He became a guide on the Madison, Gallatin and Yellowstone rivers; the owner of a renowned trout shop in West Yellowstone, Mont. He owned Bud Lilly’s Trout Shop for more than 30 years until his wife, the former Patricia Bennett, who was his partner in the venture, got sick in 1981. Mr. Lilly’s conversion to catch and release was one element of his conservation work. In recent years, Mr. Lilly’s vision was diminished by macular degeneration, and he could no longer fish. Mr. Lilly was known as a raconteur whose conversations often began with a joke.

Source: New York Times January 15, 2017 21:22 UTC