The Great Kokanee Search

October 26, 2019 Jillian Rash

Kokanee Salmon. It's official, I've got a new obsession. I learned a few months ago that Kokanee's inhabit a river just twenty minutes from my house. A few local newspaper articles, several hours of "googling," and way too much time staring into my phone watching YouTube videos and I have become determined to catch one of these boogers.

I'll admit, I am captivated by some of the oddities in the fishing world. Tiny little trout? Check. Slimy, stinky carp? Check (although I've yet to catch one). Whiskery catfish? Check. And now, those prehistoric-looking kokanee. What can I say, they've captured my heart from afar.

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!

My Step

December 30, 2018 Jillian Rash

Jillian Schuller Photography - Fly Fishing

There’s a set of steps on our favorite river, right at one of our favorite holes. I’ve found that the second step is wonderfully perfect for eating a nut and banana sandwich, sipping on a cold beer or just enjoying the views. These steps are a spot I’ve used to warm up. The spot I was bitten by a brown recluse spider and the place where I watched Jacob catch one of the biggest browns I’ve ever seen. This is where I’ve met strangers traveling by on the trail, where fellow fishermen have plopped down next to me for a quick chat.

Farewell To Summer

October 12, 2018 Jillian Rash

The changing of seasons is always difficult for me. Mostly because I'm impatient and I want it to happen right away. I expect flowers to bloom the first day of spring and 40 degree nights the beginning of autumn. Apparently, mother nature still hasn't received my memo.

Here in Western North Carolina, we've had a particularly long, wet, warm year. Jacob and I recently joked that we saw a groundhog and he told us there would be six more weeks of summer.

The Best Years

September 24, 2018 Jillian Rash

The best years any angler will ever have are their first. It's not that during this time you're particularly good at it, far from it, you're pretty horrible. Most of your time is spent tying on a fly or untangling a knot. Your technique is poor, but you can't quite figure out how to fix it. Everyone else around you catch plenty of fish with seemingly no effort, but you only manage to catch trees and sticks, despite trying your hardest. But make no mistake, these are your best years.

Over The Ridge

September 21, 2018 Jillian Rash

Some days hiking over the ridge pays off.