Finding Your Endurance

August 22, 2019 Jillian Rash

I've figured out that there's an endurance sport for almost every 'outdoorsy' person, mountain, desert or water, there's certainly one for you. But here's the thing, fly-fishing is most certainly not on that list, or so I thought.

A while back, Jacob and I went out into the high country, possibly a bit earlier than we should have. See, there was plenty of snow this past year and it took the rivers a little while to go down. As much as we both thought we knew what 'high water' meant, alas, we did not. It was much like coming to grips with the fact that east coast mountains are not the same as actual mountains. Swallow pride, move on.

The Year That Was {2018}

December 31, 2018 Jillian Rash

Thanks for following along with all our adventures this year, we hope you’ve enjoyed being a part of them. We’re sure glad to have you here!

Happy New Year to you all! Treasure what has passed and look forward to the adventure ahead.

I have a feeling 2019 is going to be one hell of a year!

Giving Tuesday {How I'm Giving Back}

November 27, 2018 Jillian Rash

I always have a hard time trying to decide which organization to donate to on Giving Tuesday. Because let’s face it, there are so many amazing causes within the fly fishing community. This year I’ve decided to compile a list of a few of my favorites to share.

In honor of Giving Tuesday I’ve decided to donate 15% of all rod bag sales through Christmas to one of the organizations listed below. Please help me choose by leaving a comment on this blog post or any of my social media platforms.

Leave No Trace

September 12, 2018 Jillian Rash

"Friend,

When you stray or sit and take your ease

On heath or hill, or under spreading trees,

Pray leave no traces of your wayside meal,

No paper bag, no scattered orange peel,

Nor daily journal littered on the grass;

Others may view these with distaste, and pass;

Let no one say, and say it to your shame,

That all was beauty here until you came."

I've driven past this sign half a dozen times. I always make Jacob pull over so I can read it, admire the flowers growing around it, and feel the breeze flowing through the mountains. Winding down the dirt road I always ask aloud; 'I wonder who wrote that?' And, I forget I've wondered just as soon as I say it. The sentiment, the lesson, is what always stuck.

New Discoveries, Familiar Places

September 10, 2018 Jillian Rash

We've fished this river for three years, several times a year, but not this section. Instead of heading up, as per usual, we took a gravel road down, until we reached the river. It was much smaller than up yonder, more enclosed, like the tunnels we are used to fishing in back East. Looking down into the small stretch of water there were no flashes of light indicating little trout, but we were already here. Plus, why not try and fish an entire stretch of river?

Way On Up

August 6, 2018 Jillian Rash

Jillian Schuller Photography - Fly Fishing

I've always considered myself to be a mountain person. I live, play, survive in the mountains, define myself by it. I've never been so wrong about anything. At best, I'm a hill person.

Last week, Jacob and I made plans to meet up with a fellow bamboo rod maker and one of my first rod bag customers, Dave Sornborger - Animas Rods. After all, we're are in his backyard, who better to show us around. "You're good with 2.5 miles, right?" Jacob asked me. I didn't give it a second thought. Two miles, seriously, that's a quick hike for me. It wasn't until the night before that I was informed that over the course of two-miles we'd be gaining 2,000 ft in elevation and starting off at 10,000 ft.