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...
Yellowstone Expedition 2 - Update 2
Hello from Bridge Bay! We are out of the backcountry and can't wait to tell you about it. The Snake River was worth it! After hiking in six and a half miles, we settled in and got straight to fishing. The hike was beautiful and so was our weather. Sunny skies and lower temperatures made for some great mid-season fishing. The Snake brought us to some new fish species for this trip. We caught brown...
Puerto Rico Expedition - update 2
Greetings from Boqueron, Puerto Rico, The past three days of fishing have been nothing short of magical. The combination of a great group, nice weather, and amazing fishing has certainly made some memories for the group. The guides here at the lodge are not only fantastic fishermen, but they are extremely welcoming and knowledgeable and a joy to be around. The past few days have started out with a...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - update 4
Hi families, The Montana Road Trip Adventure has come to an end! We wrapped up the trip by getting an awesome final float on the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley. The Yellowstone is an awesome freestone river very different than all of the other rivers we have fished earlier on the trip. It's also the longest un-dammed river in north America. The hopper bite was nice and we enjoyed a great...
No Name Lodge - update 1
Hey families! Most great fishing trips have a few of the same components that foreshadow epic days to come: The day's sunrise wake-ups, buzzing energy from excitement, and passionate group of anglers all are pointing to the signs of a spectacular trip. This second No Name Lodge Expedition started this morning as we welcomed seven teens from across the US to the island of Puerto Rico. With kids...
Yellowstone Adventure II - Update 2
Hello all, The Yellowstone Adventure number 2 is off to a great start. The first night of the trip was a bit hectic due to Delta Airlines, but the group rallied and ended up having a wonderful evening filled with cheeseburgers and ultimate frisbee. The boys hit the hay early as the anticipation of what was to come started to set in. The next two weeks would be spent in America’s oldest, and...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - update 3
Hi families! The Montana Road Trip has been staying cool throughout the hottest of Montana summer heat wave days! We have been having a blast here in Fort Smith on the Bighorn, camping at the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The sun has been out and it has been strong! We have been combating the triple digit heat with late wake ups in the morning, letting other guide outfits flush out of...
Yellowstone Exped 2 - update 1
Hi all! Airport day was a huge success; we all had so much fun getting to meet everyone! The group is already getting along great, it's always fun watching the nerves melt away as guys make connections and get to know each other. These first days are not always as smooth as this and we are stoked on what is next for this trip. Tonight we will stay at the Lillard Fly Fishing headquarters in Ennis...
Yellowstone Adventure - Update 1
Hello families! The guys have arrived in Bozeman, MT for the second Yellowstone Adventure! The guide team just completed their first Adventure of the summer and had an absolute blast. Tons of big fish and many memories made, so we are pumped for round two, to say the least! This trip is an outstanding experience for a number of reasons: the many different types of fish, two very cool backcountries...
Yellowstone Expedition 1 - Update 4
Hello all, It's hard to believe the trip is over. This has truly been one of the most successful Yellowstone Expeditions I have ever been part of. Not only was the fishing incredible, but the bonds and friendships I witnessed throughout the trip will surely last a lifetime. One camper mentioned that while fishing and exposure to the outdoors on Lillard trips are always highlights, the main thing...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - update 2
Hi families! The Montana Road Trip has been gettin' busy getting after some great fish and exploring southwest Montana! We kicked off the trip by knocking out our community service project on day one, while also learning about how to conserve rivers and actively monitor water quality. We had the opportunity to get together with the Madison Conservation District and their Stream Team to go check...
Bob Marshall - trip update 2
Dear Parents, We are ecstatic to announce that after 8 days, over 65 miles hiked, and hundreds of native fish brought to the net, our Bob Marshall Expedition has exited backcountry! Below is a day by day recount of the trip. Day 1: With pickup day over, our group of 15 shifted our attention to preparing for such a daunting thru hike trip. The boys helped assemble food bags, separated group gear...
Yellowstone Expedition 1 - Update 3
Hello from Ennis, Montana! After many days, the crew is back together in developed society and unfortunately out of the park for good. The guys have reunited after a long Snake River backcountry and are looking forward to two days of world famous Montana fly fishing. Leaving the park is bittersweet, we are both exited to enjoy our much missed creature comforts and sad to leave behind the world...
Montana Road Trip Adventure - update 1
Hi families! The Montana Road Trip Adventure is officially under way! Everybody arrived safely in Bozeman yesterday (except for one who join us today). The day went smoothly. It's always fun watching guys get to know each other, make connections, talk about what they're most excited for. Everyone arrives with some nerves, but it doesn't take long before they're laughing and having fun. After...
Yellowstone Adventure I - Update 4
Greetings all, I am writing to you on the final day of the Yellowstone Adventure. It’s been an incredible two weeks filled with laughter, struggle, growth, and -most importantly- fish! This group has done amazing things both for the waterways we love so much and for each other. Without knowing it, each participant has made a lifelong impact. The last few days of the trip are always my favorite. It...
Yellowstone Adventure I - Update 4
Greetings all, I am writing to you on the final day of the Yellowstone Adventure. It’s been an incredible two weeks filled with laughter, struggle, growth, and -most importantly- fish! This group has done amazing things both for the waterways we love so much and for each other. Without knowing it, each participant has made a lifelong impact. The last few days of the trip are always my favorite. It...
Colorado Expedition - Update 3
Hi families, Here’s a recap of what we’ve been up to! 7/12 We started our day with some much needed rest. The group whipped up some delicious banana cinnamon French toast with chorizo on the side. After our daily mindfulness class, we all dipped in the reservoir nearby to help us wake up and get ready for the epic day ahead of us. With tunes blasting in our loaded van, the kids saw the vastness of...
Yellowstone Adventure I - Update 3
Hi families! The last week or so has certainly been eventful for the guides and the Yellowstone Adventure crew alike! After resetting with some pizza after coming out of the backcountry in Grebe and Ice Lakes, we moved camp to Bridge Bay Campsite just beside the beautiful Yellowstone Lake and the Mighty Yellowstone River. The following day we headed to the Upper Yellowstone River to hunt giant...
