Rocky Mountain Expedition Final Update
The ending to the Rocky Mountain Expedition I was bittersweet. Most of group landed their biggest fish of the trip in the last few days, but we were sad for the trip to be over. After leaving our awesome campsite at the River Run Resort, we headed down to Kremmling, CO and made camp on the Colorado River below Gore Canyon. Our first night we got lucky and fish began to rise for dry flies right...
Yellowstone Adventure Update
Following our stay in the backcountry of Grizzly Lake, our group journeyed out of the park for a night at Lillard headquarters, where we recounted the tales of our tangles with Straight Creek’s Brook Trout over games of Can Jam and ping pong. We hiked up the surrounding hills to watch the sunset, and sleep came soon after. The following day we arrived at our new home, the Pebble Creek Campground...
Yellowstone Expedition Update
Howdy from Lach Leven campground in Paradise Valley, Montana! Our last week has been filled with huge fish, beautiful scenery, and even more exploration of Yellowstone National Park. Today the group will cap it all off with a float on the Lower Yellowstone River in drift boats with guides from Montana Troutfitters. After departing the Slough Creek backcountry, we took a much-needed “refreshment...
Montana Road Trip II Update 2
Greetings from Montana! The second Montana Road Trip is flying by. After departing the airport, we drove to the Upper Madison Valley, where we set up camp. After some great fishing on the upper Madison, we moved camp to the Ruby Reservoir yesterday morning. Our next move hinges on the weather and water conditions. The trip started with a bang. By the time we had finished the hour-long drive to our...
Montana Road Trip II Update 2
Greetings from Montana! The second Montana Road Trip is flying by. After departing the airport, we drove to the Upper Madison Valley, where we set up camp. After some great fishing on the upper Madison, we moved camp to the Ruby Reservoir yesterday morning. Our next move hinges on the weather and water conditions. The trip started with a bang. By the time we had finished the hour-long drive to our...
Yellowstone Expedition Update
Another slough creek backcountry is in the books. Since our last update, we spent some time exploring Yellowstone’s front country fishing opportunities throughout the Lamar Valley and spent two nights camped in the infamous Third Meadow of Slough Creek. We started with stalking large Yellowstone cutthroat along the banks of the crystalline waters of Trout Lake. The Mammoth area was also a favorite...
Yellowstone Expedition Update
Greetings from Yellowstone, After exiting our first backcountry, our group set up camp in the Lamar Valley. Home to some of the best fishing and wildlife viewing in the park, the Lamar Valley is a highlight of every trip. We had easy access to the Lamar River, Soda Butte, Slough Creek, and Pebble Creek from our basecamp. Each river is unique. Combined, they offer some ideal conditions for everyone...
Rocky Mountain Expedition Update
The Rocky Mountain Expedition just finished their second backcountry and it did not disappoint! We hiked up the North Inlet of Grand Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, which was impacted by the East Troublesome Fire last fall. Luckily, our campsites were not affected by the fire and the fish population is still thriving. It was a bit eerie to hike through a recently burned area but that also...
Yellowstone Expedition Update 2
Hello from Pebble Creek campground in the heart of Yellowstone National Park! We have just wrapped up our first backcountry trip in the fabled Slough Creek, home to one of the last remaining populations of native trout in the United States and some of the most beautiful sights in the park. We began the trip at Canyon campground right outside Yellowstone after gathering the group from the airport...
Yellowstone Adventure I Update 2
The Yellowstone Adventure just returned from our first backcountry trip to Grizzly Lake after a great start to our trip. After fishing the Madison and Snake rivers in the Yellowstone front country, we hiked almost three miles from the Mt. Holmes trailhead in northwestern Yellowstone. Mt. Holmes is the tallest mountain in the Wyoming portion of the Gallatin Range and provided our group with some...
Yellowstone Expedition Update
After roughly 35 miles and 4 nights, we’re out of the backcountry. Heart Lake and the Upper Snake provided a beautiful setting for some great fishing. Rarely in Yellowstone can one go days without seeing another person. The fishing at Heart Lake proved to be difficult because of the low water year we are experiencing in the west. After forging through the difficult fishing the group was rewarded...
Rocky Mountain Expedition Update
The Rocky Mountain Expedition I just finished their first backcountry, and everyone had a blast! Before going into Rocky Mountain National Park for 3 nights, we spent a full day fishing around Grand Lake on the Colorado River. Every kid caught fish and got to practice their casting and knot tying skills as well. The night before our hike we had a big dinner of spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic...
Colorado Adventure Update
Greetings from the Colorado Adventure! After a long travel day on Monday spent at the airport and driving to Rocky Mountain National Park, the group was excited to go fishing Tuesday morning. We began the day with some knot tying, casting practice, and going over the basics of fly fishing before heading out to practice on Glacier Creek, a small stream that runs by Glacier Basin campground where we...
Montana Road Trip Update 2
Hello from Big Sky country! After spending our first few days on the legendary Madison river, the group headed over to spend some time on some smaller tailwaters. Although the water may be small, the fish grow very large due to the superb insect life that fattens up the fish! The past few days we’ve camped on Ruby Reservoir, in the heart of Big Sky country. Our campsite was on top of a hill...
Custom Montana Road Trip Update 1
Hey Y’all!, The Road Trip is off to a great start! We are having an awesome time getting to know this squad and showing them around southwest Montana! Everyone arrived midday Tuesday and we quickly set up camp near the Madison in Ennis after a visit to Fin & Feather in Bozeman for flies and licenses. After a few intense games of Can Jam and some intrasquad wiffle ball with the Yellowstone...
