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 needed some solid rest. We woke up around 7:30 a.m. and fueled up with fried egg sandwiches on English muffins with bacon—a huge hit, with immediate calls for seconds. After breakfast, cleaning camp, and prepping for the day, we broke into small groups and headed to the front-country section of the North Fork of the Blackfoot River. One group hiked upriver after safely descending a canyon, while the other worked downstream to a local hole holding healthy cutthroat trout. Montana’s hot summer has pushed many anglers into alpine regions, making fishing tough in pressured waters. Still, we fished hard and managed to bring a handful of fish to hand.
After a morning session, we returned to camp for lunch and decided to switch things up. We drove to the upper reaches of the Blackfoot River, a meandering stream set in classic Montana valleys. Its deep blue holes held rainbows, browns, and cutthroat trout. The weather here is unpredictable—no service and rolling thunderstorms make planning tricky—but we managed to land some nice fish, including a beautiful 17-inch brown, before heading out just as a storm rolled in. The rain kept falling back at camp, but we stayed dry in our brand-new canvas “kitchen” tent and enjoyed quesadillas before falling asleep to the sound of rain.
Day 2:
Rested and ready, we decided to change it up and fish new water about an hour and a half away. After a quick cereal breakfast, we loaded up and drove to the Little Blackfoot River, a tributary of the Clark Fork that holds cutthroat, browns, rainbows, and the occasional Rocky Mountain whitefish.
The group split into two, with one heading upstream and the other downstream. Both groups had success, fishing small, deeper pools and landing some great fish despite the hot weather. The water temperature stayed at a safe 61°, keeping trout happy. The highlight came in the last 45 minutes when everyone met up at a big pool teeming with fish. Every camper landed a trout here while learning key techniques like “high-sticking” and mending.
After wrapping up, we dealt with a quick flat tire, restocked groceries in Deer Lodge, and capped the evening with a hearty stir-fry loaded with protein and carbs to prep for our upcoming backpacking trip.
Day 3:
The crew woke early, excited for our four-day backcountry adventure. After a quick cereal breakfast, we prepped our “bear bags” (food hung high in trees to keep bears out) and gave a lesson on how to pack and wear backpacks.
Our 6.5-mile hike into the wilderness went smoothly, with the group making great time—just 3.5 hours, impressive considering half the boys had never backpacked before. We set up camp, rested over lunch, and explored the river. A quick hopper-dropper session produced a handful of native westslope cutthroat trout. Dinner was a big hit: backcountry burritos with rice, beans, chicken, and warm tortillas. We fell asleep under the stars, serenaded by the river.
Day 4:
After getting bear bags down, we boiled water for oatmeal and split into three groups. One pushed far upriver into a canyon streaked with red and orange rock, another fished upriver from camp, and the last worked downstream before looping back. The fishing was outstanding. Every riffle, seam, and pool seemed alive with hungry cutthroat eager to smash dry-droppers. Catching native westslope cutthroat in their home range is a rare treat—something few anglers ever experience.
We ended the day with buffalo mac and cheese, a campfire, and several hilarious rounds of the group favorite game, Imposter. Sleep came quickly after a long day of fishing and laughing.
Day 5:
We woke around 7:30 a.m., had oatmeal and sausage-and-cheese sandwiches, and split into groups to explore different stretches of the river. The lower groups had great dry-fly fishing, though the big surprise came when a few cutthroat were ambushed mid-catch by bull trout—massive, endangered predators native to the Northwest. Though illegal to target, they sometimes won’t let go of their “stolen” meal, allowing us to briefly net and safely release these incredible fish.
The scenery was jaw-dropping: glass-clear water, candy-colored rocks, and sheer red canyon walls soaring 300–400 feet high. One group pushed farther into the Bob, hiking to the confluence of the East and North forks, where aquamarine pools and cascading waterfalls felt straight out of a fairy tale. The fishing here was equally magical—cutbows, pure-strain rainbows, and cutthroat filled the pools.
That night, we feasted on tortellini with chicken and red sauce, shared stories around the fire, and played our best round of Imposter yet. Tired eyes and yawns gave way to peaceful sleep under a starry sky filled with fireflies.
Day 6:
The group woke at 6:30 a.m., broke down camp, and packed up with impressive efficiency. By 8:30, we hit the trail and crushed the 6.5-mile hike out in 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 9 seconds—a full 45 minutes faster than our hike in! Spirits were sky-high as we loaded the trailer and hit the road. After a quick gas station stop, we treated the crew to showers, waterslides, and pool volleyball at a Missoula rec center before celebrating with pizza and ice cream.
The group has grown tremendously as anglers and as teammates, constantly lifting each other up. We guides couldn’t be prouder of how they’ve embraced the adventure, and we can’t wait to finish strong. Tomorrow, we start our overnight float on the famed Blackfoot River in search of big trout. The next update you get from us will be on airport day—we can’t wait to share how the float goes!
Until next time,
The Dream Team: Joe, Gavin, and Leo
