Kelsey and I just returned from a trip to Montana and Wyoming where we spent time at around Flathead Lake and exploring Glacier NP, staying with our friends in Bozeman, and in fishing for native cutthroat in Yellowstone NP. And we got engaged.

For so many reasons it was a great trip. Obviously, yes, we got engaged. But I got to see my dear friends Colin and Becca, meet their new black lab Delilah, and annoy them with my ‘just reintroduced beer to my diet’ farts. I got to test out a new lens I bought for my Sony in some of the most beautiful landscapes in America. And I was lucky to throw some line into new waters in and around Yellowstone; namely, the Madison, Firehole, Lamar, and the park’s own namesake: the Yellowstone river. And, even better, was able to catch some great native fish.

There was never a doubt in my mind that Kelsey would agree to the engagement. We had talked about it plenty, designed a ring together, and joked about all the myriad ways and places she’d hate for me to bend a knee. I was given strict instructions that no mater how beautiful the destination could be, I was not to propose at the end of a long arduous hike that left us both red in the face. Nor could I do it in a rinkydink little tent. Or in a crowd of people. I get it, she wanted it to be special, but she said nothing about llamas.

When I did propose — on the banks of the Yellowstone, outside the Sage Lodge, flanked by two humming llamas — I shocked myself at how I couldn’t actually say anything. So genuinely caught up in the moment, in this next step, that I simply couldn’t find the words. Later that evening, after we retreated from some thunderous rain to our warm room, I had to try again.

Kelsey means so much to me. She’s my best friend and companion. Someone I can rely on when I’m sick and need a warm bowl of sweet and sour soup, or when I’m feeling a little down and need a laugh. She’s a down ass fool who’s always willing to tag along on one of my adventures, and so long as there’s not too much dust or any snakes, she’s pretty happy. She’s someone who I know I can reliably point to two animals and simply say, “it’s us,” and she’ll smile. She pushes me to do better, and draws out my best qualities. And she makes me so happy.

Almost as happy as pulling this native cuthroat trout from the Lamar River.

I find fly fishing so rewarding because it drives you to explore. Be it new waters or an old ever changing river. Be it trying new methods to catch smarter-than-you’d-think fish. The sport, like a llama, seems to spit in the face of comfort. You’re often at knee deep, at least, in cold water chasing a fish that might not even be there. When you land that fish, assuming it’s not a whitefish, it all just feels so accomplishing. Often fly fishing is a solitary sport, but when you’re able to share that excitement with someone the whole experience becomes elevated.

Outside the engagement, the other highlight of the trip was getting to explore and fish so many iconic rivers with Colin. And despite actually living in Montana, Colin doesn’t do much fly fishing — although I reckon he’ll start to do more. So it was a first time for both of us on these waters. And it just feels special when it’s both your first time.

We had modest success on the Yellowstone and Lamar river. We fought against mosquitoes on the Firehole during a hatch we couldn’t quiet match, but we killed it on the Madison river, pulling a combined almost thirty fish. In fact, our day on the Madison was so good we returned the following day with Kelsey and Becca to have them throw some line. Becca even landed her first wild fish on the fly!

I am so fortunate to have great friends, one of which I’m now happily calling my finance, to go on these adventures with me. It is not lost on me how lucky I am, and how much more rich my life is because of these people, places, and experiences. And I so look forward to the new water I’ll get to explore with my loved ones.