Greetings all,
I am writing to you on the final day of the Yellowstone Adventure. It’s been an incredible two weeks filled with laughter, struggle, growth, and -most importantly- fish! This group has done amazing things both for the waterways we love so much and for each other. Without knowing it, each participant has made a lifelong impact. The last few days of the trip are always my favorite. It’s when the guides get to take a step back and watch the boys use the skills they’ve been practicing for the entire trip. The reason we work for Lillard is for moments like these. The boys start running the trip and we feel like participants once again. There are not many moments in life that you get to re-live, but these trips take me back to when I was in middle school, romping around Yellowstone in search of something that is coveted and life-changing.
For this final update, I will try to capture the special moments shared amongst the group as we prepare to part ways. We have since moved our camp back to Lillard HQ in Ennis Montana. Fishing in the frontcountry of Montana is challenging, but that means it is also rewarding. The final days of the trip serve as a trial that tests both the skills and the mental fortitude of each participant. Those who are determined and disciplined will be rewarded. Those who aren’t, well, they are blessed with yet another learning opportunity. I’m happy to say that every participant did not choose the latter. The last two days of fishing were spent floating and wading on some of Montana’s most famous rivers. Half of the group would start on the Madison, floating for the chance at a gargantuan rainbow and/or brown trout. Neither of these trout are native to Montana. The mighty brown, like so many other things, was introduced to America by the Europeans. I’m not sure why the Europeans were so eager to share their bulldog-like fish with us, but it turned out to be a good decision. Without the Europeans, we would be oblivious to the bucknasty nature with which their toothy friends eat streamers and sip big hoppers. Rainbow trout hail from our not-so-far-away neighbors in the northwest corner of the United States. Rainbows were introduced to Montana in the late 1800s from a hatchery strain produced from the legendary McCloud River Redband trout. Over the centuries, the rainbow has drifted far from its original heritage and has grown into the squirrely, overly eager, and smiling trout that so many Americans love. Both species can grow into something spectacular with enough cold mountain water and insects. These insects fall from the sky after performing a graceful dance above the river that seems to make the trout’s mouths water. Luckily for the boys, they would have a chance to fool both species into a dance of hook, line, and rod. The other half of the group would search for the same two species, but they would be on foot. The next day the two groups would switch roles.
The floating group woke early and ate quickly as the anticipation in their stomachs bubbled up to their heads causing an excited shiver that definitely wasn’t because of the sub-50-degree Montana morning that was taking its time warming up. They loaded up in the van and headed to the river. If you’re ever on the Madison near Ennis, Montana and see a fleet of bright yellow rafts led by a gray Clackacraft, a mighty vessel that stands as the fleet’s flagship, then you have most likely run into the respectfully rambunctious Lillard crew.
The band of captains changes with each trip, but the head honcho is a tall fellow by the name of Pat Sheehy. He’s easily recognizable by his extremely noticeable hand tan. Pat only wears long sleeves and pants and has developed an uncurable tan that only covers his hands. It looks like he’s wearing brown gloves. Anyways, this is the crew that would be piloting the boys down the river for the day. Thankfully, all the boys spent the day roping fish on big chubbies whilst laughing with one another. The other half of the group loaded up in White Lighting, our easily recognizable Ford Transit that has quite a few finger drawings of trout cavorting around the dust-covered windows. The wading group would head to another famous river in Montana. I will not name this river in an attempt to protect its abundance of large brown trout. Sorry to all the dads out there who fly fish. The wading group spent the day dragging large stonefly nymphs for big browns that stay on the bottom of the river and pick through bugs until they find a worthy meal. Luckily for us, the whole group was knighted into the kingdom of the _____ river for they all caught one of these legendary fish.
After a full morning of floating and wading, the entire group headed back to Ennis to start the service project for the trip. The boys would work alongside the Madison Conservation District in taking water quality tests on a local creek. This creek is used as a spawning ground for trout in the fall and spring, so the health of the creek is of utmost importance to the environment and fishing community. I’m happy to say the group served their community well. With the data the boys collected, MCD will kickstart a project next fall that will redirect the stream’s flow to improve the water quality. Giving back to the resources we use so often is crucial in ensuring it will be around for future generations.
The last night of the trip was spent eating a banquet dinner comprised of steak, salad, green beans, mashed potatoes, and root beer floats. After dinner, we played an intense game of ultimate frisbee. The rest of the night was spent recapping an amazing trip, dreaming of all the food that was to be eaten once everyone got home, and looking forward to a hot shower that lasts more than 2 minutes. Thank you all for sharing your amazing young men with us! We hope to see them back again!
Sincerely,
Hunt, Sean, Kitchell, and fishiest group of boys west of the Mississippi