Yellowstone Hosted Update
Greetings from the Yellowstone Hosted Adventure, It is hard to believe we are already half of the way through our trip. Time flies when you have a great group and good fishing. We have focused our fishing in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park. These rivers don't usually come into prime shape until mid or late July. This year everything is early, and our timing is perfect. The favorite...
Montana Road Trip Update I
Howdy Parents, The Montana Road Trip is off to a Hot start, literally. Like much of the country, Montana is experiencing an extreme heatwave. It took some adjustments to figure out what the fish wanted during these unusual conditions, but our group has begun to crack the code. We have spent the last three nights camped outside of Ennis, MT on the Upper Madison. This section of river is still cold...
Berkshires to Beaches Final Update
Descending Eastward from the Berkshires, our group traveled to the hollowed fishing grounds of Cape Cod. Along the way, we made a pit stop at Concord Outfitters to re-stock on salt water flies. The kids enjoyed talking with the fly shop employees about their time in the Berkshires and their upcoming salt water adventures, and browsed through the selection of flies, rods, and reels. Camp was set up...
Maine Expedition Update #4
The past few days of fishing have proved to be a test of perseverance. Unrelenting heat combined with an equally oppressive sun has had everyone exhausted by the end of the day. Although tough at times we rose each day with the sun to begin our canoe floats. Numerous fish were caught, more smallmouth bass, some big largemouth bass, and even a few pike. These last few days have served as a fitting...
Thorofare Expedition Trip Report
Greetings from the inaugural Thorofare expedition! The crew has successfully made it out of the most remote place in the lower forty-eight! After picking up the kids from the airport, we traveled to the Varney bridge campsite on the Madison river to start backcountry prep and let the kids get to know each other. The next day was a day full of driving through Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. After...
Maine Expedition Update #3
Hello from Housatonic Meadows Campground! This morning we gathered our things, packed the trailer, and said goodbye to the waters of Maine, looking forward to the several days of pike and smallmouth bass fishing we have ahead of us. After a long drive we finally arrived on the bank of the Housatonic and settled in to our new home for the next three nights. The past 5 days have treated us well...
Berkshires to Beaches Update #3
Greetings from Western Mass! The kids have had a jam packed couple of days on the Housatonic full of swimming, loads of fish, and great memories. The weather for the past couple of days has been sunny and perfect allowing for full days of fishing and fun. To start, the group floated a beautiful stretch of the Housy slamming nice sized smallmouth from canoes. Everybody had a successful day of...
Berkshires to Beaches Update
Hey Everyone, We are almost a week into the Berkshires to beaches adventure and everyone is having a great time! We camped the first few nights in Lenox at October Mountain State Forest, where we were near the Housatonic river. For two of the days we fished for smallmouth bass on the Housy; the kids absolutely crushed them. With triple digit fish counts, everyone got on the board early, often, and...
Maine Expedition Update
Greetings from Rangeley Lake State Park! Spirits were high today as we boated out of Lakewood Camps and drove to Rangeley. We are planning on enjoying a campfire and s’mores tonight after a dinner of bratwurst and veggie burgers. Since the last update the crew has had an epic couple of days! On our first day of fishing we were treated to one of Western Maine’s best rivers - the mighty Magalloway...
Blue Ridge Adventure Update
Greetings from the Blue Ridge Adventure. Our trip is off to an amazing start, and the best is yet to come. After gathering our group, we set up base camp at a cabin on the banks of a private section of Big Laural Creek. The grassy lawn made for the perfect place for some casting lessons. When it came time to hit the water, the hungry trout did not stand a chance. Within the first day at the cabin...
LFFE Alum on How His LFFE Experience Sparked an Interest in Conservation
In 2018 Riley Nebolsine caught his first trout as part of a Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions Yellowstone Adventure. That trout, a native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, helped spark a love for fly fishing and subsequently a passion for conservation. During his 3 LFFE trips that followed, that love and passion continued to grow. An experience he wrote about in an essay that received an honorable...
Getting Ready for 2021
Dear Parents and participants enrolled in a 2021 LFFE Adventure/Expedition, We are asking for your help in preparing for summer 2021. Your prompt attention to these matters now will allow us to focus our attention on making your child’s trip a truly unforgettable experience. Like the rest of the world, COVID caught us by surprise. By the time March, April, and May roll around during a typical year...
Yellowstone Adventure II Update #2
What an epic end to an unprecedented summer. The Yellowstone Adventure, our final teen trip of the summer, hiked out of the Slough Creek Backcountry this morning. In fitting 2020 fashion, the group completed our last backcountry trip of the summer in an extraordinary fashion. For those of you who don’t know, Slough Creek is about as iconic of a backcountry fishery as you can get. The series of...
Montana Road Trip II Final Update
Greetings from the Montana Road trip! It is sad to think that our trip is all but over. Today was spent floating the Yellowstone River with guides from Montana Troutfitters. We are spending our final night at the Bozeman hot springs. After cleaning our vans and organizing our gear, we had a barbecue dinner for our banquet meal and we are relaxing in the hot springs to soak after an eventful few...
Yellowstone Adventure II Update #1
Greetings from the Yellowstone Adventure II It is hard to believe our trip is already 1/3 of the way through. Today we hiked out of the backcountry, but it feels like just yesterday that we were all meeting at the airport. On our first full day of the trip we made the drive into the headwaters of the Lamar Valley to fish Pebble Creek. Pebble Creek cascade through a pocket water fishing paradise...
