I’ve been fortunate to fish in some incredible places over the years. We’ve chased tarpon in Cuba, sight-casted to tailing Permit on glassy flats, and thrown big bugs at trout in remote stretches of Patagonia. And while the fish are what usually get us on the plane, they’re not always what we remember most when we get home.

What sticks with me - every time - is the people.

It’s the simple stuff.

• The shared quiet coffee of a slow morning.
• The buzz in the boat when someone hooks into a fish of a lifetime.
• The laughs over a bad cast or a blown shot.
• The late-night stories that stretch into early morning, told by the glow of a headlamp, the hum of a generator, or bellied up to a bar.
• It’s the way a group of strangers can become lifelong friends in just a few days of fishing hard and living full.

That’s one of the real gifts of a hosted trip, the people you meet and what happens when you’re all in it together.

When you fish with a host and a small group of like-minded anglers, something different happens. There’s no ego. No pressure to prove anything. Just a group of people who love fly fishing, who want to get better at it, and who are genuinely excited to share the experience.

I’ve seen it happen over and over again.

Someone lands a Permit and the entire crew is fired up like they caught it themselves. People offer flies, cheer each other on, take photos for one another, and celebrate the small wins just as much as the big ones. By the end of the week, you’re not just sharing a boat, you’re sharing stories, tactics, even life stuff. Some of the best friendships I’ve made in my life have started on these trips.

And it’s not just about camaraderie. When you surround yourself with others who are passionate, humble, and hungry to learn, you grow faster. You try new techniques. You pick up tips from both the guides and your fellow anglers. You watch someone do something different, and it clicks. That shared energy is what keeps things exciting and what makes hosted trips truly transformative, not just as vacations, but as experiences that make you better.

The reality is, we can all chase fish on our own,  but doing it with people who get it takes it to another level.

That’s what I’m most proud of when I think about Stillwater Travel. It’s not just about putting people on fish in beautiful places, it’s about building something that lasts beyond the trip itself. The relationships, the growth, the perspective that stays with you long after you’ve unpacked your bags.

So yes, the fishing matters. We put in the work to fish great water, in the right season, with the right guides. But the best part of the trip? Nine times out of ten, it’s the people.

We’ve only got 2 spots left for 2025 and 2026 is filling fast. If you’re looking for more than just a fishing trip, if you’re looking for connection, growth, and stories you’ll talk about for years, now’s the time.

Reach out today and let’s find the right fit for you.