Hi families!
The Bob Marshall Expedition is officially underway, and we couldn’t be more excited! Owen, Adrian, and I have been looking forward to this trip for months, and we couldn’t ask for a better group of campers to share it with. Everything about this adventure promises to be incredible.
Travel day went off without a hitch. One of our favorite parts of the first day is watching the group dynamic start to take shape—old friends picking up right where they left off, new friendships forming quickly, and those first-day jitters disappearing almost immediately. Once everyone arrived, we packed up the van and hit the road for our first campsite. Tonight will be simple: set up camp, share a welcome talk, eat dinner, and relax after a long day of traveling. The excitement is high, but we can tell everyone’s ready for some rest before the big adventure begins.
A quick intro to the Dream Team Guide Crew:
Hi all - I’m Drew Crain! I was born and raised in Memphis, TN, but the Rocky Mountains were calling me from an early age. I first joined LFFE as a participant on the Rocky Mountain Adventure over 10 years ago, and I’ve been guiding with LFFE for the past four. These days, I’m lucky to call Bozeman home. II spend most of my time chasing critters—guiding anglers, elk hunters, and skiers in southwest Montana. This summer, I’m excited to explore new water in the Bob Marshall Wilderness!
My name is Adrian Soberanis. I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, near the Potomac River. Hiking and kayaking from a young age, I developed a deep passion for the outdoors. When I was 10, my grandfather taught me how to fly fish on Little Pine Creek in Pennsylvania. Over the past five year, I’ve participated in multiple Lillard trips. In 2023, I was a participant in the first Bob Marshall Expedition with Will (Lillard) and am pumped to return this summer in pursuit of the elusive bull trout. I’m a sophomore at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I study Environmental Studies and Entrepreneurship. In my free time, I primarily fly fish in saltwater from my paddleboard in Tampa Bay during the school year and in the Pamlico Sound along the Outer Banks over the summer.
Hey everyone, I’m Owen Johnson! I was born and raised in the town of Alpine, Utah. I picked up a fly rod at the age of six and haven’t put it down since. I love chasing trout in the most remote places possible and living for the adventures they take me on. I go to school at BYU–Idaho and never miss a day on the Henry’s Fork or South Fork. I’m so stoked for another amazing year with Lillard and can’t wait to see you on the water!
For those unfamiliar, this expedition follows the South Fork of the Flathead River, which winds through the legendary Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex—directly south of Glacier National Park. It’s hard to overstate how special this place is. Picture wide, grassy meadows opening into deep, emerald pools where you can see 20 feet to the bottom. It feels like something straight out of a storybook. The Bob Marshall is also the largest wilderness complex in the lower 48 and one of the most remote—you won’t find roads anywhere close. In fact, for several days, we’ll be more than 30 miles from the nearest trailhead.
We’ll be starting our journey on the southern end of the Wilderness near Ovando and hiking more than 60 miles before exiting at Hungry Horse Reservoir. Trips like this are a fly angler’s dream. The South Fork offers some of the best westslope cutthroat fishing in the world, with dry-fly days that can reach 50 fish or more. But that’s not all. We’ll also be targeting bull trout, one of North America’s most fascinating (and rare) native trout species.
Bull trout were once apex predators in rivers from California to Alaska, but their numbers declined dramatically in the mid-1900s due to overfishing, logging, and mining pollution that destroyed their cold-water habitat. Today, they’re protected throughout most of Montana, and the South Fork is one of the only places in the state where it’s legal to target them. Bull trout are aggressive, predatory fish that chase down whitefish and other trout with ferocity. Whether we’re sight-fishing for them in shallow riffles or swinging six-inch streamers through deep pools, the takes are heart-stopping. With the chance to hook a bull trout pushing 30 inches and world-class cutthroat fishing, the South Fork offers a truly unique experience for anglers.
We’ll be hiking in on the morning of the 18th with the help of pack horses to lighten our loads for the first 17-mile stretch. After that, we’ll move between campsites most nights, eventually spending a couple of nights at Salmon Forks for some extended fishing. Before we head into the backcountry, we’ll have a full prep day dedicated to backpacking essentials—packing tips, food rationing, and, of course, bear safety. We’ll also swing through Missoula to grab any last-minute gear, hit a fly shop, and maybe even squeeze in a game or two of ultimate frisbee.
We’re beyond excited to get going. Don’t tell the other trips, but we’re convinced this is the coolest expedition LFFE offers. Wish us luck, happy hiking, and tight lines!
Talk soon!
Drew, Owen, Adrian, and the Fellas
