Greetings from our basecamp on the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness!
We had a fantastic first day meeting all of the boys, and we couldn't be happier with this group. Airport pickups went smoothly, and after everyone arrived, we headed into Missoula for lunch and a visit to a local fly shop to get excited for the week ahead.
Arrival day is always one of our favorites. It's rewarding to watch those first-day nerves quickly give way to new friendships, growing confidence, and excitement for the adventure ahead. This evening we'll continue getting to know one another with a few games, a hearty burger dinner, and a big birthday celebration for one of our campers, Hudson! Everyone is already getting along well, and the excitement for the fishing and backcountry adventure is definitely building.
Before we tell you more about the week ahead, we'd like to introduce ourselves (from left to right).
Hello! I’m Gavin Reed. A PA native and three-trip LFFE alum, I currently study Business Management and Manufacturing Engineering at Pennsylvania College of Technology. My love for fly fishing formed after receiving a fly rod for my 13th birthday — since then, I've been traveling and exploring PA with a fly rod in hand consistently. My favorite fishing memory is teaching my dad how to fly fish, and my go-to fly is a Frenchie nymph. After taking LFFE trips to Tennessee, Maine, and Montana throughout high school, I knew I wanted to come back and share my knowledge and passion. In the backcountry, you'll find me making campfire quesadillas. When I'm off the water, I cherish time with family and friends, backpacking, hiking, snowboarding, and leading my college's Outdoor Adventure Club. I'm stoked to be joining the guide crew as a co-leader!
Hi Parents - my name is Evan Frits. I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and am currently a junior at Colorado College studying philosophy. I was a camper at Lillard for four years, where my love of fly fishing and the outdoors first took off. Lillard has been a significant part of my life since I was 13, when I participated in the Montana Road Trip for my first ever expedition. I'm excited to help create memorable experiences for others just as Lillard did for me. Since that first trip, I've had the opportunity to fish all over the American West and love exploring new places and waters. Some of my favorite fishing memories have come from fishing right near base camp with lifelong friends I've made through Lillard. When I'm not fishing, I enjoy playing banjo, snowboarding, hunting, and backpacking — and my favorite fly has got to be a Chubby Chernobyl (fun and effective). This summer marks my third year as a Lillard guide. I'm a certified Wilderness First Responder and a licensed Montana guide.
Hi there - my name is Adrian Soberanis. I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, where I developed a deep passion for the outdoors from a young age. When I was 10, my grandfather taught me how to fly fish on Little Pine Creek in Pennsylvania — an experience that sparked my lasting interest in the sport. I've participated in multiple LFFE trips over the past five years, beginning with the Blue Ridge Adventure in 2020. It was during that first trip with LFFE that I truly fell in love with fly fishing. I was a participant in the inaugural Bob Marshall Expedition with Will Lillard in 2023 and am excited to return this summer to help campers in their pursuit of the elusive bull trout. My favorite fishing memory comes from that 2023 Bob Marshall Expedition, when I caught my first ever bull trout — 28 inches — on one of the last days in the backcountry on a jigged Zonker, which remains my favorite fly to this day. One of my more unique skills is that I'm an avid fly tier and tie all of my own flies. I'm also a certified Wilderness First Responder. I'm a rising third-year student at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, studying Environmental Studies and Entrepreneurship. In my free time, I primarily fly fish from my paddleboard around the Tampa Bay and Stuart areas.
Tonight we're staying at our Bob Marshall Outpost in a large canvas wall tent heated by a wood stove. Although we're just outside the wilderness boundary, Basecamp in Ennis already feels like a world away. Surrounded by towering forests, the nearby North Fork of the Blackfoot River, and frequent sightings of deer and grouse, it's easy to see why this place serves as the perfect gateway to the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Tomorrow we'll begin with a conservation service project alongside our nonprofit partner, The Salmonfly Project. The campers will collect aquatic insect samples from several locations along the river, which will later be analyzed for the presence of salmonflies. This work contributes to a larger effort across the western United States to monitor and protect salmonfly populations, which have been declining in many watersheds. It's a great opportunity for the boys to give back while learning about the ecosystems we'll be exploring throughout the trip.
After completing the service project, we'll travel to a campsite near our backcountry trailhead. The rest of the afternoon will be spent organizing gear, packing food, and making sure everyone is ready for the adventure ahead.
Over the following three days, we'll hike nearly 20 miles along the South Fork of the Sun River, fishing as we travel through one of the wildest and most beautiful landscapes in the country. Between the spectacular scenery, the incredible fishing, and the chance to unplug and immerse ourselves in the wilderness, we're expecting this to be an unforgettable experience for everyone.
Once we're back from the backcountry, we'll send another update before setting off on what promises to be an epic overnight float down the Blackfoot River.
It was a pleasure meeting everyone today, and we're grateful for the opportunity to share this adventure with such a great group of campers. We can't wait to see what the week has in store!
Until next time...
The Crew
