Mass Bass Adventure - Update 1
Mass Bass Adventure Update #1 Greetings from Winter Island Campground! We’re officially wrapped up with our first airport day, and everything went as planned! Everyone arrived safe and sound, excited to kick off this adventure and explore the Northeast’s unique waterways. Travel days are often the longest and most tiring of a trip, but this practiced guide crew made sure everything ran smoothly...
Yellowstone Adventure II - Update 1
Hello Parents, We’re officially settled into base camp after picking up this stellar crew of 12 from the airport. We may have just set an LFFE record—six campers were dropped off by their parents, and the other six arrived on two separate flights that landed just two minutes apart, coming in from Dallas, TX, and Boston, MA. Everyone touched down within a 45-minute window, and we were on the road...
Yellowstone Expedition 1 - update 1
Hello All, Successful first day! No troubles at the airport today and we are super happy with the group of campers. We had a super fun time meeting everyone for the first time. It is always fun watching first day jitters melt away as the kids get to know each other. Today was all about group bonding, we did some icebreakers, a bit of casting instruction - and competition-, and hit a fly shop...
Yellowstone Adventure I - Update 4
Hello Parents! I’m writing to you on the final day of the Yellowstone Adventure. It’s been a phenomenal two weeks in which a tight-knit crew of five young men grew close, shared laughs, overcame challenges, pushed themselves outside their comfort zones, and—most importantly—caught a bunch of beautiful fish. This trip is a Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions staple. Will began guiding these adventures...
Berkshires to Beaches Expedition - Update 4
Hi Families! It’s with a heavy heart that I write the final update of the Berkshire to Beaches Expedition! This has been an unbelievable trip with such an awesome group of guys, and the other guides and I can’t thank y’all enough for sending your kids on this expedition with us. Since our last update, we’ve moved our camp to the North Shore of Massachusetts near the city of Salem—a region known...
Yellowstone Adventure I - Update 3
Hello Parents! The past week or so has been action-packed for the guides and Yellowstone Adventure crew alike! We’ve just arrived back at Base Camp after a spectacular backcountry stint at Slough Creek. The crew is currently showering before we make dinner and do laundry. Everyone’s tired, but spirits are high, and the group is still amped about the fishing over the past few days. After hitting...
Colorado Expedition - Update 1
Our Colorado Rocky Mountain Expedition is officially underway! This morning, eight high schoolers — all from the East Coast — rallied for one purpose: to connect with our fly fishing team and start making memories for an unforgettable summer. Airport day was smooth, with minimal waiting before we hit the road for the longer drive to Granby, Colorado. The group meshed in record time and already...
Bob Marshall Adventure - Update 3
Final Trip Update: Blackfoot River and the End of a Wild Week Howdy folks! After ten unforgettable days in the heart of Montana’s wilderness, our Bob Marshall Adventure came to a close with a two-day float down the legendary Blackfoot River — and what a sendoff it was. Joined by the legend Will Lillard, along with Watson, Coleman, and Aaron’s dad, Phil, we launched our boats at Russell Gates and...
Thorofare Expedition - update 2
Hi all, We made it out of the Teton backcountry! After some big days with over 50 miles hiked, 50 fish landed, and even a mild snowstorm over the weekend, the expedition is officially back in the frontcountry. As we recuperate in Jackson Hole, the group is feeling a little worn down, but with breathtaking views and large cutthroat trout under our belts, this trip was a massive success—an...
Montana Road Trip Expedition I - Update 4
Hey, families! Sad to say, this is our final trip update for what’s been a truly great Montana Road Trip. We’ve had the chance to fish some amazing water over the past few days and share unforgettable moments with a fantastic group of guys. Today was airport day, which meant waking up one group at an absurdly early hour to load into the van for one last ride together. The rest of the boys got to...
Berkshires to Beaches Expedition - Update 3
Hi Families! I’m writing to you from the beautiful beaches of Cape Cod! A lot has happened since our last update — lots of fish caught, big smiles, and memories made. The guys are really coming together and becoming a close, tight-knit group. It’s been incredible watching them build lasting bonds! Before we headed out to the Cape, we spent two days camping on the Farmington River in northwest...
Bob Marshall Adventure - Update 2
Into the Backcountry! Hello again, friends and family! We’re back in civilization after an epic few days deep in the Montana backcountry — and wow, do we have stories to tell. While you were likely enjoying your AC and cozy beds, we were chasing native cutthroat trout through snow-capped valleys, dodging rainstorms, and soaking in some of the most beautiful (and wild) scenery the West has to offer...
Montana Road Trip Expedition I - Update 3
Hi families! Ruby River Reflections & What’s Ahead The Montana Road Trip crew just wrapped up a few incredible days camping and fishing along the Ruby River — and what a stretch it’s been. Tucked away in one of Montana’s hidden gems, we’ve had a chance to slow down, soak up some epic scenery, and get into some seriously fun water. The Ruby gave us everything we hoped for: clear, cold water, tight...
Yellowstone Adventure I - Update 2
Hello Parents! Our trip is rolling along—memories are being made, and plenty of fish have been caught! We’re out of the backcountry and settled into Mammoth Hot Springs Campground along the Gardiner River. Everyone’s freshened up and in high spirits after their showers and laundry, with some claiming it was the best shower they’ve ever had. We’ve covered some ground since our first update. After...
Berkshires to Beaches Expedition - Update 2
Hello from the Farmington River! This trip has had an amazing start, filled with smiles, laughs, and fish. It’s safe to say the group is having a fantastic time. Everyone is well-fed and has many fish under their belts. Spirits are high, and we can’t wait for the upcoming fishing adventures. On our first day, the group opted for a quick breakfast of cereal so they could hit the water as fast as...
