Hello Parents!
I’m writing to you on the final day of the Yellowstone Adventure. It’s been a phenomenal two weeks in which a tight-knit crew of five young men grew close, shared laughs, overcame challenges, pushed themselves outside their comfort zones, and—most importantly—caught a bunch of beautiful fish.
This trip is a Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions staple. Will began guiding these adventures back in the early days when LFFE was still in its infancy—built purely on passion and a sense of possibility. I remember going on my first Yellowstone Adventure 12 years ago when I was their age, and the memories still hold a special place in my heart. I believe the same will be true for our campers in time. We’re incredibly lucky to explore one of the greatest protected natural areas in the world and to fish world-renowned waters day in and day out.
One of Will’s goals from the very beginning has been to address the rapid decline in recreational fishing participation in the U.S. Alongside that is the mission to inspire a new generation of confident, independent anglers who care deeply about conservation and stewardship. Over the past 15 years, Will has cultivated a community of young anglers—some of whom, like me, are now older—who carry that mission forward. Over the past two weeks, we didn’t just witness the spark of passion light up in each camper; we also watched them grow as leaders and well-rounded human beings.
Not many of their peers will return from summer break able to say they accomplished what these guys did. It’s not just the backpacking—it’s the willingness to show up in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable situations every single day, from sleeping on a two-inch-thick inflatable pad to filtering river water for drinking. It’s the kind of trip that makes you appreciate things we usually take for granted, like clean running water or a hot shower. Even more impressively, these campers disconnected from the constant pull of smartphones and spent two weeks living the way their parents once did (not trying to age y’all—I promise).
So for this final update, I’ll try to capture some of the special moments we shared as the trip wrapped up.
We returned to LFFE headquarters in Ennis, MT, where the crew showered, did laundry, and loaded up on a hearty chicken quesadilla dinner—all in preparation for their final full day: floating the legendary Madison River with our professional float guides.
Fishing in the frontcountry—especially on a highly pressured river like the Madison—can be challenging, but that’s exactly what makes it rewarding. After two weeks of consistent fishing, developing skills, and soaking up guidance from us, these guys were ready to put everything to the test on one of Montana’s most iconic fisheries. With over 100 guide boats on the water daily, this stretch of river demands precision, focus, and patience. And I’m proud to say they rose to the occasion.
Chasing monster rainbows and browns will keep you up the night before with nothing but excitement and visions of that big eat. And floating for the chance at such fish? That’s a memory in the making.
The brown trout, like so many things in this country, were introduced by Europeans. I’m not sure why they were so eager to share their bulldog-like fish with us, but we’re not complaining. Without them, we’d be missing out on the bucknasty way these toothy tanks smash streamers and slurp oversized hoppers.
Rainbows, on the other hand, are native to the Pacific Northwest and made their way to Montana in the late 1800s via hatchery stock from the legendary McCloud River Redband strain. Since then, they’ve become the squirrelly, colorful, wide-grinning trout we all know and love. Both species thrive on cold mountain water and a steady buffet of insects—especially around now, when the massive salmonfly hatch kicks off. These three-inch-long stoneflies are basically carne asada burritos for trout, and throwing a big dry fly that mimics them makes for some of the most thrilling topwater eats in the sport. Safe to say, the crew had their shot at fooling both rainbows and browns into a dance of hook, line, and rod.
They started the day with a solid breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, and cereal—yeah, we go all out at Base Camp. The anticipation was obvious; this was the day they’d been talking about since Day 1. Rods were rigged, sandwiches packed, and we hit the road. Conveniently, the only thing separating our base camp from the Madison is Highway 287. If you ever find yourself in Ennis and spot a fleet of bright yellow rafts led by a gray ClackaCraft with some handsome guides, odds are it’s the Lillard crew.
The cast of captains changes with each trip, but the head honcho is Pat Sheehy—a tall LFFE veteran who guides year-round in Montana, New Jersey, and the Florida Keys. You’ll recognize him by his distinct hand tan and signature red Crocs. Pat wears long sleeves and pants year-round, leaving only his hands exposed—what we like to call his “baseball mitts,” built for holding trout.
Joining Pat were Sam and Zach, two experienced rowers and Montana State students who know these waters inside and out. Thanks to them, the crew spent a full day floating, throwing big chubbies, laughing, and roping in fish.
For our final night, we skipped the drive to Bozeman and opted to keep it close, grilling up steaks, potatoes, and asparagus at Base Camp. Around the dinner table, the conversation was rich with trip highlights, fish landed (and missed), and moments of gratitude. We were lucky enough to be joined by Will Lillard himself (yes, the kids asked for autographs), who handed out stickers representing each species caught and a pin marking the completion of the LFFE Yellowstone Adventure.
After dinner, we played a little wiffle ball, dodging the occasional frisbee that cut through our makeshift baseball diamond. We capped it off with a final campfire and—you guessed it—s’mores. Then it was bags packed, laughter from the tents, and one last night dreaming of hot showers and real beds.
This morning, we dropped each camper off with their parent—either by pickup or flight—and are now heading back to base camp. It was a pleasure meeting the fathers who picked up today, as well as the mothers two weeks ago. It’s easy to see why each of these kids is as thoughtful, hardworking, and respectful as they are. You gave us a stellar crew, and we’re incredibly grateful. It not only makes our job easier, but also more enjoyable.
Thank you for following along with us on this adventure! We hope to see these guys again next year.
Signing off with tight lines,
J, Jackson, and Cody
