time in Yellowstone National Park—an incredible place that few...
