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 Montana. Once at camp, we got everyone settled in, geared up, and outfitted with licenses and rods. The evening was all about relaxing into the rhythm of the trip, and nothing kicks that off better than a round of burgers hot off the grill. After dinner, we hung out, played a few games, and watched the alpenglow hit the peaks from camp—an epic welcome to Big Sky Country.
Quick intros from the guide crew:
I’m Watson Bean, from Portland, Oregon. I’m a student at Montana State University studying fish & wildlife. I grew up fishing for salmon in Oregon and was introduced to fly fishing on the Deschutes River when I was 11, casting classic wet flies for steelhead. When I was 15, I attended a Lillard Fly Fishing Expedition (the MT Road Trip); this was the reason I chose to attend MSU! I now spend my free time fishing the rivers and lakes of Montana anytime I can. I’m pumped for the summer!
Hi parents! I’m Coleman Smith. I'm from Nashville, TN, and I grew up fishing for bass with my father and grandfather. I’ve gone on three different Lillard trips, and this summer marks my first year as a guide. I went on the Montana Road Trip three summers ago, and for the past two years, I’ve been fishing those same waters. I’m excited to begin the summer and can’t wait to get out on the water with this group of guys!
Hi all – I’m Max Wallace. I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. I grew up an avid hunter and fisherman, but I didn’t get my first taste of fly fishing until the summer after my freshman year of high school on the Yellowstone Adventure—and I instantly fell in love. I’ve been with LFFE every summer since, leading and rowing on trips in both Montana and Colorado. I’m now attending the University of Virginia, majoring in Environmental Science. I spend my free time tying flies and catching native brook trout in the Shenandoah Valley. Can’t wait for an awesome trip!
Hey there - I'm Hunter Shumaker. I was raised in a military family and have lived all around the United States and overseas. After graduating from North Carolina State University with a degree in Textile Engineering, I moved to the Jackson, Wyoming area to work in the outdoor apparel industry. It wasn’t until then that I took an interest in fly fishing. I quickly became a passionate angler, motivated to explore the waters of Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. While I’ve spent a lot of time fishing solo, some of my favorite moments have been helping friends and family catch their first fish. This will be my first summer with LFFE, and I’m excited to keep exploring new waters and sharing my love for fly fishing with others.
Last (but not least!), I'm Zach Zatz. I’m from Denver, Colorado, and first joined LFFE as a participant on one of the backpacking and fishing adventures. With a strong love for the outdoors and a background in fly fishing, I quickly found a home on the trail and the river. I’m now studying Exercise Science at Montana State University, spending my winters skiing at Bridger Bowl and my summers guiding with LFFE. I try to bring a calm, focused approach and an easygoing attitude to every trip—something participants tend to appreciate, especially when the fishing gets technical. Whether I’m tying knots streamside or coaching a cast, I bring patience, enthusiasm, and a deep respect for wild places. I’m a certified Wilderness First Responder and proud to call the mountains of Montana home—for now.
Everyone is buzzing with excitement for tomorrow—we’ll be floating and fishing the legendary Madison River, just as the salmonfly hatch starts to pop off. If things line up, we’re in for some explosive dry-fly eats from trophy browns and rainbows. It’s one of those windows of time that fly fishers dream about, and we’re right on the front edge of it. After dialing things in on the Madison, we’re setting our sights on two more iconic rivers: the world-renowned Blackfoot and the classic Missouri. These waters are steeped in angling history, and we’re beyond stoked to explore them over the next week. Whether we’re floating, wading, or scouting hatches, it’s shaping up to be a week of big fish, big laughs, and unforgettable memories.
We’ve got a great crew, and it’s already clear that this is going to be a special group of anglers. We’ll check in soon with updates from the river!
Tight lines,
Watson, Coleman, Max, Zach, Hunter
The MT RT Ex 1 Guide Crew🐟