Montana Road Trip Expedition I - Update 2
Hey families! We’re glad to report that the fishing and vibes have been great so far. We’ve spent the last three nights camping at Ruby Creek Campground, located right on the banks of the Madison River. We decided to spend the first several days of the trip floating various sections of the Madison in hopes of timing the salmonfly hatch just right. And while the fish haven’t been ravenously feeding...
Bob Marshall Adventure - Update 1
Howdy Family & Friends! Our inaugural Bob Marshall Adventure is underway here in the heart of the Last Best Place. We’re so pumped for the next 10 days with this awesome crew. Everyone’s airport day was mostly smooth — a couple delays and hold-ups — but we’ve got the guys and gear and we are good to go! The nerves and slight awkwardness washed away almost instantly once conversations about fishing...
Yellowstone Adventure I - Update 1
Hello Parents! We’re currently settled in at Base Camp in Ennis, MT—known by many as the trout fishing capital of the nation. All of the boys have arrived, and it’s already been fun watching them connect. First-day nerves have started to melt away as conversations about fly fishing, sports, and hometowns flow naturally. Cody, Jackson, and I were amped on the drive to the airport, and we’re stoked...
Berkshires to Beaches Expedition - Update 1
Greetings from the beautiful Housatonic Meadows Campground! It’s been a long day of travel for our campers, but we’ve successfully completed our first airport day. Everyone arrived safe and ready to fish some of the Northeast’s most incredible waterways. Our day started with the first group of campers arriving and a small round of group icebreakers. This was a great way for everyone to break out...
Thorofare - update 1
Hi parents! Airport day was a fantastic start—we had a blast meeting everyone as the group came together! It’s always fun watching the initial nerves fade as guys start bonding, sharing laughs, and getting to know each other. Oh and we have a 16th birthday to start the trip off right! Tonight, we’re camping at Gros Ventre Campground, with sweeping views of the Tetons as our backdrop. We’ll settle...
Montana Road Trip Expedition I - Update 1
Hi families! The Montana Road Trip Expedition is officially underway, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start! After gathering everyone at the Bozeman airport, we hit the road and headed for our brand new Base Camp. Nestled in a beautiful spot outside of Ennis with a stunning view of the surrounding mountains, the energy in the van was high as everyone took in the big skies and open roads of...
Ascension Bay Expedition - Update 3
Hi all, Our final day in Ascension Bay was a fitting end to an unforgettable week. We went DIY, walking the flats and exploring a tidal lagoon tucked back in the mangroves, rods in hand and eyes peeled for movement. No guides, no boats—just us and the fish. It was the kind of day that asked for patience, focus, and a little bit of luck. We found bonefish cruising the edges of the lagoon, their...
Ascension Bay Expedition - Update 2
Getting back to a fishing lodge after a long day can be a funny thing. A great day on the water stirs a need to relive it—to tell the story, to celebrate the catches, the close calls, the near misses. A slow or frustrating day, on the other hand, often inspires the opposite: the quiet shuffle to your room, the cold shower, the silent hope that tomorrow brings better luck. These opposing moods...
Ascension Bay Expedition - Update 1
The journey to Ascension Bay is never an easy one—planes, trains, and automobiles defined the day. After landing, we were picked up by shuttles and driven to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, where we boarded panga boats that would take us the rest of the way to our final destination: the world-renowned Ascension Bay Lodge. It was a long day in transit, but the experience was unforgettable. We drove...
Letter From Alumni Quintin Pollart
My journey with LFFE began in high school when I took my passion for the outdoors to the big stage in Colorado. I had grown up fly fishing on our small streams in Western MA and done a bit of backpacking in New England, but it's hard to compare my first trip out West to anything that came before. Whether it was the first few nights of small stream fishing with Will, tying flies with my fellow...
Yellowstone Expedition II - update 4
Hi all, It’s hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the trip has come to an end. This truly stands out as one of the most successful Yellowstone Expeditions I've ever experienced. The fishing was outstanding, but what struck me most were the bonds and friendships that formed throughout our journey—connections that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. One camper shared that while fishing and the...
Yellowstone Exped 2 - update 3
Hello All, We just made it out of our second and final backcountry in the beautiful Pebble Creek! Located in the northeastern corner of the park, Pebble Creek was relatively foreign to Owen and me. Despite hearing tales of 100+ fish days and breathtaking views of the Beartooth Mountains, neither of us had wet a line in the storied creek. Both of us have spent countless hours targetting large...
Yellowstone Adventure 2 - Update 4
Hello all, I am writing to you on the final day of the second session of the Yellowstone Adventure. The past two weeks have been remarkable and won’t soon be forgotten. We have traveled across the great states of Montana and Wyoming in search of many fish and amazing experiences. This trip has been life-changing in so many ways and I’m here to tell you about it. A lot of things have happened since...
Puerto Rico Expedition - update 3
Families! I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that you all get to see your kiddos again today. The bad news is that our No Name Lodge trip in beautiful Puerto Rico has come to an end. The final two days have been full of tarpon. One morning our fishing start time was pushed back due to poor weather in the morning. We filled the extra time with catching up on sleep with some naps and...
Yellowstone Adventure 2 - Update 3
Hello All, Greetings from the beautiful Ennis, Montana. A lot has happened since our last update and we are pumped to tell you about it. After exiting our first backcountry, the group headed into West Yellowstone for well deserved pizza and badly needed showers. The day spent in town was filled with fly shop tours and tourist traps as well. The boys got a short break from the wilderness and spent...
